1. Global English English as an International Language

3. Official languages in Sweden :
1999:
Finnish
Sami language
Romani chib
Yiddish
Meänkieli (Tornedal Finnish)
2009:
Swedish!

4. English as an international language
English is heard on TV, spoken by politicians from all over the world
The speaker doesn’t need to have a perfect command of the culture English expresses (English, American)
It is used by businessmen and tourists
It is used in the communication of ideas and culture
It functions as a bridge between speakers with different
linguistic backgrounds
English plays the role of lingua franca

5. Competing global languages
Mandarin 845 /1025
Spanish 329 /390
Hindi/Urdu 240 /405
Arabic 232 /452
Portugese 178 /193
Russian 144 /250
French 68 /120
The five official languages of the UN are
English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese
English 328 / 1500

6. Why only English?
Half of the world’s scientific journals is written in English
Three quarters of the world’s mail are written in English
Three fifths of the radio stations of the world broadcast in English
English is spoken as a first language by 300 million people
One in five people speak English competently

7. Why only English? All international pilots
All international sea captains
7 largest TV broadcasters – CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC, CBC, CNN, C-Span
Half of all newspapers

8. Why only English? The flexibility of the English language
Migration to the USA has created a segment of the world population whose aim is to learn English for survival purposes
Some countries use English to avoid having to choose between
conflicting local languages

11. First, second or foreign?
First language – used as a mother tongue
Second language – used for administration, broadcasting, education (India, Nigeria, Singapore)
Foreign language - used to promote trade, scientific progress, international communication, learnt in school (Sweden…)

12. Countries with English as an official language

13. The spread of English as a language
The industrial revolution, the British economic predominance in the 19th century, the colonization of large geographical areas
The displacement of French as a language of diplomacy
After World War II, there was a rise in economic influence from the United States

15. The Future of Global English
What kinds of development could impede, slow down or stop the future growth of English?
A significant change in the balance of power
politically
economically
culturally
tecnologically

16. 2 questions:
What’s interesting to know about another English speaking country?
Each of you makes a list!
Look at your list – pick 3 countries (from slide 11) that you would like to learn more about!