English as a Global Language - Killer or Promoter? (PDF)

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,0, University of Hamburg, language: English, abstract: Communication expands all over the world and so does language. Although there is no functional definition of a global language, it basically refers to the language learned and spoken throughout the world. A global language is signified by the number of native speakers, second language speakers and geographical distribution, including its role in diplomatic relations and international organizations. It is a common language which enables individuals from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds in communicating on an equitable basis. English is one of the dominant languages spoken by over 1.8 billion people worldwide. It is not only a language of communication, but has emerged as a means of global conversation.

The influence of the English language across the world is a combination of three major aspects. These include the number of nations using English as mother tongue or first language, number of nations embracing English as an official language and number of nations teaching English as a foreign language in schools. One of the major reasons as to why English has emerged as a global language is its intrinsic morphological quality, size of vocabulary, quality of literature all through history and relationship with great religions and cultures. Therefore, the paper discusses how English has emerged as a global language and whether the emergence of English as a global language is a language promoter or killer.