International Knowledge Network and the Global English Language

International Knowledge Network and The Global English Language
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Introduction
For several decades, the use and growth of English as a primary language for the world has obviously been continuing (Harris, 2001). Without a doubt, English is the actual universal language. English is the second largest native language of the world, the official language of approximately seventy countries, and the countries that speak English are responsible for around 40% of the GNP of the world (Ostler, 2005). Among educated people and scholars, English can be understood almost everywhere since it is the language of world media and the language of TV, cinema, the computer world and pop music. All around this globe, individuals know most English words, their meaning and pronunciation. The roots of this universality are known very well and understandable (Hejazi, 2011). The spread of English began in the 16th century with the British Empire and in 20th century, it was strongly reinforced by the world domination of the United States in political, military and economic aspects, not forgetting the mighty influence of American movies. This concept of universal language is more considerable only now, in this period of world mass communication. Before we entered this era, Latin, French and Greek were somehow universal languages, although mainly in Europe. The aim of this paper is to link the present global status of English to the expansion of the colonial power of Britain in the 19th century, link it with the economic power of the United States and discuss its implications in my everyday work (Hejazi, 2011).
A language acquires a global status once it develops an exceptional role, which every country recognizes. Britain had become a leading trading and industrial country in the first few years of the nineteenth century (Mufwene & Salikoko, 2001). By the end of that century, the United States` population (then approaching one hundred million) was bigger than that of any Western European country, and their economy was the fastest growing and most productive in the world. The political imperialism of the British had conveyed English around the world, in the 19th century, so that it became a language ‘whereby the sun never sets`. In the 20th century, this worldwide presence was promoted and maintained almost single-handedly by the economic might of the American superpower. Politics were replaced by economics as the main driving force and English was the language behind the United States dollar (Crystal, 2003).
The history of English can be divided into three parts: Modern English, Middle English and Old English (Mufwene & Salikoko, 2001). The tripartite system draws attention to certain events in the history of Britain- particularly the Norman invasion that heralded the quick ‘frenchification` of English, and, later, the gathering of religious, economic and political developments that surrounded the appearance of Britain like a modern nation-state (Ostler, 2005). The ancient history of English reflects 19th century world-vies and values since this century was largely created. Modern English acquired more words because of two major historical events: the industrial revolution that necessitated new words for ideas and things that never existed previously and the British Empire rise that made the English language to adopt many foreign words. No single development in the 19th century would have made English a global language, but once put together they did it (Ostler, 2005).
Many of the Industrial revolution innovations had their origins in the British, including using steam to drive machines, creation of new materials, equipment and techniques in a number of manufacturing industries, and the occurrence of new transportation means. Approximately half of the influential technological and scientific output between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was written in English (Nurnberg, 2000). The country that spoke English, the United States, continued the dominance of the English language in new technology and innovation in their inventions like the telegraph, the phonograph, the telephone, electricity, the computer, the sewing machine etc. the scientific and industrial advances during the industrial Revolution created a neologism need for describing the new discoveries and creations. This Industrial revolution brought about a global restructuring of leisure and work thus making English the worldwide language for consumerism and advertising. In 1837, the telegraph was patented linking communities speaking English around the world and making English a major language in wire service (Nurnberg, 2000).
British colonialism gained momentum between the 18th and 19th century. At the height of their empire, Britain ruled approximately a quarter of the world, from Australia to Canada. In 1852, a German linguist referred to English as a global language and said that the language would reign in future and sway over every part of the world (Osler, 2005). The British Colonial rule took spreading the English culture and language to the backward and undeveloped countries of Asia and Africa for granted. Although the profit motive was foremost, there was an amount of altruistic motivation, and most saw it as a chance of bringing political unity and order to these internecine and chaotic regions. To some extent, the colonies were glad to learn this language for them to profit from British technological and industrial advances (Crystal, 2003). However, colonialism was a phenomenon that was two ways, and the dealing of Britain with some exotic countries, while increasing the world trade in general, and led to the commencement of many foreign words into English. For example, Australia introduced a set of words (although not used mostly outside of Australia) like boomerang, budgerigar, kangaroo, etc. However, India gave English everyday words like pajamas, cot, bungalow, thug, shampoo, bangle, etc. Britain contributed to English in the ways mentioned...