Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Field Note
“English is an important part of the
curriculum even at a small school
for deaf children in remote Bhu-
tan. The children and I began com-
municating by writing questions
to each other on the blackboard.
Their English is quite good, and I am
reminded once again of the incred-
ible global reach of English, despite
its idiosyncrasies. In English, light is
pronounced as if it were lite, the
past tense of the verb to read is
read, but the past tense of the word
to lead is led.”
Figure 6.18
Paro, Bhutan.
© Alexander B. Murphy.
If global language means the principal language
people use around the world in their day-to-day activi-
ties, the geographical processes we have examined so far
emphatically do not point to the emergence of English
as a global tongue. Population growth rates are gener-
ally lower in English-speaking areas than they are in
other areas, and little evidence shows people in non-
English speaking areas willing to abandon their local
language in favor of English. Indeed, since language
embodies deeply held cultural views and is a basic fea-
ture of cultural identity, many people actively resist
switching to English.
Yet if
global language
means a common language
of trade and commerce used around the world, the pic-
ture looks rather different. Although not always wel-
comed, the trend throughout much of the world is to
use English as a language of cross-cultural communi-
cation—especially in the areas of science, technology,
travel, business, and education (Fig. 6.18). Korean
scholars are likely to communicate with their Russian
counterparts in English; Japanese scientifi c journals are
increasingly published in English; Danish tourists visit-
ing Italy may use English to get around; and the meet-
ings of most international fi nancial and governmental
institutions are dominated by English. Under these
circumstances, the role of English as an international
language of commerce will grow.
We must be careful in this conclusion, however.
Anyone looking at the world 200 years ago would
have predicted French as the principal language of
cross-cultural communication in the future. Times
are different now, of course. The role of English in the
computer revolution alone makes it hard to imagine a
fundamental shift away from the dominance of English
in international affairs. Yet, economic and politi-
cal influences on language use are always in flux, and
nothing is inevitable.
Choose a country in the world. Imagine you become a strong
leader of a centralized government in the country. Pick a
language used in the country other than the tongue spoken
by the majority. Determine what policies you could put in
place to make the minority language an offi cial language of
the country. What reactions would your initiative generate?
Who would support it and who would not?
