L. Activity 1.3 & 2.3. English as a Global Language & English Varieties

1.3. English as a Global Language

1. What is a global language?

It is a language spoken around the world. It is learnt by many people as a second language so as to be able to communicate with individuals from all over the world. Moreover, it is used by international organisations such as UNESCO in order to reach a mundial audience.

1.1 Is it the same as a “lingua franca”?

It is a sort of “brige language” which is used by speakers from all over the world in order to be able to communicate. It does not have to be their native language, but rather a language they learnt as their second one and that is used as a vehicular language to communicate within different languages. It is related to economic and trading interests as well as to administrative and diplomatic ones

2. Do you think that English can be considered as a “lingua fraca”?

Yes, similar to Latin in the Roman Empire, English is used widely as a means of communication when it comes to a wide range of areas such as education, sciences, economics, etc. It is the main tool of communication when you are in a foreign country, when applying for scholarships, when transmitting any piece of information with the aim that everyone understands all over the world, no matter what their native languages are.

3. Name other languages, from present or past times, which you think are, or were, global languages.

Latin in the times of the Roman Empire and in Medieval Times. French in the late ninetweenth and early twentieth century.

4. In your opinión, what factors make a language become a global language?

Socio-economic factors, power (mostly economic), science, knowledge. For instance, Latin in the M.A.was the language to register any kind of formal knowledge, similarly t what happens in English nowadays.

 Activity 2. 3: English varieties

1. What English varieties can you think of?

British/ American
Irish
East-Midlands
Wales
Scotland
Australian
South African
Indian

2. Provide a brief account of the main differences between British and American English.

-/t/ sounds
-/s/-/z/
-Intonation
-More opens vowels

Spelling: British vs American

colour       Vs     color
honour      Vs     honor
labour        Vs   labor

Vocabulary: British vs American

bonnet                Vs         hood
go on holidays   Vs         go on vacation
flat                      Vs    apartment