The English language

The English language is now the first language of about 400 million people, the native language of 12 nations and the official or semiofficial language of 33 more nations. That means one in every seven people in the world speaks English. The English language has become the “new Latin” of the century, the world’s top tongue. One billion people speak English. That’s 20% of the world population. For the other 600 million it’s either a second language or a foreign language. There are more than 500,000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary. Compare that with the vocabulary of German (about 200,000) and French (about 100,000). At present no other language on the Earth is better suited to play the role of a world language.

There are many reasons for its popularity. First, English is easier to learn than most other languages. Second, it borrows words and phrases from the very countries into which it expands. Eighty percent of all English vocabulary comes from other languages. For example, such words as pork, mutton, beef, etc. were borrowed from French; book, renew, water etc. were borrowed from German; library, renovate, aquatic, etc. were borrowed from Latin; bibliography, hydraulic, telephone, television, etc. were borrowed from Greek. Many words have entered English as a result of trade and colonial expansion: alcohol and algebra come from Arabic; divan and khaki from Persian; chocolate and tomato from native American languages; tea and tycoon from Chinese.

English is so widespread nowadays because it has become the standard language for all kinds of international communication: 80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English; nearly 50% of all the companies in Europe communicate with one another in English; 75% of all international letters and telexes are in English. English is also the international language of businesspeople, pilots, diplomats and politicians, sportsmen and scientists, doctors and students, musicians and singers.

Nowadays in Russia the English language has become the most popular among foreign languages. There are many very good reasons to learn this language. Our country is a part of Europe and the world. Very little clear and detailed communication can occur among people who don’t have a common language. Learning English helps in talking to people, in reading and writing, in understanding TV and films from other countries, and opens up much a wider range of sources of information. Then when you travel in different countries you can manage a lot better if you understand and people understand you. When you speak English to people, they’re often a lot more friendly and helpful. English is the language of communication between different peoples and countries. If you are interested in science, business, medicine, literature and music and you want to be up to date with progress in those fields, you can always read the latest report in English and know the latest information about the question you are interested in.

Learning English broadens your mind and way of thinking. So English is a global language nowadays. Problems of the 21st century, such as the problems of war and peace, ecology, demographics, democracy and many others can not be solved if people do not speak the same language. I think that English is going to become even more important as a global language, dominating world trade, computers and media, while other languages will become localised or just die out.

I think it’s very valuable and helpful in learning English if you start it from an early age. Maybe people can learn the best up to about the age of 20, as they have a lot of time for it, which later isn’t possible. Learning English is not like learning maths or science, because it involves a different way of thinking. You have to learn to think in English. This is like music, maybe. And you have to learn the grammar and vocabulary, too, if you want to know the language well. I have been studying English since the 1st form and I hope I know English more or less now. It is one of my favourite subjects at school. Honestly, I can’t think about my future life without English. I haven’t chosen my future profession yet, but I’m up to date. I’m fond of traveling, computing, reading, art and music, and I’m sure I can’t do without English when I’m a grown-up. English will help me everywhere in my life.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20