CHIÚRE SECONDARY SCHOOL

THE IMPORTANCE AND USE OF ENGLISH IN THE WORLD

Student: Bernardino António Mariano, grade 11

Chiúre
June, 2024
 Bernardino António Mariano

THE IMPORTANCE AND USE OF ENGLISH IN THE WORLD

Teacher: Marcos Avelino Mucona

Chiúre
June, 2024
TABLES OF CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4

1. Definition of language ............................................................................................................. 5

1.2. Historical background of English ......................................................................................... 5

2. The importance and use of English language in the world ..................................................... 5

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 10

References ................................................................................................................................ 11
Introduction

The present essay aims to talk about the importance and use of English in the world.
Therefore, in the twenty-first century, the entire world has become narrow, accessible,
sharable and familiar for all the people living on this earth as English is used as a common
language even though there are some variations in habits, cultures, traditions, regions and
idiosyncratic aspects. As English has got the common qualities, it has been accepted as the
global language among the speakers of thousands of different languages.

Since science and technology is progressing, there are tremendous changes taking place in the
lives of the human beings everywhere in the world. As a result, the whole world has become
a global village and the people have to maintain good relationship with the others. Moreover,
business, trade and commerce have become international and most of the business
organizations have their offices in most of the countries. In order to maintain international
relationship in science, technology, business, education, travel, tourism and so on, English
serves the purpose as a common language and a global language.

This paper also highlights the importance of English in education and employment. Finally,
some useful suggestions are also given in order to extend the use of English into several other
fields.
 1. Definition of language

Language is a unique possession of human beings. It comes next to the food and makes human
beings superior from other species of the world. This is the language due to which all the
businesses of the world. Language is our significant source of communication. It's the way
through which we share our ideas, feelings, views, and thoughts with others. Language
separates us from animals and makes us human. There are thousands of languages in this world,
(Crystal, 2007).

1.2. Historical background of English

According to Crystal (1997), “English was initially the language of England, but over the
historical efforts of the British Empire, it has developed the primary or secondary language of
numerous former British colonies: States, Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, and India etc.
Currently, English is the primary language of not only countries actively touched by British
imperialism, but also many business and cultural spheres dominated by those countries”. In
another word even outside of countries like the U.S. and the U.K., many people can speak and
understand English It is the language of Hollywood and the language of international banking
and business. As such, it is a useful and even necessary language to know. An estimated 1
billion people worldwide speak English On top of this, 67 countries have English as their official
language and there are 27 countries that have English as their secondary official language

2. The importance and use of English language in the world

In today’s global world, the importance of English cannot be denied and ignored since English
is the greatest common language spoken universally. With the help of emerging technology,
English has been playing the main part in several sectors including medicine, engineering, and
education, etc. English is a vital language for all kinds of pro personal goals.

First of all, English is the most common foreign language. This means that two people who
come from different countries (for example, a Mexican and a Tanzanian) usually use English as
a common language to communicate. That is why everyone needs to learn the language in
order to get in touch on an international level. Speaking it will help you communicate with
people from countries all over the world, not just English-speaking ones. The British Council
projected that by 2020 two billion people in the world would be studying English. Learning
English is important as it enables you to communicate easily with your fellow global citizens,
(Graddol, 2012).
According to Graddol (2012), there are several factors that make the English language essential
to communication in our current time:

a) International communication

English is the official language of 53 countries and spoken by around 400 million people across
the globe. It is the most common second language in the world. If you want to interact with
someone from another country, then the chances are that you will both speak English to
communicate. Everyone has to understand the English language because people from different
regions know different languages due to which they cannot understand each other, at that
time English is the only medium to interact with each other.

b) Education

Graddol (2012), states that English is also necessary for the field of education. In many
countries, children are taught and encouraged to learn English as a second language. Even in
countries where it is not an official language. We will find many curriculums in science,
engineering education filed are written in English. Because it is the dominant language in the
sciences, most of the research and studies you find in any given scientific field will be written
in it as well. At the university level, students in many count study almost all their subjects in
English in order to make the material more accessible to international students. English
remains a major medium of instruction in schools, universities. There are large numbers of
books that are written in the English language. English literature is vast and rich. Many of the
latest scientific discoveries are documented in English language. So, students should have
knowledge of English so that they can understand all these material and enhance their
knowledge. Besides this, many universities and schools worldwide are offering an increasing
number of courses taught exclusively in English. In order to take advantage of a number of
study opportunities and courses, English will be a necessity. Furthermore, for a research study
or other publication to get sufficient attention, it should be published in English.

c) The Language of Business

It has become a necessity for people to speak English if they are in a global workforce. There
are various global companies and organizations all over the world in which English is mandated
as well as their official corporate language. In a survey of a local newspaper, it is stated that
cross-border business communication is most often conducted in English.
English skills will also help us in any business venture you choose to follow. If we visit some
offices, companies, governmental organizations, or even math or engineering companies, we
will see the importance of English. Any big company will hire their professional staff after
getting to know whether the people they are hiring are good at English or not. Companies
who want to function at an international level only consider their staff well educated if they
are good English speakers, writers, and readers. English is the dominant business language and
it has become almost a necessity for people to speak English if they are to enter a global
workforce. Research from all over the world shows that cross-border business
communication is most often conducted in English and many international companies expect
employees to be fluent in English, (Graddol 2012).

d) Career Opportunities

If you have a vast knowledge of English, then there are various fields in which you can pursue
your career. To begin with, call centres and helpline centres, where you need to have good
English speaking skills in order to understand and make the other person understand the
problem. Then comes the translation either translating English to some other language or vice
versa. Also, anchoring carrier also requires a person with good speaking ability who can
instantaneously frame words and phrases in a good way.

e) Speaking English gives to Entertainment

Graddol (2012), says that many of the world’s top films, books and music are published and
produced in English. Therefore, by learning English we will have access to a great wealth of
entertainment and will be able to have a great cultural understanding. If we speak English, we
won't need to rely on translations and subtitles anymore to enjoy your favourite books, songs,
films, and TV shows.

Everyone knows that Hollywood is in the United States and that the biggest television and
music industries in the world are based there. As I mentioned above, TV and movies are a
great way to practice your English once you start learning. Knowing English opens up
thousands of movies, television shows, and games for your enjoyment. If you want to one-day
work in the entertainment industry, English is even more essential.
 f) Social Status

There are numbers of business opportunities in the developing nations and if you have good
knowledge of English you can avail the chance. Moreover, if you speak fluent English, your job
opportunities are much better than those who are average in English, and it Is inevitably leading
to a certain social status being assigned to fluent English speakers.

g) It helps to understand other languages

English has a long and fascinating history wars, invasions, and influences from around the globe.
Cultures that have helped shape modern English include Romans, Vikings and the French. For
this reason, it’s a hybrid language comprised of Latin, Germanic and Romance elements.

h) The Internet and Press

On the Internet, the majority of websites are written and created in English. Even sites in
other languages often give you the option to translate the site. It's the primary language of the
press: more newspapers and books are written in English than in any other language, and no
matter where in the world you are, you will find some of these books and newspapers
available. In fact, because it is so dominant in international communication, you will find more
information regarding nearly every subject if you can speak this language.

According to Crystal (2007), by Education First, English is the language of the internet. An
estimated 565 million people use the internet every day, and an estimated 52 percent of the
world’s most visited websites are displayed in the English language. Learning English is
important as it gives access to over half the content on the internet. Knowing read English will
allow access to billions of pages of information which may not be otherwise available.

With the help of developing technology, English has been playing a major role in many sectors
including medicine, engineering and education, which, in my opinion, is the most important
arena where English is needed. If we want a career in travel, English is absolutely essential. As
the international language of aviation, pilots and cabin crew all need to speak English. Even if
you are not up in the air, speaking English accurately will ensure you are able to communicate
with clients and suppliers all over the world.
Having a good understanding of communicating in English makes it easier to travel around to
globe. Because it is the main international common language for foreigners, knowing English
makes it easy to get assistance and in many parts of the world.

There are many valuable reasons to learn the language. In summary, here are the six reasons
why English is important:

1. It is an international common tongue;

2. It is a language of academia;
3. It gives us access to a wealth of written media, online and printed;
4. It comes in handy when travelling;
5. It is essential if you want to work in international business or commerce and
6. It is the language of Hollywood.

No one denies the importance of English language in the present time as a global language. It
is clear that the English language has become more central around the world. In some
countries it is used as the mother tongue and some other countries learn it as second language.
This makes English widespread. In addition, many other reasons, which contribute the rise of
English like; use for communication between people around the world, a language of modern
times and a language of science and information technology, (Crystal 2007).
Conclusion

English is one of the most used and dominating languages in the world. This is having its impact
on every field of work. Undoubtedly, English play a much greater role in the world that it is
inevitable for people to ignore it fully. It has a bright future, it helps connect us in a global
world, and it can also help us in our personal and professional life. Although learning English
can be challenging and time-consuming, we can see that it is also very valuable to learn and
can create many opportunities.

People are getting used to using English as a tool for many different activities in their daily
lives. Communication and business are just a few examples of why people use English between
countries. This is why people should start to learn and practice this language since they are
kids. In this world, successful people are the ones that can communicate with everyone and
the main language of communication in the world is English. English has changed over the past
centuries, but until now, it has changed in a good way.
References

Crystal, David. (2007). English as a Global language. Cambridge University Press.

Crystal, David. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge University Press.
Graddol, D. (2012). English Next: Why global English may mean the end of English as a Foreign
Language? UK