From Colonial to Postcolonial: Dissemination of the English Language
Abstract
Among the many languages spoken in the world, the English language is the most widely
spoken language in regard of the number of speakers of English as a mother tongue, second
language, third language, official language, or lingua franca. English has become the world
language or international language with the official and practical use of English in
international affairs, business, trade, sports, the internet, entertainment, organizations, mass
media, politics, and economy. This paper aims to analyze historically how the English language
has been used so prevalently in the world from the colonial times to the postcolonial era. The
export of the English language to the colonies and dependencies worldwide during the heyday
of the British Empire, the role of the education system in establishing the English language in
the colonies, and how the linguistic legacy has been maintained up to the 21st century is also
within the scope of the paper. This study concludes that the colonial and imperial heritage of
the British Empire which transferred the English language to all the continents alongside the
other social, economic, political, and military instruments was pivotal in the widespread use of
English today and in the United States of America with all its economic and cultural might
helped secure the privileged position of English worldwide.
Keywords: English, the British Empire, colonial, postcolonial, language
From Colonial to Postcolonial: Dissemination of the English Language
Abstract
Among the many languages spoken in the world, the English language is the most widely
spoken language in regard of the number of speakers of English as a mother tongue, second
language, third language, official language, or lingua franca. English has become the world
language or international language with the official and practical use of English in
international affairs, business, trade, sports, the internet, entertainment, organizations, mass
media, politics, and economy. This paper aims to analyze historically how the English language
has been used so prevalently in the world from the colonial times to the postcolonial era. The
export of the English language to the colonies and dependencies worldwide during the heyday
of the British Empire, the role of the education system in establishing the English language in
the colonies, and how the linguistic legacy has been maintained up to the 21st century is also
within the scope of the paper. This study concludes that the colonial and imperial heritage of
the British Empire which transferred the English language to all the continents alongside the
other social, economic, political, and military instruments was pivotal in the widespread use of
English today and in the United States of America with all its economic and cultural might
helped secure the privileged position of English worldwide.
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