Communication and its Communication and its Global significanceGlobal significance

LECTURE 1LECTURE 1

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A skill to be NurturedA skill to be Nurtured

The English language is nobody’s The English language is nobody’s special property. It is the property special property. It is the property of the imagination: it is the of the imagination: it is the property of the language itself. — property of the language itself. — Derek Walcott Derek Walcott

Holistic SignificanceHolistic Significance

English is the most important tool for English is the most important tool for communicating in this global village and communicating in this global village and mastering it has become a must for those of us mastering it has become a must for those of us who want to be globally mobile, physically or who want to be globally mobile, physically or virtually.virtually.

Countries with the most English Countries with the most English Language SpeakersLanguage Speakers

USA 237MUSA 237M UK 58MUK 58M Canada 18MCanada 18M Australia 15.5MAustralia 15.5M Ireland 3.7 MIreland 3.7 M South Africa 3.7MSouth Africa 3.7M New Zealand 3.3 MNew Zealand 3.3 M Jamaica 2.5MJamaica 2.5M

Top Ten Languages in the Internet Top Ten Languages in the Internet 20102010

English 01English 01Chinese 02Chinese 02Spanish 03Spanish 03Japanese 04Japanese 04Portuguese 05Portuguese 05German 06German 06Arabic 07Arabic 07French 08French 08Russian 09Russian 09Korean 10Korean 10

What is an International Language?What is an International Language?

Language with special status over the Native Language with special status over the Native mother tongue.mother tongue.

Special status conferred in two ways:Special status conferred in two ways:

1:Government making it as official.1:Government making it as official.

2:Receives priority in Schooling and Academic 2:Receives priority in Schooling and Academic institutions.institutions.

English as an International English as an International LanguageLanguage

Does not compel the speaker to have perfect Does not compel the speaker to have perfect command of the culture it expresses.command of the culture it expresses.

Is decentralized.Is decentralized. Communication of the ideas and culture.Communication of the ideas and culture. Functions as a bridge between speakers with Functions as a bridge between speakers with

different linguistic backgrounds.different linguistic backgrounds. English plays the role of Lingua Franca.English plays the role of Lingua Franca.

Kinds of EnglishKinds of English

English as Native Language (ENL).English as Native Language (ENL).

English as a Second Language (ESL).English as a Second Language (ESL).

English as Foreign Language (EFL)English as Foreign Language (EFL)

Why only English?Why only English?

Half of the world’s scientific journals are Half of the world’s scientific journals are written in English.written in English.

Three Quarters of the world’s mail written in Three Quarters of the world’s mail written in English.English.

Three fifth of the radio stations of the world Three fifth of the radio stations of the world beam their messages in English.beam their messages in English.

Spoken as a First Language by more than 300 Spoken as a First Language by more than 300 million people around the world.million people around the world.

Spread of English as a LanguageSpread of English as a Language

Industrial Revolution, the British economic Industrial Revolution, the British economic predominance in the 19predominance in the 19 thth century paved the century paved the way for colonialism of large geographical way for colonialism of large geographical reach.reach.

Displacement of French from the sphere of Displacement of French from the sphere of Diplomacy.Diplomacy.

English Across the globeEnglish Across the globe

English is fast gaining English is fast gaining status as an status as an International English International English Language leaving other Language leaving other languages quite behind languages quite behind in the race to the top in the race to the top

Use of English in BusinessUse of English in Business

Knowledge of English as a language that facilitates Knowledge of English as a language that facilitates trade.trade.

Upgrade workers skills.Upgrade workers skills. As a rich reservoir of ‘Library language’ As a rich reservoir of ‘Library language’ English language training useful for successful English language training useful for successful

participation of non-English speaking jobseekers participation of non-English speaking jobseekers abroad.abroad.

Use as internet serves as a tool for strengthening Use as internet serves as a tool for strengthening Trade and Investment as it shares 36%of the total Trade and Investment as it shares 36%of the total online language.online language.

Linguistic Complacency Linguistic Complacency

Will a global language Will a global language eliminateeliminate the the motivation to motivation to learn other languages?learn other languages?

Handy tips to master English Handy tips to master English LanguageLanguage

Encouraging interaction between the native Encouraging interaction between the native and non-native English speaking people.and non-native English speaking people.

Practicing the Four core skills:Practicing the Four core skills: ListeningListening Speaking Speaking Reading Reading WritingWriting Practice, Practice and Practice.Practice, Practice and Practice.

Self SearchSelf Search

What are your What are your stumbling blocks?stumbling blocks?

The End The End

THANK YOU THANK YOU