The Future of English
Have you ever wondered how many people there are who speak English?
Geographically, English is the most widespread language on earth. If you add to this the enormous number of people who learn to understand and speak English (like yourself), you will realize that English is indeed a "world language".
Through the centuries, as a result of various historical events, English spread throughout the world. Today, English is represented in every continent and in the three main oceans – the Atlantic, the Indian, and the Pacific.
A century ago, some linguists predicted that one day people of Great Bri-
tain and the USA would speak different languages. However, with the advent of records, cinema, radio and television, the two brands of English (British and American) have even begun to draw back together again. Britons and Americans probably speak more alike today than they did 50 or 60 years ago (In the 1930s and 1940s, for example, American films were dubbed in England. It's no longer the practice today).
People have long been interested in having one language that could be spoken throughout the world. Such a language would help to increase cultural and economic ties and simplify communication between people. Through the years, at least 600 universal languages have been proposed, including Esperanto. About 10 million people have learned Esperanto since its creation in 1887, but English, according to specialists, has better chances to become a global language. So why not to learn it?
Vocabulary:
advent – наступление, появление (какого-л. события, явления)
alike – нареч. подобно, одинаково, похоже
economic – экономический
enormous number [i`no:nəs `nΛmbə] – огромное количество
Esperanto – язык "эсперанто"
geographically [,d3i:əu`græfikəli] – географически
including – включая
linguist [`liŋgwist] – лингвист
through the centuries [,θru: ðə `sent∫(ə)riz] – сквозь столетия
to be represented – быть представленным
to be interested in smth. – быть заинтересованным в / интересоваться чем-л.
to dub [dΛb] – зд.: озвучивать, дублировать фильм
to increase – возрастать, увеличивать(ся), усиливать(ся)
to predict – предсказывать
to propose – предлагать, представлять
tie – зд.: узы, связь
various [`veəriəs] – различный, разнообразный
widespread [`waidspred] – широко распространённый
Questions for self-examination:
1. Why is English Language called the "world language"?
2. Is there any difference between British and American variants of the English language?
3. To your mind, has English any chances to become a global language? Why?
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