ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SPREAD OF ENGLISH

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SPREAD OF ENGLISH

English is now the leading language used in international communication. Close to one third of the world's independent states use English as the only official language or the co-official language (Conrad and Fishman 6-8). By 1982, the total population which uses English as either first or second language is set at 600 millions (Brumft v). Hundreds of millions more are learning English as a foreign language in schools. In addition to its distribution among the masses, English, as one of the official languages of world bodies such as the United Nations, predominates in communication in those world bodies. The director of the language division of the United Nations office in Geneva estimates that at least 75 percent of the original documents done at the Palace of Nations are written in English. Moreover, more than half of the 120 permanent missions accredited to Geneva ask for English as their principal language while 26 more opt for English as one of their principal languages (Weinstein 163). Outside the area of politics, English is used as the primary language in science, in air traffic control and communications at sea, in banking and financing, and in many other facets of modern life. In short, just as Latin and French had been world languages in previous ages, English has now assumed the leading place.