Top reasons that made English a dominant language

If you speak English, you will probably be able to communicate with someone in almost any major country that you may visit. While not everyone speaks this language, English is actually a dominant language spoken by millions of people around the world. Experts say that around a third of the world’s population speaks English as their mother tongue and many more study it as a second language. What caused English to spread beyond the borders of the British Isles and become such an important player in global communication? The answer begins with a look at the original speakers of the language, English.

English rule in the 19th century

In the 19th century, the British Empire was truly a global empire. As some said at the time, “the sun never sets on the British Empire.” Britain had colonies on every continent and the commercial language in those areas was English. At the end of the 19th century, the scope of the British Empire was global and the language was also becoming global. This influence continued until the 1900s, and by 1922 the British Empire had influence over around 458 million people, about a quarter of the world’s population at the time, which meant that knowing English was important.

The rise of America as a global power

Although it is a relatively young country in light of world history, the United States has become a world superpower, specifically after World War II. America has something to do with politics, economics, and culture around the world. As such, English is becoming increasingly important as a global language. When the influence of the United States in today’s global economy is added to the historical and current influence of Great Britain, understanding English becomes almost essential to conducting business in today’s economic marketplace.

English is the language of technology and science

As you browse the World Wide Web, you will find that most of the websites are in English or have an English translation available. This shows how influential English is in the world of technology. Since many of the technological devices created around the world are largely marketed in the United States, they are designed with English-speaking users in mind. You can see this in the layout of the computer keyboard. Most standard keyboards contain the standard letters of the English alphabet, which is further proof that English is the language of technology.

Furthermore, English is the language of science. The Science Citation Index reports that more than 95 percent of all its documents are documents in English, although most of them are written by non-native speakers of English. English is also used by the medical community as a unifying language, so it is essential for doctors to learn if they want to be able to read reports and magazines on the latest medical advances.

English is the language of international organizations

When multiple countries come together, they must choose a language to speak. Often the chosen language is English. The official language of the United Nations, for example, is English. The same goes for the International Olympic Committee. At the Olympic Games, announcements are made in the language of the host country and in English. English is also one of the official languages ​​of the European Union.

Other uses of English make it have a global impact

English is the international language of many industries, including banking, computing, business, diplomacy, and even entertainment. An international treaty designed to facilitate communication made English the official language of air and maritime activities.

The list of industries or functions where English is one of the main languages ​​spoken is truly endless. The simple fact is that since the late 1800s, English has been spoken in more places in the world than any other language, and that fact, coupled with the economic and political power of the United States and Great Britain, means that the English will continue to speak. have a massive impact on the global economy in the future.

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