Sep 27, 2011 11:20 AM
Today non-native speakers of English outnumber native speakers of English. According to David Crystal, the author of the book English as a Global Language, “There’s never before been a language that’s been spoken by more people as a second than a first.” English has traditionally been the predominant language in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is an official language in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – although English is spoken by a very small percentage of the people in some of these countries. English is widely spoken in American Samoa, Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, the Falkland Islands, Guam, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norfolk Island, the Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Suriname, Sweden, and the U.S. Virgin Islands – by 75% or more of the people in each country. It is also used by a significant number of people (at least six million per country) in Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey. The countries with the largest number of English speakers are the United States, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom – in that order.
As the English language is spoken throughout the world, the term “global English” has been used to describe it. English has been referred to as an international language, and as the “lingua franca” or universal language. English is the most widely learned second language in the world, and the demand for English is growing across the globe. In her article, “Not the Queen’s English” (The Daily Beast, March 6, 2005), Newsweek reporter Carla Power described the trend in countries like China for children to learn English at increasingly younger ages. In 2004, primary schools in major Chinese cities began offering English classes for third graders. A growing number of preschoolers are being enrolled in English classes by their parents, and “...some pregnant women speak English to their fetuses.” Power wrote, “For the traditional custodians of English – the British, and more recently the Americans – this means money. The demand for native English-speakers is so huge that there aren’t enough to go around; China and the Middle East are starting to import English teachers from India…”
According to Tom Still, the president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, (“English as the lingua franca of a new age: It’s more powerful than any law,” WTN News, May 29, 2006), “English is the language of the Internet, motion pictures, science and sports. It is the “cash” language spoken in the corridors of trade, and the diplomatic language spoken in the corridors of power. People want to learn English because they need to. It’s necessary for them to function in today’s world.” Kenji Kitao of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan discussed the importance of English in his article “Why Do We Teach English?” (The Internet TESL Journal, April, 1996). He described some of the areas in which English has exerted its influence – news and information, business and government, maritime communication, international air traffic control, American popular culture (movies, music, and books), science and the professions, and international travel.
Carla Power stated that the “new English speakers” around the globe are developing their own versions of English which include some features of their native languages. This has resulted in new types of English such as “Englog” – a mixture of Tagalog from the Philippines and English, “Japlish” – a combination of Japanese and English, and “Hinglish” – a mixture of Hindi and English.
When non-native speakers of English converse with individuals from first language backgrounds that are different from their own, communication challenges can result – especially when different versions of English are spoken. Another issue that frequently interferes with communication is the presence of an accent that reduces the intelligibility of an individual’s speech. In order for a non-native speaker to be readily understood, consonants – including consonant blends – and vowels must be correctly pronounced. The appropriate syllables and words must be stressed. Speech-language pathologists are specialists who are trained to help people increase the intelligibility of their speech. Non-native speakers of English whose accents are preventing them from achieving their career goals can benefit from the accent modification services of a speech-language pathologist.
Celia C. Goldstein, M.A., CCC-SLP holds a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology and is licensed in Tennessee. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She has more than twenty-five years of experience as a speech-language pathologist and has had additional training in accent modification. Ms. Goldstein is the granddaughter of immigrants.
celiagoldsteintn@comcast.net 615-776-8674
