'Global English' is already becoming a pidgin language
Paradoxically, I actually think that in the long term, it is the English language that is the most in danger. As English becomes the lingua franca, it becomes primarily a tool for communication between people of different nationalities. Many people will rarely, if ever use it to talk to native speakers. This 'Global English' is already becoming a pidgin language and I think that the idea that most foreigners speak better English than native speakers (quite widespread in the UK) is a misconception. It is becoming acceptable to say things like, "he go shop" and "I learn English three year". While non-native speakers will continue to have a rich, expressive language as a native tongue, English may lose all its depth and leave native speakers with an inadequate language. It seems unfair that I'm expected to speak foreign languages as a native would whereas speakers of English as a foreign language are only expected to communicate.
Sent by: Dan
Comments
If one was to remove all words within the English language that have been "borrowed" from other languages there would be very few words left to say. English as we speak it today and the English Shakespeare and Chaucer spoke is heavily influenced by Latin, Greek, French, German and Flemish, without which most of our would not exist. The differences between our English and that of Shakespeare and Chaucer is the introduction of words from the aboriginal languages of English colonies and countries of trade.
Denitsa, "I'm tired already" is grammatically correct, but "already" might be the wrong word for indicating "now" or "at this point." For example, "already" would be the right word to use if the rest of the sentence were "and I've worked on this only 2 minutes!" but the wrong word to use if the intended sense were "and I've worked on this for years."
Alexandra, im not a native speaker, why is the phrase 'I'm tired already' grammatically incorrect? tnx
Dan, I think it is a mistake to confuse "pidgin" English with "global English" or "European English" as some prefer to call it. I am an English native speaker who has now been living in Continental Europe for several years. I have many friends from a variety of countries whose English is simply fantastic. They have a large and elevated vocabulary (that would put many native speakers to shame), are never at a loss for words and I certainly don´t even have to consider "dumbing down" my own language, because I know they have no problems whatsoever with comprehension. None of them would say something like "he go shop". But they might say something like "I´m tired already". Their "mistakes" tend to be grammatical but they are less a question of not knowing the rules and more one of creating your own "shortcuts" or borrowing from another language (not even necessarily their native one.) After a few months I came to two conclusions: first, that everyone makes the same "mistakes" regardless of their own native language, and secondly, that when I am around these people, I pick up their turns of phrases and grammar, and adopt their idiom the same way I adopt my native American patterns of speech when I am home in California, and the British ones I learned during three years of Uni there when I speak with someone from the UK. In my opinion, what is happening is quite the opposite of your fear; rather than English losing its depth, it is evolving into a new form which fits a particular social and geographic group (as it has many times in the past, with American, Australian, Canadian, etc.). As a linguist and a native English speaker, I actually find this incredibly exciting!
Poppycock! I feel that it is certainly NOT acceptable for educated Brits or Northern Irishmen and women (incidentally, you fail to mention all other countries where English is the first language) to say 'I learn English three year'. What's more, foreigners who expect you to speak their language as a native would probably had little or no experience of learning a foreign language and little or no interest in or contact with foreign cultures, like many people who speak English. It is in the interest of us all to be open-minded, accept and learn more about foreign languages and cultures in this increasingly globalised world where communication between nations is key to our mutual well-being.
A global pidgin language is not so bad. If English could be a pidgin language, simple enough for six billion to understand and communicate "he go shop" and "I learn English three year" then the world would for the first time have people who could communicate with anyone else. A simple 'pidgin' (or simplified English) language would speed up a global language for use when conversing with foreigners, once we get there, then its only a matter of adding onto this the extras required for a more indepth language.
I think that the danger of having the English language 'corrupted' by non native speakers is a neglectable side-effect. As a non-native English speaker I could say that today almost everybody has to learn English as a global tool of communication; despite such efforts it will be very difficult to achieve a skill comparable to those who speak English as a native tongue. Think about the advantages native English speakers have: to learn a foreign language not for cultural reasons but as a vital tool, better opportunities in the international job market, opportunity to make profits from teaching the language abroad or at home. To say nothing about minor benefits as easy travelling and getting in contact with people who want to practise the language.
My word, yes, every effort should be made to conserve a people's language and identity. It may be all so easy for tourists to have to bother with only mastering their own language [how many Brits does that make?]. But if one loses ones own language then the means to communicate has been lessened, and the world as a whole is poorer for it. English is a hotch-potch gathered from other languages and peoples who have settled in the British Isles. You could say that the English language is the revenge of the original people of our islands. And they have done a pretty good job of it!
Flag this comment