The article is devoted to the study of the role, global distribution and status of the English language in the modern world. The authors study the factors that contribute to the spread of the English language and the history of its development. Borrowing is an important factor in the development and change of the lexical system of language. The borrowed words were divided into classification. Now the world is in transition, and English takes on new forms. Language reflects patterns of contrast with other languages and the changing needs of people in communication. The popularity of English as a language of communication will continue to exert pressure on global uniformity. This can lead to lower standards, language changes and the loss of linguistic diversity. English will become a tool that opens the windows to the world, opens the door for opportunities and expands our minds with new ideas. The types of borrowings in some European countries have been examined and analyzed. We have come to a general conclusion about the relevance of studying the borrowing words.
Introduction
Do we need to be troubled about the future of the English language in the 21th century? According to the latest data, English is still the world standard language, and there is no threat to the language or its global popularity. Yes, changes are coming. (Melvia �asman The role of English in the 21st century. English Teaching Forum, 2000)
The global spread of English over the last 50 years is evident. It is unprecedented in several ways:
- by the increasing number of uses speaking the languages;
- by its penetration into societies;
- by its range of functions.
Worldwide over 1.4 billion people live in countries where English has the official status. One out of 5 of the world`s population spears English with some degree of competence and by the beginning of the 21st century one in five, i.e. over one billion people are also learning English. Over 70% of the world`s scientists read English. About 85% of the world`s male is written in English and 90% of all information in the world`s electronic retrieval systems is stored in English.
By 2020 the number of people who speak English as foreign language will exceed the number of native speakers. This trend will certainly affect the language.
English is used for more purposes than ever before. Vocabularies, grammatical forms and the ways of speaking and writing have been influenced by technological and scientific developments, economics and management, literature and entertainments genres.
The following factors contribute to this spread of English:
- English usage in science, commerce and technology;
- the ability to incorporate vocabulary from other languages;
- the acceptability of various English dialects.
It should be noted that in science German was replaced by English after World War II. With this technical and scientific dominance, the beginning of overall linguistic dominance emerged, firstin Europe and then globally.
Today the Information age has replaced the Industrial age compressing time and distance.
The Information Age is redefining our world ignoring geography and borders.
In less than 20 years information processing, once limited to the printed word, has given way to computers and the Internet. Computer-mediated communication is closing the gap between spoken and written English. It encourages more informal conversational language and a tolerance for diversity and individual style,and has resulted in Internet English replacing the authority of linguistic institutes and practices.
Experiment
Like many languages, English uses a phonetic alphabet and fairly basic syntax. �owever, it has a large and extensive vocabulary of which about 80% is foreign. Therefore, it has cognates from virtually every language in Europe and continues borrowing words from Spanish and French,
�indi and Arabic, Urdu and Bengali, Malay and Chinese, as well as languages from West Africa and Polynesia. This language characteristics makes it unique in history.
In the first half of the 16th century as a result of dynastic relations between England and Spain, a certain number of Spaniards lived in England. As a result, British have learned the certain Spanish words relating to customs and trade. As an example of that time, it is possible to give such examples: comrade (English); the companion; camarade (French); comrade (Spanish); mulatto (English); mulato (Spanish).
The Spanish loans of that period are classified as follows:
- Terms in the sphere of trade: cargo (English); freight – cargo (Spanish); contraband (English); contraband (Spanish).
- Designation of objects of trade: banana (English); banana (Spanish); cacao (English); cocoa
- cocao (Spanish); potato (English) – potatoes – patata (Spanish); tomato (English) – tomato -tomate (Spanish).
- The words relating to the natural phenomena, plants and animals: savannah (English) – the savanna, a meadow – sabana (Spanish); canyon (English) – the gorge – canon (Spanish); cockroach (English) – a cockroach – cucaracha (Spanish).
- Military terms which were formed as a result of the Spanish-English wars: armada (English) – the military fleet – armada (Spanish); gallion (English)
- a galleon – galleon (Spanish).
Sofa, alcove, jar and carafe – each of these words means in a varying degree comfort and all of them have been borrowed from Arabic: sofa comes from the word «suffah» (a long bench); alcove -from the word «al-qubbah» (arch); jar – from «jarrah» (an earth vessel for water); carafe – from «gharrafah» (bottle). Arabic has also enriched the dictionary of English with the words designating various colors: crimson, carmine, azure and lilac. As for leisure, there are such words as «racket» for designation of a tennis racket that has come from Arab «raha»a hand palm.
The words camel, jar, muslin, cotton,sugar, syrup, sherbet, marzipan, algebra and algorithmhave the Arab origin.
Such fruit as apricots, oranges, limes, and vegetables among which there were artichokes, spinach and aubergine have the Arab names.
Talisman and elixir conduct the origin from the Arab alchemy, and the word al-manakh has come from the Arab astronomy. Other borrowed technical designations include caliper, caliber, camphor, carats and average. (http://nuruliman.ru/ archives/426)_
Below you will get acquainted with the English words of the Indian origin such as:avatar, bungalow, cash, guru,jungle, shampoo and pyjamas. (http:// englishon-line.ru/indiiskie-slova.html)
These words have got to language in various ways, but most of them have become current during the colonial period.
It is known that today English is taught everywhere. More and more people begin speaking English fluently. The Chinese are no exception. But the problem is that for some reason learning
English is rather difficult for them. There is a special kind of the Chinese English called «Chinglish». At the same time, China is influenced by English that contributes to increasing the English words and phrases in the Chinese spoken language. The authors of the article give a brief review of translating them in a proper way. Otherwise, you can face some problems. Such words as china, silk, shanghai, mandarin,typhoonare ofChinese origin widely used in English today.
Finally, no English language central authority guards the purity of the language. Therefore, many dialects have developed: American, British, Canadian, Indian and Australian.
There is no standard pronunciation but within this diversity, there is a unity of grammar and a set of core vocabulary.
Thus, every country that speaks the language can inject aspects of its own culture into the usage and vocabulary.
Results of the experiment and discussion
�owever, the future is unpredictable. According to D. Crystal (1997). (D. Crystal English as the language of international communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) there has never been a language so widely spread or spoken by so many people as English. So, there are no precedents to help us predict what happens to a language when it achieves genuine world status.
The world is in transition now and the English language is taking new forms. The language is reflecting patterns of contrast with other languages and the changing communication needs of people.
English is divesting itself of its political and cultural connotations since more and more people realize that English is not just the property of a few countries. It is a vehicle used globally and is leading to more opportunities. The language belongs to whoever uses it for whatever purpose.
The popularity of English as a language of communication will continue to exert pressure toward global uniformity. This could result in decliningstandards, language changes and the loss of geolinguistic diversity.
There is no reason to suppose that any one other language will appear within the next 50 years to replace English. �owever, it is possible that English will not keep its monopoly next century. For example, Spanish is becoming popular because of expanding trade and the increase of the Latino population in the US. This could create a bilingual English – Spanish region.
Internal migration an urbanization may restructure areas, thereby creating communities where English will become the language of interethnic communication the so called neutral language.
English has been an international language for only 50 years or so. If the pattern follows the previous language trends, well still have some
100 years before a new language dominates the world. (The Future of English. London: The British Council, 1998.)
Conclusion
�owever, English remains popular and occupies its dominant position. This does not mean that English will replace other languages. On the contrary, it can co-exist with languages by making strangers possible to communicate across linguistic boundaries. It has become an instrument that opens windows to the world, unlocks doors to opportunities and expands our minds to new ideas.
References
- Melvia A.�asman The role of English in the 21st century. English Teaching Forum, 2000 (http://nuruliman.ru/archives/426_
- http://englishon-line.ru/indiiskie-slova.html
- D.Crystal English as the language of international communication. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997./The Future of English. London: The British Council, 1998.