In the contemporary world, the English language is prevalent in the international political, economic and cultural scenes. Apart from that, it has consolidated its status as the most-studied instrument of communication in hundreds of thousands of educational institutions. The dominance of English has been a breeding ground for spirited debate not just within the linguistic academic, but also in the press as well as the general public. As I see it, the boons brought about by the spread of English far outweigh the banes.
Granted, the proliferation of English does not come without drawbacks. First, it renders a host of indegenous languages obsolete. According to a study conducted by UNESCO, over 200 ethnic languages went extinct in 2004, primarily due to the linguistic assimilation of ethnic minorities into the english language. These languages had crystallized and conveyed unique indigenous traditions, rites, rituals and mores and their extinction constituted an anthropological disaster. Secondly, the encroachments of English erode the cultural identity of other races. The prevalence of English has a chilling effect on the purity of other languages and it can aggravate the sense of cultural inferiority among the non-native speakers of English.
However, the proliferation of English can generate even more benefits. To begin with, English as a global lingua Franca (通用语） facilitates cross-cultural communication. Today, eight in every ten international conferences designate English as their chief working language; and ninety-eight percent leading scientific journals in the world are published in English or have an English version. Further, the extensive use of a common language has a unifying effect on people who do not speak the same mother tongue. Language barriers naturally engender a measure of distrust or alienation while a shared language makes for a sense of belonging and sympathy. Lastly, the expansion of English also enables people whose native tongue is not english to appreciate the English-speaking cultures more efficiently and more fully. It is manifest that many English-speaking cultures are among the richest and most dynamic cultures in the world. English learners have surely found themselves in and advantageous position in terms of life-enrichment, as they can read the English literature in the original language, can comprehend Hollywood blockbusters without having to read the minute subtitles and do not rely exclusively upon body language while touring English-speaking destinations anymore.
In sum, I concede that the linguistic dominance of English has created some adverse effects on the world cultures. Nonetheless, its spread has produced even more blessings to our lives. On balance, I am convinced that we should sustain the extensive use of English as global language while at the same time do our utmost to honor and preserve other distinct languages and culture.
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