Prime Time 7/8, Writing, Arbeitsheft

12 50 12 Political, historical and cultural aspects of English-speaking countries 12.1 Text input “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 one 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. 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 effectively. Sent by: Dan Comments Alexandra August 26 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. Their “mistakes” tend to be grammatical, but they are less a question of not knowing the rules and more one of creating their 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 his or her 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 university 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! Adam August 15 A global pidgin language is not so bad. If English could be a pidgin language, simple enough for 7.5 billion to understand and communicate in basic English, then the world would for the first time have people who could easily communicate with anyone else. A simple “pidgin” (or simplified English) language could swiftly lead to a global language for use when conversing with foreigners on all levels. Once we get there, then it’s only a matter of adding onto this the extras required for a more in-depth language. Romano August 8 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. Yet, try as we might, it will be very difficult for us to achieve a skill comparable to those who speak English as a native tongue. (www.bbc.co.uk) Reply Reply Reply Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv