short essay on language

Essays About Language: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Language is the key to expressive communication; let our essay examples and writing prompts inspire you if you are writing essays about language.

When we communicate with one another, we use a system called language. It mainly consists of words, which, when combined, form phrases and sentences we use to talk to one another. However, some forms of language do not require written or verbal communication, such as sign language. 

Language can also refer to how we write or say things. For example, we can speak to friends using colloquial expressions and slang, while academic writing demands precise, formal language. Language is a complex concept with many meanings; discover the secrets of language in our informative guide.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. a global language: english language by dallas ryan , 2. language and its importance to society by shelly shah, 3. language: the essence of culture by kelsey holmes.

• 4.  Foreign Language Speech by Sophie Carson
• 5. ​​Attitudes to Language by Kurt Medina

1. My Native Language

2. the advantages of bilingualism, 3. language and technology, 4. why language matters, 5. slang and communication, 6. english is the official language of the u.s..

“Furthermore, using English, people can have more friends, widen peer relationships with foreigners and can not get lost. Overall, English becomes a global language; people may have more chances in communication. Another crucial advantage is improving business. If English was spoken widespread and everyone could use it, they would likely have more opportunities in business. Foreign investments from rich countries might be supported to the poorer countries.”

In this essay, Ryan enumerates both the advantages and disadvantages of using English; it seems that Ryan proposes uniting the world under the English language. English, a well-known and commonly-spoken language can help people to communicate better, which can foster better connections with one another. However, people would lose their native language and promote a specific culture rather than diversity. Ultimately, Ryan believes that English is a “global language,” and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages

“Language is a constituent element of civilization. It raised man from a savage state to the plane which he was capable of reaching. Man could not become man except by language. An essential point in which man differs from animals is that man alone is the sole possessor of language. No doubt animals also exhibit certain degree of power of communication but that is not only inferior in degree to human language, but also radically diverse in kind from it.”

Shah writes about the meaning of language, its role in society, and its place as an institution serving the purposes of the people using it. Most importantly, she writes about why it is necessary; the way we communicate through language separates us as humans from all other living things. It also carries individual culture and allows one to convey their thoughts. You might find our list of TOEFL writing topics helpful.

“Cultural identity is heavily dependent on a number of factors including ethnicity, gender, geographic location, religion, language, and so much more.  Culture is defined as a “historically transmitted system of symbols, meanings, and norms.”  Knowing a language automatically enables someone to identify with others who speak the same language.  This connection is such an important part of cultural exchange”

In this short essay, Homes discusses how language reflects a person’s cultural identity and the importance of communication in a civilized society. Different communities and cultures use specific sounds and understand their meanings to communicate. From this, writing was developed. Knowing a language makes connecting with others of the same culture easier. 

4.   Foreign Language Speech by Sophie Carson

“Ultimately, learning a foreign language will improve a child’s overall thinking and learning skills in general, making them smarter in many different unrelated areas. Their creativity is highly improved as they are more trained to look at problems from different angles and think outside of the box. This flexible thinking makes them better problem solvers since they can see problems from different perspectives. The better thinking skills developed from learning a foreign language have also been seen through testing scores.”

Carson writes about some of the benefits of learning a foreign language, especially during childhood. During childhood, the brain is more flexible, and it is easier for one to learn a new language in their younger years. Among many other benefits, bilingualism has been shown to improve memory and open up more parts of a child’s brain, helping them hone their critical thinking skills. Teaching children a foreign language makes them more aware of the world around them and can open up opportunities in the future.

5. ​​ Attitudes to Language by Kurt Medina

“Increasingly, educators are becoming aware that a person’s native language is an integral part of who that person is and marginalizing the language can have severe damaging effects on that person’s psyche. Many linguists consistently make a case for teaching native languages alongside the target languages so that children can clearly differentiate among the codes”

As its title suggests, Medina’s essay revolves around different attitudes towards types of language, whether it be vernacular language or dialects. He discusses this in the context of Caribbean cultures, where different dialects and languages are widespread, and people switch between languages quickly. Medina mentions how we tend to modify the language we use in different situations, depending on how formal or informal we need to be. 

6 Prompts for Essays About Language

In your essay, you can write about your native language. For example, explain how it originated and some of its characteristics. Write about why you are proud of it or persuade others to try learning it. To add depth to your essay, include a section with common phrases or idioms from your native language and explain their meaning.

Bilingualism has been said to enhance a whole range of cognitive skills, from a longer attention span to better memory. Look into the different advantages of speaking two or more languages, and use these to promote bilingualism. Cite scientific research papers and reference their findings in your essay for a compelling piece of writing.

In the 21st century, the development of new technology has blurred the lines between communication and isolation; it has undoubtedly changed how we interact and use language. For example, many words have been replaced in day-to-day communication by texting lingo and slang. In addition, technology has made us communicate more virtually and non-verbally. Research and discuss how the 21st century has changed how we interact and “do language” worldwide, whether it has improved or worsened. 

We often change how we speak depending on the situation; we use different words and expressions. Why do we do this? Based on a combination of personal experience and research, reflect on why it is essential to use appropriate language in different scenarios.

Different cultures use different forms of slang. Slang is a type of language consisting of informal words and expressions. Some hold negative views towards slang, saying that it degrades the language system, while others believe it allows people to express their culture. Write about whether you believe slang should be acceptable or not: defend your position by giving evidence either that slang is detrimental to language or that it poses no threat.

English is the most spoken language in the United States and is used in government documents; it is all but the country’s official language. Do you believe the government should finally declare English the country’s official language? Research the viewpoints of both sides and form a conclusion; support your argument with sufficient details and research. 

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our guide on how to write an essay about diversity .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

View all posts

Along with Stanford news and stories, show me:

• Student information
• Faculty/Staff information

We want to provide announcements, events, leadership messages and resources that are relevant to you. Your selection is stored in a browser cookie which you can remove at any time using “Clear all personalization” below.

Speaking, writing and reading are integral to everyday life, where language is the primary tool for expression and communication. Studying how people use language – what words and phrases they unconsciously choose and combine – can help us better understand ourselves and why we behave the way we do.

Linguistics scholars seek to determine what is unique and universal about the language we use, how it is acquired and the ways it changes over time. They consider language as a cultural, social and psychological phenomenon.

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky , the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford . “Discovering what’s universal about languages can help us understand the core of our humanity.”

The stories below represent some of the ways linguists have investigated many aspects of language, including its semantics and syntax, phonetics and phonology, and its social, psychological and computational aspects.

Understanding stereotypes

Stanford linguists and psychologists study how language is interpreted by people. Even the slightest differences in language use can correspond with biased beliefs of the speakers, according to research.

One study showed that a relatively harmless sentence, such as “girls are as good as boys at math,” can subtly perpetuate sexist stereotypes. Because of the statement’s grammatical structure, it implies that being good at math is more common or natural for boys than girls, the researchers said.

Language can play a big role in how we and others perceive the world, and linguists work to discover what words and phrases can influence us, unknowingly.

How well-meaning statements can spread stereotypes unintentionally

New Stanford research shows that sentences that frame one gender as the standard for the other can unintentionally perpetuate biases.

Algorithms reveal changes in stereotypes

New Stanford research shows that, over the past century, linguistic changes in gender and ethnic stereotypes correlated with major social movements and demographic changes in the U.S. Census data.

Exploring what an interruption is in conversation

Stanford doctoral candidate Katherine Hilton found that people perceive interruptions in conversation differently, and those perceptions differ depending on the listener’s own conversational style as well as gender.

Cops speak less respectfully to black community members

Professors Jennifer Eberhardt and Dan Jurafsky, along with other Stanford researchers, detected racial disparities in police officers’ speech after analyzing more than 100 hours of body camera footage from Oakland Police.

How other languages inform our own

People speak roughly 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it.

Jurafsky said it’s important to study languages other than our own and how they develop over time because it can help scholars understand what lies at the foundation of humans’ unique way of communicating with one another.

“All this research can help us discover what it means to be human,” Jurafsky said.

Stanford PhD student documents indigenous language of Papua New Guinea

Fifth-year PhD student Kate Lindsey recently returned to the United States after a year of documenting an obscure language indigenous to the South Pacific nation.

Students explore Esperanto across Europe

In a research project spanning eight countries, two Stanford students search for Esperanto, a constructed language, against the backdrop of European populism.

Chris Manning: How computers are learning to understand language​

A computer scientist discusses the evolution of computational linguistics and where it’s headed next.

Stanford research explores novel perspectives on the evolution of Spanish

Using digital tools and literature to explore the evolution of the Spanish language, Stanford researcher Cuauhtémoc García-García reveals a new historical perspective on linguistic changes in Latin America and Spain.

Language as a lens into behavior

Linguists analyze how certain speech patterns correspond to particular behaviors, including how language can impact people’s buying decisions or influence their social media use.

For example, in one research paper, a group of Stanford researchers examined the differences in how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online to better understand how a polarization of beliefs can occur on social media.

“We live in a very polarized time,” Jurafsky said. “Understanding what different groups of people say and why is the first step in determining how we can help bring people together.”

Analyzing the tweets of Republicans and Democrats

New research by Dora Demszky and colleagues examined how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online in an attempt to understand how polarization of beliefs occurs on social media.

Examining bilingual behavior of children at Texas preschool

A Stanford senior studied a group of bilingual children at a Spanish immersion preschool in Texas to understand how they distinguished between their two languages.

Predicting sales of online products from advertising language

Stanford linguist Dan Jurafsky and colleagues have found that products in Japan sell better if their advertising includes polite language and words that invoke cultural traditions or authority.

Language can help the elderly cope with the challenges of aging, says Stanford professor

By examining conversations of elderly Japanese women, linguist Yoshiko Matsumoto uncovers language techniques that help people move past traumatic events and regain a sense of normalcy.

Psychology Discussion

Essay on language: definition, structure and characteristics.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

In this essay we will discuss about Language. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Definition of Language 2. Structure of Language 3. Characteristics.

Essay # Definition of Language:

The term language is derived from the Latin word language which means tongue. While the need to express one’s desires, interests, feelings and emotions is inborn, the ability to communicate with others through language is learned or acquired. Acquisition of language begins with the initial cries, grunts, grons, and gasps of the neonate.

With growth of age babbling starts. All these are transformed in to the use of single words, two words and then to three words sentences and finally into well formed sentences. Words are symbols of reality and they are used to symbolize concepts and manipulate knowledge concerning reality.

A language ordinarily is an elaborate system of specialized verbal symbol generally accepted and used in the transmission of meaning. The human child acquires a great amount of reception learning through language itself.

Language also helps greatly in learning in the transmission of cultures traditions, love, sympathy attitudes and aspirations of social beings. Mowrer (1954) emphasizing the importance of language has thus remarked “Language makes it possible for its users to have various experience, to learn through and from the learning of others and this I see is the essence of education.”

It is through language that cultures and traditions are passed on to the next generation, to the children and to students. The never ending transmission of culture and heritage from generation to generation is done basically through language and without language, the cultural stream cannot flow properly.

Bruner (1964) has referred to language as a Cultural technique upon which the phylogenetic and Ontogentic development of human intelligence depends. Besides Communicating one’s own feeling and experience with another person other aims of language are to learn to gain knowledge, to fulfill various needs and above all to relationship with others.

Brownfled, McCarthy and Vincent holds that speech is a type of activity through which man builds his world, becomes sociable and helps others. Language makes a man polished and by and large, language helps in the healthy development of personality.

According to Encyclopedia America, Language is a faculty and ability possessed by normal human beings and by other species of using a spoken and written references to represent mental phenomena or events. According to Soffettic language refers to “The systematized set of vocal habits by means of which the members of a human society interact in terms of their culture.”

Sapir (1921) is of view that “language is a purely human method of communication through a system of voluntarily produced symbols” Ruddell (1974) defines language as a system represented by sound symbols with conventional meanings hared by members of a linguistic group.” The importance of language cannot be undermined in the society.

The acquisition of words is essential for abstraction, concept formation, all higher learning, cognitive growth processes. In simple terms language may be said to be a means of communication through conventional symbols.

Language has three major dimensions such as:

(1) Content, which refers to the meaning of any written or spoken language.

(2) Form, which is the particular symbol used to represent the Content, the sound the word and the grammar.

(3) Use-which is referred to the social inter-change or exchange between two people.

Essay # Structure of Language :

The structure of language has three aspects:

(1) Phonemes

(2) Horphems

(3) Syntex.

1. Phonemes:

Phonemes refers to the basic source used in any language. The letters of the alphabets in English language have 26 Corresponding basic sounds in speech i.e. one letter for each distinguishable speech sound.

2. Morphems:

When Phonemes are combined into large units, they are called morphemes. Thus, Morphemes are smallest meaningful spoken units. A morphem is a language unit that cannot be broken down further without loosing or altering its meaning. A single morphem may consist of any syllable or several syllables.

The rules for combining morpheme (words) into grammatically correct sentences are called syntex. Syntex is based on linguistic analysis of sentence formation. The ultimate purpose of syntex is to understand how the meaning of sentences is conveyed by the speaker to the listener.

Each language has its own rules governing the combination of phonemes, permitting some combinations and prohibiting others. In order to understand any language one has to understand both meaning and structure.

Essay # Characteristics of Language :

A language has the following characteristics:

1. Language is a human attribute.

2. It is partly acquired, but largely instinctive.

3. It is verbal, symbolic and primarily oral in nature.

4. Language is a systematic and patterned behaviour having definite structure and form. The speaker cannot indiscriminately change the sequence of words.

5. Language has individual and social significance since it is a primary tool of communication.

6. Language is a system actualized as sounds or phonemes.

7. Language has melody, rhythm, pitch, stress and junctare.

8. The relationship between symbol and meaning is conventional arbitrary, learned and traditional.

9. Language is a open system allowing the speaker to say new utterances that may never have been said before.

Some features of children’s experience are vital to the learning of the structure of language. These features are initiation, comprehension and production. The relationship between these three processes are of major importance than their individual contributions.

1. Initiation:

A child repeats utterances produced by his parents. He imitates the pronunciation of his parents or baby seater or aaya and readily accepts the speech pattern and pronunciation made by persons in his immediate environment. Electronic medias like Radio. Television etc. play important role here.

2. Comprehension:

This includes the correct association of meaning with word by symbols, the selection of the correct meaning suggested by the context, the organisation and retention of meanings, the ability to reason smaller idea segment and the ability to group the meaning of a larger unitary idea.

3. Production:

It refers to utterances which are of initiation, which are grammatical and internally principled and which bear some relation to nonlinguistic features of the environment so that they are comprehensible to a listener. Initiation is found to be easier then comprehension which is again easier than production.

The former two are necessary conditions of the later. While initiation involves a perceptual motor skill only and hence easiest, comprehension and production both require awareness of meaning. Further production demands utterances while comprehension simply requires pointing.

Related Articles:

• Language Acquisition Device (LAD) | Language | Psychology
• Development of Language Behaviour in the Child | Language | Child Psychology
• Essay on Emotions: Definition, Characteristics and Importance
• Personality Development: Definition and Characteristics

Subscribe to our newsletter

40 great articles and essays about language and linguistics, linguistics, who decides what words mean by lane greene, hand to mouth by kensy cooperrider, the interpreter by john colapinto, the language of the future by henry hitchings, english, loanword champion of the world by britt peterson, the crayola-fication of the world by aatish bhatia, say no more by jack hitt, why do people, like, say, ‘like’ so much by sam wolfson, linguists are like, 'get used to it' by britt peterson*, vowel movement by rob mifsud, utopian for beginners by joshua foer, internet linguistics, a defense of internet linguistics by tia baheri, english has a new preposition, because internet by megan garber, that way we're all writing now by clive thompson*, what the f***, a linguist explains the syntax of "fuck" by gretchen mcculloch*, in which we get to the bottom of some crazy-ass language by chi luu, the surprising benefits of swearing by tiffanie wen, why swearing reduces pain by emma byrne, deaf language, a linguistic big bang by lawrence osborne, seeing at the speed of sound by rachel kolb, deafness as culture by edward dolnick, see also..., 30 great essays about words and writing.

John McWhorter

What the world will speak in 2115 by john mcwhorter, how immigration changes language by john mcwhorter, why ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ sound so similar in so many languages by john mcwhorter, english is not normal by john mcwhorter, what’s a language, anyway by john mcwhorter, the evolution of ‘like’ by john mcwhorter, the world’s most efficient languages by john mcwhorter, call them what they wants by john mcwhorter, curses aren’t just words by john mcwhorter, euphemise this by john mcwhorter, the foolish, malicious war on apostrophe’s by john mcwhorter, spelling, grammar and lexicography, dear pedants: your fave grammar rule is probably fake by chi luu, tense present by david foster wallace, writing right by jared diamond, false fronts in the language wars by steven pinker, typos, tricks and misprints by arika okrent, cyber-neologoliferation by james gleick, the language instinct by steven pinker, the story of english by robert mccrum.

About The Electric Typewriter We search the net to bring you the best nonfiction, articles, essays and journalism

Essays on Language

Language : Language And Language

Language in society is constantly being spoken in several different ways—whether that consists of speaking in different languages, or communicating differently when speaking and writing. Furthermore, language is often described as words used to communicate amongst others around you. As you become older, you quickly realize that language comes with much more than words. Many languages; if not all, have several different dialects—some to the point where the words can’t be recognized whatsoever. Consequently

Language And Sexism In Language

Language plays an important role in society. In large extent it is a mirror of it while at the same time it functions as means of constructing and maintaining that society. As a phenomenon of society, language reflects all the perspectives of human society. Sexism in language has been a controversial topic in sociolinguists since its inception. In this chapter, a historical overview will be made and a definition of sexist language will be provided. Sexism in language exists when language devalues

Language Between Language And Language

Language arose out of a need to communicate ideas and commands. Initially it was very basic, but in its current form language is very complex. It a adapted to the changing need of speakers. In this sense, language is a living entity which evolves in response to the changing cultural context in which it exists. Because language evolves in response to culture, the full quality of its meaning is derived from understanding the context in which it takes place. Educators must be aware of the sociocultural

Language Oh Language “The history of HCE has inspiring accounts of resourcefulness, intellect, and competence that both reflect and sustain local Hawaii culture.” (Kanae, np) There is no other place in this world like Hawaii. There is a mixture of nationalities and languages that have made our islands the unique and special place it is. One of the most important components in a culture is language. Language is used to communicate daily among multiple ethnic groups. In Hawaii

Assignment 2: Figurative Language versus Literal Language The lack of exposure to non literal forms of language makes it difficult to engage in productive thinking. Having the capacity to understand figurative language increases our ability to communicate with each other. By increasing our word bank we expand our knowledge base and increase our thinking capacity. Below are a list of ten words with their meaning, definitions, examples and appropriate circumstances in which to use them. 1. Describe

Language As A Natural Language

In our society today, language plays a diverse role in human potential and captures individual unique human characteristics of expression. Likewise, if a universal language was adopted, these distinctive perspectives will be lost. In correlation, linguistic and phonological skills were created when people used language as a natural communication system. Consequently, one’s daily life is impacted by language through unique ways we can communicate to manifest problem-solving and cognitive skills. Above

The Effects Of Language On Language Influences

proposed that language influences or determines the way in which an individual thinks (Whorfian Hypothesis). Subsequently, Miller and McNeil (1969) distinguished three versions of this hypothesis, simply ladled “strong”, “weak” and “very weak”. The “strong” hypothesis emphasizes the role of language when creating cognition, essentially language determines thought. The “weak” states that language influences memory perception. Finally, the “very weak" hypothesis states that language influences memory

Native Language And Indigenous Language

Language is one of many components that identify a group of people to their culture. Unfortunately, there are quite a few obstacles that challenge indigenous people learning their native language. The loss of a language distances groups farther from their native roots, which is exactly opposite of the efforts being made in Canada. Learning and practicing an indigenous language fulfills one’s role as an engaged citizen and allows for engagement within a culture. The McGill Tribune published Jenny

Language And Language: The Issue Of Languages And Dialects

Aeraki Eleni Ms. Topintzi Nina Γλ5-300E 5 Nov. 2014 The Issue of Languages and Dialects One of the most important elements all cultures possess is the language which represents each one . Language is of vital importance to people’s lives, since it is a way of communicating with others. Language also offers people the ability to create and maintain relationships with others. Each language includes numerous varieties, named dialects. Languages and dialects have some main differences and the distinction

Language In English Language

learn a lot about language from reading books and studying grammatical conventions, purely analysing or studying a language as an object will not allow a person to submerge themselves in the true social process and complexity of the language. Grudgeon and Gardner (2000) use the analogy of language as a fish; the fish, itself is an organism to be studied, but its true marvel becomes apparent when it swims. The fish represents the written, structured conventional form of language, whereas human beings

Popular Topics

• Essay About Language Acquisition
• Essay on Language Development
• Language Learners Essay
• Lao Tzu Essay
• Las Casas Essay
• Last Supper Essay
• Late-Term Abortion Essay
• Latin America Essay
• Latino Essay
• Law Enforcement Essay

To arrive at the edge of the world's knowledge, seek out the most complex and sophisticated minds, put them in a room together, and have them ask each other the questions they are asking themselves.

HOW DOES OUR LANGUAGE SHAPE THE WAY WE THINK?

For a long time, the idea that language might shape thought was considered at best untestable and more often simply wrong. Research in my labs at Stanford University and at MIT has helped reopen this question. We have collected data around the world: from China, Greece, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, and Aboriginal Australia. What we have learned is that people who speak different languages do indeed think differently and that even flukes of grammar can profoundly affect how we see the world. Language is a uniquely human gift, central to our experience of being human. Appreciating its role in constructing our mental lives brings us one step closer to understanding the very nature of humanity.

HOW DOES OUR LANGUAGE SHAPE THE WAY WE THINK?  By Lera Boroditsky

LERA BORODITSKY is an assistant professor of psychology, neuroscience, and symbolic systems at Stanford University, who looks at how the languages we speak shape the way we think.

Lera Boroditsky's Edge Bio Page

Humans communicate with one another using a dazzling array of languages, each differing from the next in innumerable ways. Do the languages we speak shape the way we see the world, the way we think, and the way we live our lives? Do people who speak different languages think differently simply because they speak different languages? Does learning new languages change the way you think? Do polyglots think differently when speaking different languages?

These questions touch on nearly all of the major controversies in the study of mind. They have engaged scores of philosophers, anthropologists, linguists, and psychologists, and they have important implications for politics, law, and religion. Yet despite nearly constant attention and debate, very little empirical work was done on these questions until recently. For a long time, the idea that language might shape thought was considered at best untestable and more often simply wrong. Research in my labs at Stanford University and at MIT has helped reopen this question. We have collected data around the world: from China, Greece, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, and Aboriginal Australia. What we have learned is that people who speak different languages do indeed think differently and that even flukes of grammar can profoundly affect how we see the world. Language is a uniquely human gift, central to our experience of being human. Appreciating its role in constructing our mental lives brings us one step closer to understanding the very nature of humanity.

I often start my undergraduate lectures by asking students the following question: which cognitive faculty would you most hate to lose? Most of them pick the sense of sight; a few pick hearing. Once in a while, a wisecracking student might pick her sense of humor or her fashion sense. Almost never do any of them spontaneously say that the faculty they'd most hate to lose is language. Yet if you lose (or are born without) your sight or hearing, you can still have a wonderfully rich social existence. You can have friends, you can get an education, you can hold a job, you can start a family. But what would your life be like if you had never learned a language? Could you still have friends, get an education, hold a job, start a family? Language is so fundamental to our experience, so deeply a part of being human, that it's hard to imagine life without it. But are languages merely tools for expressing our thoughts, or do they actually shape our thoughts?

Most questions of whether and how language shapes thought start with the simple observation that languages differ from one another. And a lot! Let's take a (very) hypothetical example. Suppose you want to say, "Bush read Chomsky's latest book." Let's focus on just the verb, "read." To say this sentence in English, we have to mark the verb for tense; in this case, we have to pronounce it like "red" and not like "reed." In Indonesian you need not (in fact, you can't) alter the verb to mark tense. In Russian you would have to alter the verb to indicate tense and gender. So if it was Laura Bush who did the reading, you'd use a different form of the verb than if it was George. In Russian you'd also have to include in the verb information about completion. If George read only part of the book, you'd use a different form of the verb than if he'd diligently plowed through the whole thing. In Turkish you'd have to include in the verb how you acquired this information: if you had witnessed this unlikely event with your own two eyes, you'd use one verb form, but if you had simply read or heard about it, or inferred it from something Bush said, you'd use a different verb form.

Clearly, languages require different things of their speakers. Does this mean that the speakers think differently about the world? Do English, Indonesian, Russian, and Turkish speakers end up attending to, partitioning, and remembering their experiences differently just because they speak different languages? For some scholars, the answer to these questions has been an obvious yes. Just look at the way people talk, they might say. Certainly, speakers of different languages must attend to and encode strikingly different aspects of the world just so they can use their language properly.

Scholars on the other side of the debate don't find the differences in how people talk convincing. All our linguistic utterances are sparse, encoding only a small part of the information we have available. Just because English speakers don't include the same information in their verbs that Russian and Turkish speakers do doesn't mean that English speakers aren't paying attention to the same things; all it means is that they're not talking about them. It's possible that everyone thinks the same way, notices the same things, but just talks differently.

Believers in cross-linguistic differences counter that everyone does not pay attention to the same things: if everyone did, one might think it would be easy to learn to speak other languages. Unfortunately, learning a new language (especially one not closely related to those you know) is never easy; it seems to require paying attention to a new set of distinctions. Whether it's distinguishing modes of being in Spanish, evidentiality in Turkish, or aspect in Russian, learning to speak these languages requires something more than just learning vocabulary: it requires paying attention to the right things in the world so that you have the correct information to include in what you say.

Such a priori arguments about whether or not language shapes thought have gone in circles for centuries, with some arguing that it's impossible for language to shape thought and others arguing that it's impossible for language not to shape thought. Recently my group and others have figured out ways to empirically test some of the key questions in this ancient debate, with fascinating results. So instead of arguing about what must be true or what can't be true, let's find out what is true.

Follow me to Pormpuraaw, a small Aboriginal community on the western edge of Cape York, in northern Australia. I came here because of the way the locals, the Kuuk Thaayorre, talk about space. Instead of words like "right," "left," "forward," and "back," which, as commonly used in English, define space relative to an observer, the Kuuk Thaayorre, like many other Aboriginal groups, use cardinal-direction terms — north, south, east, and west — to define space.1 This is done at all scales, which means you have to say things like "There's an ant on your southeast leg" or "Move the cup to the north northwest a little bit." One obvious consequence of speaking such a language is that you have to stay oriented at all times, or else you cannot speak properly. The normal greeting in Kuuk Thaayorre is "Where are you going?" and the answer should be something like " Southsoutheast, in the middle distance." If you don't know which way you're facing, you can't even get past "Hello."

The result is a profound difference in navigational ability and spatial knowledge between speakers of languages that rely primarily on absolute reference frames (like Kuuk Thaayorre) and languages that rely on relative reference frames (like English).2 Simply put, speakers of languages like Kuuk Thaayorre are much better than English speakers at staying oriented and keeping track of where they are, even in unfamiliar landscapes or inside unfamiliar buildings. What enables them — in fact, forces them — to do this is their language. Having their attention trained in this way equips them to perform navigational feats once thought beyond human capabilities. Because space is such a fundamental domain of thought, differences in how people think about space don't end there. People rely on their spatial knowledge to build other, more complex, more abstract representations. Representations of such things as time, number, musical pitch, kinship relations, morality, and emotions have been shown to depend on how we think about space. So if the Kuuk Thaayorre think differently about space, do they also think differently about other things, like time? This is what my collaborator Alice Gaby and I came to Pormpuraaw to find out.

To test this idea, we gave people sets of pictures that showed some kind of temporal progression (e.g., pictures of a man aging, or a crocodile growing, or a banana being eaten). Their job was to arrange the shuffled photos on the ground to show the correct temporal order. We tested each person in two separate sittings, each time facing in a different cardinal direction. If you ask English speakers to do this, they'll arrange the cards so that time proceeds from left to right. Hebrew speakers will tend to lay out the cards from right to left, showing that writing direction in a language plays a role.3 So what about folks like the Kuuk Thaayorre, who don't use words like "left" and "right"? What will they do?

The Kuuk Thaayorre did not arrange the cards more often from left to right than from right to left, nor more toward or away from the body. But their arrangements were not random: there was a pattern, just a different one from that of English speakers. Instead of arranging time from left to right, they arranged it from east to west. That is, when they were seated facing south, the cards went left to right. When they faced north, the cards went from right to left. When they faced east, the cards came toward the body and so on. This was true even though we never told any of our subjects which direction they faced. The Kuuk Thaayorre not only knew that already (usually much better than I did), but they also spontaneously used this spatial orientation to construct their representations of time.

People's ideas of time differ across languages in other ways. For example, English speakers tend to talk about time using horizontal spatial metaphors (e.g., "The best is ahead of us," "The worst is behind us"), whereas Mandarin speakers have a vertical metaphor for time (e.g., the next month is the "down month" and the last month is the "up month"). Mandarin speakers talk about time vertically more often than English speakers do, so do Mandarin speakers think about time vertically more often than English speakers do? Imagine this simple experiment. I stand next to you, point to a spot in space directly in front of you, and tell you, "This spot, here, is today. Where would you put yesterday? And where would you put tomorrow?" When English speakers are asked to do this, they nearly always point horizontally. But Mandarin speakers often point vertically, about seven or eight times more often than do English speakers.4

Even basic aspects of time perception can be affected by language. For example, English speakers prefer to talk about duration in terms of length (e.g., "That was a short talk," "The meeting didn't take long"), while Spanish and Greek speakers prefer to talk about time in terms of amount, relying more on words like "much" "big", and "little" rather than "short" and "long" Our research into such basic cognitive abilities as estimating duration shows that speakers of different languages differ in ways predicted by the patterns of metaphors in their language. (For example, when asked to estimate duration, English speakers are more likely to be confused by distance information, estimating that a line of greater length remains on the test screen for a longer period of time, whereas Greek speakers are more likely to be confused by amount, estimating that a container that is fuller remains longer on the screen.)5

An important question at this point is: Are these differences caused by language per se or by some other aspect of culture? Of course, the lives of English, Mandarin, Greek, Spanish, and Kuuk Thaayorre speakers differ in a myriad of ways. How do we know that it is language itself that creates these differences in thought and not some other aspect of their respective cultures?

One way to answer this question is to teach people new ways of talking and see if that changes the way they think. In our lab, we've taught English speakers different ways of talking about time. In one such study, English speakers were taught to use size metaphors (as in Greek) to describe duration (e.g., a movie is larger than a sneeze), or vertical metaphors (as in Mandarin) to describe event order. Once the English speakers had learned to talk about time in these new ways, their cognitive performance began to resemble that of Greek or Mandarin speakers. This suggests that patterns in a language can indeed play a causal role in constructing how we think.6 In practical terms, it means that when you're learning a new language, you're not simply learning a new way of talking, you are also inadvertently learning a new way of thinking. Beyond abstract or complex domains of thought like space and time, languages also meddle in basic aspects of visual perception — our ability to distinguish colors, for example. Different languages divide up the color continuum differently: some make many more distinctions between colors than others, and the boundaries often don't line up across languages.

To test whether differences in color language lead to differences in color perception, we compared Russian and English speakers' ability to discriminate shades of blue. In Russian there is no single word that covers all the colors that English speakers call "blue." Russian makes an obligatory distinction between light blue (goluboy) and dark blue (siniy). Does this distinction mean that siniy blues look more different from goluboy blues to Russian speakers? Indeed, the data say yes. Russian speakers are quicker to distinguish two shades of blue that are called by the different names in Russian (i.e., one being siniy and the other being goluboy) than if the two fall into the same category.

For English speakers, all these shades are still designated by the same word, "blue," and there are no comparable differences in reaction time.

Further, the Russian advantage disappears when subjects are asked to perform a verbal interference task (reciting a string of digits) while making color judgments but not when they're asked to perform an equally difficult spatial interference task (keeping a novel visual pattern in memory). The disappearance of the advantage when performing a verbal task shows that language is normally involved in even surprisingly basic perceptual judgments — and that it is language per se that creates this difference in perception between Russian and English speakers.

When Russian speakers are blocked from their normal access to language by a verbal interference task, the differences between Russian and English speakers disappear.

Even what might be deemed frivolous aspects of language can have far-reaching subconscious effects on how we see the world. Take grammatical gender. In Spanish and other Romance languages, nouns are either masculine or feminine. In many other languages, nouns are divided into many more genders ("gender" in this context meaning class or kind). For example, some Australian Aboriginal languages have up to sixteen genders, including classes of hunting weapons, canines, things that are shiny, or, in the phrase made famous by cognitive linguist George Lakoff, "women, fire, and dangerous things."

What it means for a language to have grammatical gender is that words belonging to different genders get treated differently grammatically and words belonging to the same grammatical gender get treated the same grammatically. Languages can require speakers to change pronouns, adjective and verb endings, possessives, numerals, and so on, depending on the noun's gender. For example, to say something like "my chair was old" in Russian (moy stul bil' stariy), you'd need to make every word in the sentence agree in gender with "chair" (stul), which is masculine in Russian. So you'd use the masculine form of "my," "was," and "old." These are the same forms you'd use in speaking of a biological male, as in "my grandfather was old." If, instead of speaking of a chair, you were speaking of a bed (krovat'), which is feminine in Russian, or about your grandmother, you would use the feminine form of "my," "was," and "old."

Does treating chairs as masculine and beds as feminine in the grammar make Russian speakers think of chairs as being more like men and beds as more like women in some way? It turns out that it does. In one study, we asked German and Spanish speakers to describe objects having opposite gender assignment in those two languages. The descriptions they gave differed in a way predicted by grammatical gender. For example, when asked to describe a "key" — a word that is masculine in German and feminine in Spanish — the German speakers were more likely to use words like "hard," "heavy," "jagged," "metal," "serrated," and "useful," whereas Spanish speakers were more likely to say "golden," "intricate," "little," "lovely," "shiny," and "tiny." To describe a "bridge," which is feminine in German and masculine in Spanish, the German speakers said "beautiful," "elegant," "fragile," "peaceful," "pretty," and "slender," and the Spanish speakers said "big," "dangerous," "long," "strong," "sturdy," and "towering." This was true even though all testing was done in English, a language without grammatical gender. The same pattern of results also emerged in entirely nonlinguistic tasks (e.g., rating similarity between pictures). And we can also show that it is aspects of language per se that shape how people think: teaching English speakers new grammatical gender systems influences mental representations of objects in the same way it does with German and Spanish speakers. Apparently even small flukes of grammar, like the seemingly arbitrary assignment of gender to a noun, can have an effect on people's ideas of concrete objects in the world.7

In fact, you don't even need to go into the lab to see these effects of language; you can see them with your own eyes in an art gallery. Look at some famous examples of personification in art — the ways in which abstract entities such as death, sin, victory, or time are given human form. How does an artist decide whether death, say, or time should be painted as a man or a woman? It turns out that in 85 percent of such personifications, whether a male or female figure is chosen is predicted by the grammatical gender of the word in the artist's native language. So, for example, German painters are more likely to paint death as a man, whereas Russian painters are more likely to paint death as a woman.

The fact that even quirks of grammar, such as grammatical gender, can affect our thinking is profound. Such quirks are pervasive in language; gender, for example, applies to all nouns, which means that it is affecting how people think about anything that can be designated by a noun. That's a lot of stuff!

I have described how languages shape the way we think about space, time, colors, and objects. Other studies have found effects of language on how people construe events, reason about causality, keep track of number, understand material substance, perceive and experience emotion, reason about other people's minds, choose to take risks, and even in the way they choose professions and spouses.8 Taken together, these results show that linguistic processes are pervasive in most fundamental domains of thought, unconsciously shaping us from the nuts and bolts of cognition and perception to our loftiest abstract notions and major life decisions. Language is central to our experience of being human, and the languages we speak profoundly shape the way we think, the way we see the world, the way we live our lives.

1 S. C. Levinson and D. P. Wilkins, eds., Grammars of Space: Explorations in Cognitive Diversity (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006).

2 Levinson, Space in Language and Cognition: Explorations in Cognitive Diversity (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003).

3 B. Tversky et al., “ Cross-Cultural and Developmental Trends in Graphic Productions,” Cognitive Psychology 23(1991): 515–7; O. Fuhrman and L. Boroditsky, “Mental Time-Lines Follow Writing Direction: Comparing English and Hebrew Speakers.” Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (2007): 1007–10.

4 L. Boroditsky, "Do English and Mandarin Speakers Think Differently About Time?" Proceedings of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society (2007): 34.

5 D. Casasanto et al., "How Deep Are Effects of Language on Thought? Time Estimation in Speakers of English, Indonesian Greek, and Spanish," Proceedings of the 26th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (2004): 575–80.

6 Ibid., "How Deep Are Effects of Language on Thought? Time Estimation in Speakers of English and Greek" (in review); L. Boroditsky, "Does Language Shape Thought? English and Mandarin Speakers' Conceptions of Time." Cognitive Psychology 43, no. 1(2001): 1–22.

7 L. Boroditsky et al. "Sex, Syntax, and Semantics," in D. Gentner and S. Goldin-Meadow, eds., Language in Mind: Advances in the Study of Language and Cognition (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003), 61–79.

8 L. Boroditsky, "Linguistic Relativity," in L. Nadel ed., Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (London: MacMillan, 2003), 917–21; B. W. Pelham et al., "Why Susie Sells Seashells by the Seashore: Implicit Egotism and Major Life Decisions." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 82, no. 4(2002): 469–86; A. Tversky & D. Kahneman, "The Framing of Decisions and the Psychology of Choice." Science 211(1981): 453–58; P. Pica et al., "Exact and Approximate Arithmetic in an Amazonian Indigene Group." Science 306(2004): 499–503; J. G. de Villiers and P. A. de Villiers, "Linguistic Determinism and False Belief," in P. Mitchell and K. Riggs, eds., Children's Reasoning and the Mind (Hove, UK: Psychology Press, in press); J. A. Lucy and S. Gaskins, "Interaction of Language Type and Referent Type in the Development of Nonverbal Classification Preferences," in Gentner and Goldin-Meadow, 465–92; L. F. Barrett et al., "Language as a Context for Emotion Perception," Trends in Cognitive Sciences 11(2007): 327–32.

What's Related

Beyond Edge

Conversations at edge.

Short Essay: Importance Of English

In a world increasingly connected by globalization, the English language holds a special place as a primary medium of international communication. Writing an essay on the importance of English can provide insights into its role in global business, technology, science, and cultural exchange. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to craft a compelling short essay on this topic.

Table of Contents

Title and Introduction

Title : Choose a title that is both informative and catchy, such as “English: The Bridge to Global Unity”.

Introduction : Start with an engaging hook to draw in the reader. This could be an interesting statistic, a quote from a renowned linguist, or a brief anecdote about how English facilitated a significant international agreement. Briefly outline the prevalence of English and its role as a global lingua franca. Conclude the introduction with a thesis statement that highlights the main points you will discuss, such as its utility in global business, education, and as a cultural connector.

Body of the Essay

Global Business and Economy :

• Paragraph 1 : Discuss how English serves as the de facto language of global commerce. Highlight how multinational corporations, international trade negotiations, and global finance sectors predominantly use English. Provide examples such as the use of English in major business hubs like New York, London, and Hong Kong.

Science and Technology :

• Paragraph 2 : Explain the significance of English in science and technology. Most scientific research, particularly in top journals, is published in English. Discuss how this dominance facilitates wider dissemination and collaboration in research across different countries.

Education and Scholarship :

• Paragraph 3 : Elaborate on the role of English in education and academic scholarship. Many countries offer English-medium instruction in schools and universities to prepare students for global opportunities. Cite examples of countries where English is not the first language, yet plays a crucial role in educational systems.

Cultural Exchange and Communication :

• Paragraph 4 : Describe how English acts as a bridge in cultural exchange and international relations. Discuss the use of English in international media, entertainment, and the internet. Mention how English allows diverse cultures to share ideas, literature, and art forms globally.

Summarize the key points discussed, reinforcing the thesis about the importance of English in a globalized world. Emphasize how English not only connects diverse populations but also opens up opportunities for growth and understanding. Conclude with a reflective thought on the future of English and its evolving role in the world.

Importance Of English Essay Example #1

English, as a global language, holds immense importance in today’s interconnected world. It serves as a common medium of communication, bridging cultural and linguistic barriers. Understanding the significance of English is crucial for individuals seeking to navigate the realms of education, career opportunities, cultural exchange, and global understanding.

In the realm of education, English plays a pivotal role. It has become the language of instruction in many schools, colleges, and universities worldwide. Proficiency in English enables students to access a vast array of educational resources, including academic literature, research papers, and online courses. Moreover, it opens doors to study opportunities abroad, where renowned institutions often use English as the primary language of instruction. By mastering English, individuals can expand their intellectual horizons and enhance their educational prospects.

English proficiency also offers a multitude of career opportunities. In today’s global job market, many industries require employees to possess strong English language skills. Whether it is in the fields of business, tourism, technology, or international relations, English fluency is often a prerequisite for professional success. Proficient English speakers can collaborate with colleagues from different countries, attract international clients, and participate in global business networks. English proficiency not only broadens career options but also increases employability in a competitive job market.

Furthermore, English serves as a catalyst for cultural exchange. It facilitates communication between people from diverse linguistic backgrounds, enabling them to share ideas, experiences, and knowledge. English is the language of international conferences, academic journals, and diplomatic negotiations. It allows for the exchange of literature, movies, music, and popular culture, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation among different cultures. Through English, individuals can explore and connect with the rich cultural heritage of English-speaking countries and beyond.

Learning English also promotes personal development. It enhances cognitive skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Exposure to English literature, films, and media exposes individuals to different perspectives and ideas, broadening their horizons. English proficiency empowers individuals to express themselves effectively and confidently, enabling them to engage in meaningful conversations and contribute to discussions on a global scale.

While acknowledging the importance of English, it is crucial to recognize and preserve linguistic diversity. Efforts should be made to promote the learning of local languages and respect the cultural heritage they represent. However, the practical advantages of English as a global language cannot be ignored.

In conclusion, the importance of English cannot be overstated. It serves as a fundamental tool for communication, education, career advancement, cultural exchange, and personal growth. Proficiency in English opens doors to a world of opportunities, enabling individuals to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and access a wealth of knowledge. Embracing the importance of English is essential for individuals seeking to thrive in our increasingly interconnected and globalized society.

Importance Of English Essay Example #2

English has emerged as a dominant global language, playing a crucial role in our increasingly interconnected and globalized world. Its importance transcends borders, enabling communication, fostering cultural exchange, and providing access to educational and career opportunities. Understanding the significance of English is essential for individuals seeking to navigate today’s global landscape.

Firstly, English serves as a universal language of communication. It bridges the linguistic divide, allowing people from different countries and cultures to connect and understand one another. English proficiency enables individuals to communicate effectively in international settings, whether it be for business transactions, academic collaborations, or leisure travel. In an era where cross-cultural interactions are commonplace, English acts as the lingua franca, breaking down barriers and facilitating meaningful dialogue.

Secondly, English is of paramount importance in the realm of education. It has become the language of instruction in many academic institutions worldwide. Proficiency in English opens doors to a vast array of educational resources, including textbooks, research papers, and online courses. It also provides access to scholarship opportunities and study programs offered by renowned universities in English-speaking countries. By mastering English, individuals can enhance their educational prospects and participate in the global academic community.

Moreover, English proficiency offers a multitude of career advantages. In today’s competitive job market, many employers require strong English language skills. Proficiency in English expands career opportunities, particularly in multinational corporations, international organizations, and industries that operate on a global scale. English fluency enables effective communication with colleagues, clients, and business partners from different countries. It enhances one’s employability and increases the chances of career advancement in an interconnected world.

Furthermore, English acts as a gateway to global culture and knowledge. It is the language of global media, entertainment, and the internet. Access to English-language literature, films, music, and online resources allows individuals to engage with diverse perspectives and ideas. English proficiency enables individuals to participate in cultural exchanges, appreciate different art forms, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. It broadens horizons and promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity.

While acknowledging the importance of English, it is crucial to maintain and value linguistic diversity. Local languages and cultures should be preserved and celebrated, as they are integral to our collective heritage. Efforts should be made to promote bilingualism and multilingualism, encouraging individuals to learn English while also preserving their native languages.

In conclusion, the significance of English in a globalized world cannot be overstated. It serves as a language of communication, education, career advancement, and cultural exchange. Proficiency in English enables individuals to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, access knowledge and opportunities, and participate in global conversations. Embracing the importance of English empowers individuals to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world and thrive in a globalized society.

Importance Of English Essay Example #3

English, as a language of immense power and influence, holds a significant place in today’s world. Its global reach and widespread usage make it indispensable for communication, education, trade, and cultural exchange. Understanding the power and influence of the English language is essential for individuals seeking to navigate the complexities of our interconnected and globalized society.

One of the key reasons for the importance of English is its status as a lingua franca. It serves as a common language that connects people from different linguistic backgrounds. English proficiency enables individuals to communicate with ease, both domestically and internationally. Whether it is for business negotiations, academic collaborations, or personal interactions, English acts as a bridge, facilitating effective communication and fostering understanding among diverse cultures and communities.

Furthermore, English has become the language of international business and commerce. In an increasingly globalized economy, knowledge of English is often a prerequisite for professional success. Many multinational corporations conduct their operations in English, and proficiency in the language opens doors to a plethora of career opportunities. From job interviews to networking events, English fluency is highly valued and can significantly enhance employability and career prospects.

The influence of the English language extends beyond the realm of business. It is the language of science, technology, and innovation. A significant portion of scientific research and academic publications is conducted and published in English. Access to English-language resources and journals is crucial for staying updated with the latest advancements in various fields. By mastering English, individuals can actively contribute to global knowledge exchange and participate in cutting-edge research and development.

English also plays a pivotal role in the realm of education. Proficiency in English provides access to high-quality educational resources, including textbooks, scholarly articles, and online courses. It allows individuals to pursue higher education in prestigious institutions around the world that offer programs in English. Additionally, English proficiency enhances academic performance, as it improves critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to articulate ideas effectively.

Culturally, the English language has a profound impact. It serves as a vehicle for the dissemination of literature, films, music, and popular culture. English-language literature, such as the works of Shakespeare, Dickens, and Austen, has influenced and shaped literary traditions worldwide. English-language films and music have global reach, transcending borders and cultures. By understanding English, individuals can engage with diverse cultural expressions and participate in the global exchange of ideas and creativity.

While recognizing the power and influence of English, it is important to promote linguistic diversity and preserve local languages and cultures. Multilingualism should be encouraged to ensure that the richness and diversity of languages are maintained. Efforts should be made to provide equal access to education and resources in different languages, ensuring that linguistic diversity flourishes alongside the prominence of English.

In conclusion, the power and influence of the English language cannot be underestimated. It serves as a global language of communication, trade, education, and culture. Proficiency in English opens doors to opportunities, facilitates international interactions, and enhances personal and professional growth. By embracing the power of English while promoting linguistic diversity, we can navigate the complexities of our interconnected world and foster a truly inclusive and globally aware society.

Final Writing Tips

• Be Concise : Given the short essay format, focus on making each paragraph idea-rich but succinct.
• Use Examples : Concrete examples enhance credibility and make abstract ideas more relatable.
• Stay Objective : While highlighting the importance, acknowledge the diversity of global languages and the importance of multilingualism.
• Proofread : Ensure clarity and coherence in your writing, and check for grammatical accuracy.
• Engage Your Audience : Write in a way that would interest someone unfamiliar with the topic by explaining jargon and providing context for your points.

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

Whatsapp: +85259609792

[email protected]

Essay on English as a Global Language

500 Words Essay On English as a Global Language

A global language is one that is spoken and understood at an international level by a wide variety of people. Moreover, no language in the world better fits this description than the English language. This essay on English as a global language will shed more light on this issue.

                                                                                                  Essay on English as a Global Language

Why English is a Global Language

When it comes to languages, one can make a strong argument that a strong link exists between dominance and cultural power. Furthermore, the main factor that the languages become popular is due to a powerful power-base, whether economic or political or military.

The derivation of the English language took place from languages like French, Latin, German, and other European languages. This can be a reason why many Europeans don’t find English a difficult language to learn. Furthermore, linguists argue whether the simplicity of the English language is the main reason for it becoming a global language.

The Latin script of the English language appears less complicated for people to recognize and learn. Also, the pronunciation of the English language is not as complex as other languages like Korean or Turkish for example.

Generally, the difficulty level of a language varies from person to person and it also depends on the culture to which one may belong. For example, a Korean person would find less difficulty in mastering the Japanese language in comparison to a German person. This is because of the close proximity of the Korean and Japanese cultures.

Due to the massive British colonial conquests , no culture is in complete oblivion of the English language or words. As such, English is a language that should not appear as too alien or strange to any community. Consequently, learning English is not such big of a deal for most people as they can find a certain level of familiarity with the language.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Effectiveness of the English Language

English is a very effective language and this is evident due to the presence of various native and non-native speakers on a global scale. Furthermore, according to statistics, one-fourth of the world is either fluent in the English language or content with it. While it’s true that the number of native Mandarin speakers is the greatest in the world, Mandarin is not the global language due to its complex spellings, grammar , and letter system.

The English language, on the other hand, does not suffer from such complexity problems. Furthermore, the English language has a lot of words and synonyms to express something. As such, any word or its meaning can be expressed with a high level of accuracy.

Conclusion of the Essay on English as a Global Language

English is certainly the most widely spoken language in the world by far. On a global scale, English has the most number of speakers, who speak English either as a first or second language. Without a doubt, no other language in the world can come close to English in terms of its immense popularity.

FAQs For Essay on English as a Global Language

Question 1: Why English is referred to as the global language?

Answer 1:  Many consider English as a global language because it is the one language that the majority of the population in almost every region of the world can speak and understand. Furthermore, the language enjoys worldwide acceptance and usage by every nation of the world. Therefore, it is an extremely essential global language.

Question 2: How English became the global language in the world?

Answer 2: By the late 18th century, the British Empire had made a lot of colonies. Moreover, they had established their geopolitical dominance all over the world. Consequently, the English language quickly spread in the British colonies.

There was also the contribution of technology, science, diplomacy, commerce, art, and formal education which led to English becoming a truly global language of the world.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on English Language in 500 Words

• Updated on  
• Mar 22, 2024

Essay on English Language: English is one of the most spoken languages in the world. English is the native language of England. During the colonial period, the British Empire ruled around 105 colonies, spread over all 7 continents. Today, English is one of the 5 official languages of the United Nations Security Council.

The use of the English language is growing all around the world. Because of this, more and more people are choosing to learn English as their second language. In India and other countries, English is included in the school curriculum to teach kids from a young age.

Checkout Our 200+ Essay Topics for Students

Why is English Important?

English goes beyond just learning a new language. A person proficient in English can land a job abroad, explore new opportunities for personal and professional growth, etc. The importance of English can be seen from the fact that it is the most spoken language in the world. However, there is more to this.

• The English language serves as a bridge for cultural exchange and understanding people from different backgrounds. In International summits and conferences, English is mostly used as a medium of communication, making us understand different people’s views and thoughts. 
• English is a global language of communication. More than a billion people in the world speak English, making it a common medium for international business, diplomacy, travel, and education. 
• Knowing English allows us to communicate effectively with people from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Top international universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, etc. use English for their academic and professional purposes. English proficiency exams are conducted, such as IELTS, PTE, DUOLINGO, etc, to measure English proficiency.
• Much of the world’s information, including literature, scientific research, technology, and entertainment, is available in English. Proficiency in English allows us to understand this valuable information.

Benefits of Learning English Language

Being a global language, English offers us many opportunities and benefits. However, the benefits of learning the English language can vary from person to person. 

• English proficiency allows us to effectively communicate internationally.
• As a professional in English, we can get a job in our dream company.
• English can help us learn about different cultures and people.
• English can help us expand our business globally.
• English fluency can make our travelling experiences enjoyable and enriching.
• English proficiency can offer us admission to our dream university.
• We can watch English movies, and TV shows and read books without any difficulties.

How to Learn English Language?

Learning English can be a beautiful and interesting experience. There are several online and offline English teaching courses available. 

Online sources include applications, YouTube videos, blogs, websites and paid and free courses. One of the best applications to learn English is the Duolingo app. It’s an EdTech application that not only provides access to more than 200 languages but has several certification courses also.

Offline sources to learn English are coaching centres, libraries, newspapers, etc. These sources are very important for self-study and individuals who want to learn English from the grassroots level.

English has become a global language. From our academic realm to international conferences, English is recognized as a medium of communication. As an English-speaking individual, we can share ideas, collaborate on projects, and contribute to global initiatives. Therefore, learning English is very important. 

10 Lines Essay on English

Essay Topics Related to English Language:

Ans: English is one of the most spoken languages in the world. English is the native language of England. During the colonial period, the British Empire ruled around 105 colonies, spread over all 7 continents. Today, English is one of the 5 official languages of the United Nations Security Council. The use of the English language is growing all around the world. Because of this, more and more people are choosing to learn English as their second language.

Ans: English has become a global language. From our academic realm to international conferences, English is recognized as a medium of communication. As an English-speaking individual, we can share ideas, collaborate on projects, and contribute to global initiatives. Therefore, learning English is very important. Top international universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, etc. use English for their academic and professional purposes. English proficiency exams are conducted, such as IELTS, PTE, DUOLINGO, etc, to measure English proficiency.

Ans: The United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. have English as their native language.

Check out our Popular Essay Topics for Students

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

30,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

• Importance Of English Language Essay

Importance of English Language Essay

500+ words essay on the importance of the english language.

English plays a dominant role in almost all fields in the present globalized world. In the twenty-first century, the entire world has become narrow, accessible, sharable and familiar for all people as English is used as a common language. It has been accepted globally by many countries. This essay highlights the importance of English as a global language. It throws light on how travel and tourism, and entertainment fields benefit by adopting English as their principal language of communication. The essay also highlights the importance of English in education and employment.

Language is the primary source of communication. It is the method through which we share our ideas and thoughts with others. There are thousands of languages in the world, and every country has its national language. In the global world, the importance of English cannot be denied and ignored. English serves the purpose of the common language. It helps maintain international relationships in science, technology, business, education, travel, tourism and so on. It is the language used mainly by scientists, business organizations, the internet, and higher education and tourism.

Historical background of the English Language

English was initially the language of England, but due to the British Empire in many countries, English has become the primary or secondary language in former British colonies such as Canada, the United States, Sri Lanka, India and Australia, etc. Currently, English is the primary language of not only countries actively touched by British imperialism, but also many business and cultural spheres dominated by those countries. 67 countries have English as their official language, and 27 countries have English as their secondary language.

Reasons for Learning the English Language

Learning English is important, and people all over the world decide to study it as a second language. Many countries have included English as a second language in their school syllabus, so children start learning English at a young age. At the university level, students in many countries study almost all their subjects in English in order to make the material more accessible to international students. English remains a major medium of instruction in schools and universities. There are large numbers of books that are written in the English language. Many of the latest scientific discoveries are documented in English.

English is the language of the Internet. Knowing English gives access to over half the content on the Internet. Knowing how to read English will allow access to billions of pages of information that may not be otherwise available. With a good understanding and communication in English, we can travel around the globe. Knowing English increases the chances of getting a good job in a multinational company. Research from all over the world shows that cross-border business communication is most often conducted in English, and many international companies expect employees to be fluent in English. Many of the world’s top films, books and music are produced in English. Therefore, by learning English, we will have access to a great wealth of entertainment and will be able to build a great cultural understanding.

English is one of the most used and dominant languages in the world. It has a bright future, and it helps connect us to the global world. It also helps us in our personal and professional life. Although learning English can be challenging and time-consuming, we see that it is also very valuable to learn and can create many opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions on English language Essay

Why is the language english popular.

English has 26 alphabets and is easier to learn when compared to other complex languages.

Is English the official language of India?

India has two official languages Hindi and English. Other than that these 22 other regional languages are also recognised and spoken widely.

Why is learning English important?

English is spoken around the world and thus can be used as an effective language for communication.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

• Essay on English Language [Short & Long]

Essay On English And Its Importance- The English Language is globally popular. It has become a medium of international communication. This language enables the way to growth. But it does not mean that any other language is less important.

First of all, it is necessary to understand that every language on the planet holds equal importance. The function of any language is communication. The English language is a popular language but it is not the most spoken on earth.

Short Essay On the English Language | 250 Words

Introduction.

The English language is a global language and the most popular language for formal communication. It is the 3rd most spoken language in the world and about 104 countries have people that can speak English.

The variant of the English language we speak today is called modern English. This language has more than 160 accents. This language is used in programming languages, international communication, sports, news etc.

The Importance of the English Language

In more than 65 countries, English is the primary language. This language is a very perfect language for international communication. It connects people all over the world. It is the most demanded language in various sectors of employment.

At present, the English language is not just a language but it has become a trend. After Chinese and Japanese, it is in third place in the most spoken languages on the globe.

Moreover, this language is a must tool for those who want to make their career in the tech field or the computing sector. If you have a curious nature and use to search for answers on Google, you must know that most of the information available on the internet is in English.

The Dominance of the English Language

There is a study that says one out of every five people can communicate in English. Language is continuously evolving for thousands of years back. The vocabulary of the English language is extending every year. Around 3000 new words are added to the English dictionary every year.

Social media is a contributor to this extension of words. Selfie, Tweet, Lol, inbox and hashtag are some words that originated on social media and the internet.

In conclusion, the English language is like a tool that can help you understand the world at a better level. If you seek any type of information, it is available widely in English. The knowledge of the English language is counted in the skillset of a person. For the technology field, English is a must. But don’t forget to respect your native language.

Long Essay On the English Language | 500 Words

Language is an essential tool for communication. It is like a bridge that carries our ideas, expressions and thoughts to someone. The English language is one of the most dominant languages on the planet. It is the third most spoken language in the world. This language has more than 160 different accents.

The English language is also known as the global language and the international language. These names are given to it because it is the most used language for international communication.

One out of five persons can speak and understand the English language in the world. 104 out of a total of 195 countries have people that understand English.

The Significance of English

In this modern era, the English language has become a vital part of each existing field. It is a language of international communication, business, entertainment, science, information technology and more.

Earlier a degree was sufficient to get a corporate job or employment but now the time has changed. Today, knowledge of the English language holds more value than a degree.

Moreover, This language breaks barriers to your growth. If you want to make your career in the field of science and technology, the English language is a must. Even it helps in executing research as most of the information available on the internet is in English.

Functions of the English Language

The primary function of any language is to share information . The English language is best for sharing information because it helps to state logical facts clearly. The next function of the English language is the expressive function that conveys the feelings or ideas or emotions of somebody. English poetry is the best example of it.

The directive function of the English language is the next one. This function enables the language to give directions to do something. Everyone searches on the internet for some directives to execute any type of task. For example, you might have ever searched for “ how to write a good essay “.

English language in India

The English language is not a language in India but it has become a fashion. English learning is growing as a trend in India. Even parents prefer to get their children into an English medium school nowadays. Schools and colleges give more importance to English. These schools, colleges and universities are considered better than others.

In the urban areas of India, English is the first language for students and it is easier for them to communicate, write and read in this language. Shockingly, many people from India have won International awards for their excellent knowledge and mastery of the English language.

English as a global language

English is a global language because one can easily find a person that can understand the English language in any country of the world. It is the primary language for more than sixty-four countries. It indicates that the English language enables us to connect easily to the world .

So, if someone wants to travel and explore the world, the English language can be his good companion on the journey.

Furthermore, the English language is also useful for strengthening relations with other countries that have English as their native language. Communication in this language will also bring business prospects to the international market.

Final Words (Conclusion)

To sum it up, the English language is a common language that is the third most spoken in the world. It is a language of international communication, sports, science and tech and computer programming. This language is easy to learn and it is continuously evolving according to the modern world. That is why the current version of English is popularly known as modern English.

Latest essays

• Essay On 5G Technology In India

Essay On Chandrayaan 3 For Students

• Essay On Summer Vacation In 150 Words

Summer Season Essay for students

Essay on summer vacation for students.

• Essay on Visit to a Zoo for Students
• Essay on Good Manners [Short & Long]
• Essay on Childhood Memories [With Headings]
• Essay On Mother [Short & Long]

Related Posts

Home — Essay Samples — Science — English Language — The importance of English language

The Importance of English Language

• Categories: English Language

About this sample

Words: 1323 |

Published: Oct 22, 2018

Words: 1323 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

• It’s the most commonly spoken language in the world
• It’s the language of international business
• Most movies are in English:
• It’s easy to learn:
• It helps you understand other languages
• You can say things in a hundred different ways:
• It can be used around the world:
• It’s is the language of Sports:
• It’s the language of the internet:
• It continues to change:
• Most countries know how to speak English. Out of one, five people can speak or at least understand English
• English is the language of Science computers etc. So if you want to do the job in such fields you must learn English.
• English is the official language of 53 countries. That’s why it is important to learn English.
• English is spoken as a first language by around 400 million people around the world.
• English is the language of the media industry. So if you learn English you don’t have to rely on subtitle or dubbing to enjoy your favorite shows.
• English is also the language of the Internet. Many websites are in English. So you must learn English.
• English is based on a simple alphabet and has a simple vocabulary so it requires little effort to learn English
• English is not only useful – it gives you a lot of satisfaction. Making progress feels great. You will enjoy learning English if you remember that every hour you spend gets you closer to perfection.
• Since English is spoken in so many different countries there are thousands of schools around the world that offer programs in English. If you speak English, you have a lot of opportunities to work in schools and you may able to apply somewhere for a job.
• By learning English you can also learn about cultures. And English is also known as the language of freedom. You can also enjoy a lot of quotes and inspirational writings in English so it is also the source of motivation.

Works Cited

• Crystal, D. (2003). English as a Global Language. Cambridge University Press.
• Graddol, D. (2010). English Next: Why Global English May Mean the End of 'English as a Foreign Language'. British Council.
• Jenkins, J. (2015). Global Englishes: A Resource Book for Students. Routledge.
• McKay, S. L., & Bokhorst-Heng, W. D. (2008). International English in Its Sociolinguistic Contexts: Towards a Socially Sensitive EIL Pedagogy. Routledge.
• Pennycook, A. (2017). The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language. Routledge.
• Crystal, D. (2012). English as a Global Language : Implications for Translation Studies. In Translation: A Multidisciplinary Approach (pp. 97-113). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Seidlhofer, B. (2011). Understanding English as a Lingua Franca. Oxford University Press.
• Kachru, B. B. (1992). The Other Tongue: English across Cultures. University of Illinois Press.
• Modiano, M. (2016). English as a Lingua Franca: Theorizing and Teaching English. Modern Language Journal, 100(3), 676-691.
• McKay, S. L. (2002). Teaching English as an International Language: Rethinking Goals and Approaches. Oxford University Press.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Science

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

4 pages / 2023 words

1 pages / 611 words

5 pages / 2073 words

1 pages / 567 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on English Language

Old English literature holds a significant place in the historical and cultural heritage of the English language. Understanding and accurately translating Old English texts is crucial for scholars and students alike, as it [...]

Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, is a powerful and emotionally charged story that explores the complexities of friendship, betrayal, redemption, and the impact of the past on the present. Through the use of various [...]

English has become the dominant language in many aspects of communication, business, and academia. As a result, having a strong command of English grammar is essential for effective communication and success in various fields. [...]

English is a global language that has become essential in various aspects of life, from education and career opportunities to communication and cultural exchange. As a lingua franca of the modern world, the importance of [...]

Technologies like mobile phones and internet has altered the lives of people and English language. Due to the invention of these technologies the way and style of communication is also changed. Now people are able to use rapid [...]

In English language there are eight parts of speech and they are: Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. The parts of speech show the function of a word in context of its meaning and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Essay On Importance Of English Language

An essay on the importance of English language: It has its origins in the early medieval period. It is a West Germanic language, and is spoken around the globe today. Its development duration has been almost 1400 years.

In the present world, English acts as a unifying factor for people from all over the globe as it is the language in which all forms of media are available.

Table of Contents

Essay On Importance Of English Language 150 Words

The English language has become one of the world’s most important international languages. English is the language of most transactions, conversations, legal documents, official communication, documentation, laws, books, education, and even the computer interface. There is far more information available in English on the Internet or elsewhere than even in our native language.

Although English isn’t absolutely necessary to live, work and earn a living, there are very few jobs that don’t require it. Even entry-level government and security positions require comprehension, writing, and conversational skills in English.

It is therefore necessary to learn the English language in order to be able to fit into the society of today as well as in the future. The English language is necessary in order to read advanced knowledge written in English. Learning the language becomes more or less essential if we intend to pursue higher education. Unfortunately, many sign boards and notice boards are written in English as well.

Russia, France, Spain, China, Japan and so on do not necessarily depend on English for most of their education and lives. They do most of their work in their local language. However, there are about 22 official languages in India, so we sometimes have to use English or Hindi when we visit another state speaking another language. Hindi is not well understood in some states as well, so it becomes necessary to learn English.

Essay On Importance Of English Language 250 Words

The English Language is becoming increasingly common in the world. As a result, many people are dedicating time to studying English as their second language. This language is actually included in many countries’ school syllabuses to teach children from an early age. However, its true value lies in its ability to help remove many barriers from our lives. You can find a new job or travel the world with this language. Essentially, the Importance of English Language Essay will help you gain a better understanding of how it contributes to personal and professional success.

What Is The Importance Of English?

Communication is the primary function of language; it is how we share our thoughts with others. A language’s secondary function is to convey sentiments, emotions, or attitudes. English fulfills both these purposes. It is regarded as the first global language. Almost every existing field uses English as a language to communicate internationally, from business to entertainment. It has been regarded as part of almost every existing field for over a century.

Even nations where English is not an official language teach and encourage youngsters to acquire it as a second language. Many science and engineering textbooks are also written in English.

Now that we have established the importance of learning the English Language, we should discuss why it is so important. Firstly, it is a global language, spoken and understood by 1 in 5 people around the world.

Additionally, learning English can be helpful in finding a job since it has become the language of many fields, thus automatically increasing the chance of landing a good position.

Essay On Importance Of English Language 500 Words

English has become the primary language in schools around the world, making it easier for people from all over the world to connect. The knowledge of English is a common requirement in a variety of fields today.

The English language has evolved from merely a language into a lifestyle. After Chinese and Spanish, English is the next in line to be customized the most. It has an extremely rich vocabulary and, on average, one new word is added every two hours. It is a dynamic language that constantly evolves. Almost all of this development can be attributed to social media, where most interaction takes place in English.

There are only about 400 million native speakers of English in the world, but almost 1.6 billion people can speak or understand the language. It is regarded as the most commonly spoken language in the world.

There is no doubt that English is a career language to some degree, as most employers require their employees to be able to grasp the language properly. It is a common language for multinational business transactions and is a requirement for worldwide recognition.

There is a lot of information available on the internet in English due to the fact that it is the easiest language to be understood by most people. An estimated 80% of the total data available on the internet is exclusively in English. This is an easy-to-understand, straightforward language. In print media, it is the universal language, whether it’s newspapers or journals. It is the language of important books that are meant to reach a large audience.

English is a language that is widely used in a wide range of industries, such as teaching, journalism, business, and so on, so learning it effectively is crucial in our day-to-day lives. A majority of international business is conducted in countries like the UK and the USA, where English is the sole language of business. Knowledge of this language is therefore essential to success in these fields.

Throughout all forms of recreational activity, this international language is used. There is no doubt that Hollywood is the powerhouse of entertainment on a global scale. Movies, books, and even sports all use English as the primary language for all of these activities. It is necessary to understand English if you want to enjoy these movies, especially without dubbing. Currently, English is not a foreign language and has become ingrained in every nerve of the population.

How and why do we need English?

• Since information technology has grown tremendously, especially the internet, English has become the preferred language for Internet users. In addition to promoting and spreading the English language across the world, the internet has also become the internet’s language as more and more people are exposed to it.
• It is common to use English as a language for understanding, learning, and explaining concepts from a wide range of fields. In most educational systems, English is required as a foreign language as part of global educational systems. The majority of instructional tools, materials, and texts are written in English.
• It is well known that English is the official language of 53 countries and that more than 400 million people worldwide speak it. Therefore, English is an ideal language for travel, whether it is for tourism, a job opportunity, settlement, a casual visit, or anything in between.
• Language is used to communicate effectively; its most basic purpose is to communicate with people effectively. English has been around for many years and is widely recognized and valued around the world.

In most international communications, we use English. Although it is not the world’s most spoken language, 53 countries have named it their official language. It is also the first language of about 400 million people worldwide. Hence, because it is the most frequently spoken second language in the world, learning this language will open new doors.

Essay On Science In Everyday Life

Essay on Importance of Time

Essay on Mobile Phones

Essay on Education Should Be Free

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay

Introduction, what is culture, relationship between language and culture, role of language in cultural diversity, reference list.

How does culture influence language? An essay isn’t enough to answer this question in detail. The purpose of the paper is to clearly highlight the issue of intercultural communication with reference to language and identity.

Language and culture are intertwined. One cannot define or identify cultural orientations without citing variations in how we speak and write. Thus, to explore the relationship between language and culture, this essay will start by defining the terms separately.

Culture describes variations in values, beliefs, as well as differences in the way people behave (DeVito 2007). Culture encompasses everything that a social group develops or produces.

Element of culture are not genetically transmitted and as such, they have to be passed down from one generation the next through communication. This explains why it is easy to adopt a certain language depending on the shared beliefs, attitudes and values.

The existence of different cultures can be explained using the cultural relativism approach which stipulates that although cultures tend to vary, none is superior to the other (DeVito 2007).

Learning of cultural values can be done through enculturation whereby individuals learn the culture of their birth. Alternatively, one can be acculturated into a culture that is divergent from their basic culture (DeVito 2007).

Language is the verbal channel of communication by articulating words that an individual is conversant with. This is aimed at relaying information. In other words, it is the expression of one’s culture verbally (Jandt 2009).

Language is the first element that helps an individual to distinguish the cultural orientations of individuals. Through language, we are able to differentiate between for example, a Chinese national and a Briton. The main functions of language are generally for information purposes and for the establishment of relationships.

Different cultures perceive the use of language differently. Whereas an American regards it as a useful communication tool, a Chinese will use their language to relay their feelings and to establish relationships.

It is through such variances of language that different cultures have placed on the usage of their language show the link between the two study variables (Jandt 2009).

Intercultural communication refers to communication between people from different cultural backgrounds. Due to the differences in cultures, there is a high probability that a message will be misunderstood and distorted.

Difference in languages leads to challenges in the interpretation of for example, politeness, acts of speech and interaction management. Normally, differences in languages lead to impediments in understanding. This is due to the difference in perception in as far as values are concerned.

Language shapes our lines of thought and as such, it is the core element that shapes how people perceive the world. The way people communicate is largely due to their cultures of origin. Language increases the rate of ethnocentrism in individuals thus furthering their self-centeredness in culture.

As a result, they are less responsive to the different means of communication that are not similar to their own values and beliefs (McGregor eta al 2007).

Language further heightens the aspect of accelerating cultural differences as it openly showcases the variations in communication. In turn, this view tends to impede negatively on intercultural efforts, thereby having a negative impact on the communication between individuals of different cultural orientations.

There is need for individuals to evaluate the usage of language in order to effectively interpret the shared meanings that are meant to be communicated. It is important therefore that individuals from a multi cultural context look at each other beyond their differences in order to enable effective communication.

DeVito, J A. (2006) Human communication the basic course, 10 th edition. Boston, Mass: Pearson / Allyn and Bacon.

Jandt, F E. (2007) An introduction to intercultural communication: identities in global community . Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

Mohan, T, McGregor, M T, Saunders, H & Archee, S. (2008) Communicating as a professional . Sydney, Australia: Cengage Learning.

• Hmong Americans and Traditional Practices of Healing
• Foolishness: Psychological Perspective
• Relationship Between Ethnocentrism and Intercultural Communication
• Appropriation of Black Culture Life by Whites
• Cultural Differences: Individualism vs. Collectivism
• Americanization of Russia and its Impact on Young Generation
• Smoking Culture in Society
• The Main Distinctions of Popular Culture and Its Growth
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, July 2). Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-language-and-culture/

"Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay." IvyPanda , 2 July 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-language-and-culture/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay'. 2 July.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-language-and-culture/.

1. IvyPanda . "Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-language-and-culture/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Relationship Between Language and Culture Essay." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/relationship-between-language-and-culture/.

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Watch your language: The beauty and challenge of writing in another language

Published 6:17 pm Friday, May 24, 2024

By Julia Palmer

G rading short essays and compositions in Spanish can be both rewarding and frustrating. Native speakers of English learning to compose and communicate their thoughts and ideas in Spanish can find moments of brilliance and moments of defeat. Because every language represents a different way to divide up reality, the corresponding grammar and lexicon can encode meaning in vastly different ways. So, learning another language is difficult.  

There are times too when those communicating in their second language are not always aware of what they are communicating. The language produced in these circumstances can often be challenging (and oddly fascinating) to translate. For example, one particular structure we work hard to teach our students is a past tense narration. In Spanish, this can be tricky because it involves negotiating two past tenses that communicate verbal aspect, the preterite and the imperfect. It is so complicated that the national exam for evaluating oral proficiency considers this a marker of advanced ability.  

A few years ago a student writing about his childhood wrote that his father did not like “el juego de caballos”. It took me a minute or two to realize the student was trying to describe the concept “horseplay”. There is no specific word for this in Spanish, so the student used the skills he had on hand and chose a literal translation. Another paper valiantly described the presidency of Jorge Arbusto. I’ll just state here that “arbusto” is Spanish for “bush”. I’m sure you can figure out the rest. Some communications, however, defy a logical translation.  

Email newsletter signup

For instance, I still find the following short narration in the past (NIP) fascinating, mostly because of the questions that it raises. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to ask the student what he was trying to communicate. The quiz prompt asked students if they had ever been involved in a car accident and if so, to briefly relate what happened and how they felt about it. Ideally, to answer this question, students were to use the preterite for completed actions and the imperfect to talk about the weather, their feelings, and actions in progress.  

This student’s NIP went something like this, “Sí, tuve un accidente cerca de Kroger. Hablé con la policia y compré la pollo (sic). Me sentía peligroso.” If you are familiar with Spanish, you’ll see that the student successfully used the preterite for completed action and the imperfect to express his emotion at the time. However, the meaning is enigmatic. It translates to “Yes, I had an accident near Kroger. I spoke with the police and I bought the chicken. I felt dangerous.” Hmmmm. Would love to find this student and ask what he meant to say!

Another short essay that communicated something unintentional had to do with the confusion between the word for peace “la paz” and the word for fish “el pez”. The students had been asked to write about both problems facing the world today and what they would do to help address the problem. This answer was noble in intention and full of heartfelt sincerity. “Lucharía por la pez. Creo que en el futuro el mundo será mejor porque los países tienen la pez.” This translates to “I would fight for the fish. I believe that in the future the world will be better because countries will have the fish.” Even without intending to, this student communicated a good message. May everyone in the world have enough food to eat.  

Julia Palmer is an associate professor of modern languages at Hampden-Sydney College. Her email address is [email protected].

More Lifestyles

Naturalization Ceremony: ‘Your country needs you’

LCVA launches new Youth Art Exhibition

Devotional: children are a key part of the kingdom, the word: finding joy today.

• Classifieds
• Public Notices
• Small Business
• Terms of Use
• © 2024, Farmville