English as a World Language The English language has nowadays become the “new Latin” of the century. One billion people speak English. That’s 20% of the world population. For the other 600 million it’s either a second language or a foreign language. There are more than 500, 000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary. Compare that with the vocabulary of German (about 155200, 000) and French (about 100, 000 At present no other language on the Earth is better suited to play the role of a world language. There are many reasons for this. First, English is easier to learn than any other languages. Second, it borrows words and phrases from the very countries into which it expands. Eighty per cent of all English vocabulary comes from other languages. For example, such words as pork, mutton, beef, etc. were borrowed from French; book, renew, water, etc. were borrowed from German; library, renovate, aquatic, etc. were borrowed from Latin; bibliography, hydraulic, telephone, television, etc. were borrowed from Greek. Many words have entered English as a result of trade and colonial expansion: alcohol and algebra have come from Arabic; divan and khaki from Persian; chocolate and tomato from Native American languages; tea and tycoon from Chinese. English is so widespread nowadays because it has become the standard language for all kinds of international communication: 80% of all information in the world’s computers is in English; nearly 50% of all the companies in Europe communicate with one another in English; 75% of all international letters and telexes are in English. English is also the international language of businesspeople, pilots, diplomats and politicians, sportsmen and scientists, doctors and students, musicians and singers. Today in Russia the English language has become the most popular one among foreign languages. Learning English helps in talking to people, reading and writing, in understanding foreign music and foreign films. It opens up much a wider range of sources of information. Besides, when you travel in different countries, you can manage to communicate a lot better if you understand people and people understand you. When you speak English to people, they’re often a lot more friendly and helpful. English is the language of communication between different peoples and countries. If you are interested in science, business, medicine, literature, music and you want to be up¬to¬date with progress in those fields, you can always read the latest report in English and know the latest information about the question you are interested in. Learning English broadens your mind and way of thinking. English is a global language. The problems of the twenty¬first century, such as the problems of war and peace, ecology, 156demographics, democracy and many others cannot be solved if people do not speak the same language. I think that English is going to become even more important as a global language, dominating the world’s trade, computers and media while other languages will become localized or just die out. I think it’s very valuable and helpful in learning English if you start learning it from an early age. People can learn the best up to about the age of 20, as they have a lot of time for it, which later isn’t possible. Learning English is not like learning maths or science because it involves a different way of thinking. You have to learn to think in English. And, of course, you have to learn the grammar and vocabulary too if you want to know the language quite well. Questions ответить н во используя текст и добавляя свое личное мнение. 1. Why is English a global language nowadays? 2. What will the role of the English language be in the twenty ¬first century? 3. Which vocabulary is the largest in the world? 4. What percentage of words in English comes from other countries? 5. What borrowed words in English do you know? 6. Why is English a language of communication? 7. Why do people in Russia learn English? 8. What is the best suitable age to begin to learn English? 9. What is the best way to learn English?