The Emergence of English as a Global Language Essay Example for Free

The Emergence of English as a Global Language Essay Emergence of English as a world language The need for a global link language Prof. Anil Sarwal[1] The primary means of communication among the peoples of the world is language. According to a well known linguist, Frank Palmer[1], the difference between human beings and animals is poorly described by the label homo sapiens (man with wisdom). He questions what do we mean by wisdom? Anthropologists describe man as a tool maker, but even apes are known to be able to make primitive tools. In fact, what sets us apart from animals is our ability to speak. Man is a speaking animal—homo loquens—and this ability has greatly facilitated our advancement in all spheres. At present, humanity uses 6,809 living languages and about 100 living scripts to facilitate its social interactions[2]. However, there is an urgent need for the adoption of a common link language in a world in which all its people are quickly becoming interdependent despite the many differences of their myriad cultures, races, religions and ideologies. The ‘planetization of humankind’[3] is almost complete due to the effects of recent dramatic advances in transport and communication. Communications have been greatly improved by the widespread adoption of mass media—especially radio and television—coupled with reduced costs and time that has been made possible by the use of satellites, computers and mobile telephones. The Internet is quickly emerging as the preferred information highway to meet our daily communication needs as well as for conducting important business transactions. It is now almost impossible for us to fully participate in the global village that we live in, without ‘knowing’ a common world language. 4]   However, the common link language that would be the universally accepted means of communication should not be allowed to undermine the importance of any other existing language or culture. In fact, new linguistic insights have made us aware that no human language is superior to any other and that the development and growth of a language depend upon its use. Meanwhile, English, for various reasons—primarily due to British rule in the many parts of the world—has emerged as the popular lingua franca[5]. In the process, it must be acknowledged, the role of English and its functions have vastly changed. English is no more seen as the language of the rulers, or as an instrument of promoting British culture and values. According to the famous linguist Tom McArthur, â€Å"In the closing years of the twentieth century the English language has become a global resource. As such it does not owe its existence or the protection of its essence to any nation or group. †[6] It is estimated that about a billion people in the world use English either as their native, second or foreign language. English is used in over 70 countries as an official or semi-official language, and plays a very significant role in 20 others. Over 1,400 million people live in countries where there is a tradition of using English. Some 75% of the world’s mail and world’s information is stored in English. Of the estimated 50 million users of the Internet, a majority use English. [7] With the evolution of English to the status of a world language, we have become aware of some of the features that a world language must possess. Irrespective of its origin, a world language must become a utility language that embraces the needs of everyone. Though English originally was the language of the British, there are now many varieties of English, including American English, African English, Indian English and Australian English. Moreover, English now encompasses the dreams and aspirations of many peoples and experiences of diverse nations. It is used to transmit a mass of various information whether it be the latest advances in the fields of science and technology, the experiences of an ethnic group, negotiations in the field of commerce; documentation of cultural ethos; or individual experiences. Its vocabulary has been vastly enriched with the inclusion of many new words from other languages of the world. Some ten thousand words derived from Hindi and other Indian languages have become a part of Indian English. These include:   guru, babu, chorpoy, curry, etc. We are very familiar with the following widely used pidgin words:   lathi-charge, rickshaw-walla, double-roti, etc. [8] Spoken English varies from region to region in accordance with cultural and native language differences.

Making the Corps :: Essays Papers

Making the Corps As a Wall Street Journal Pentagon correspondent, Thomas E. Ricks is one of America’s elite military journalists. He has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and awarded a Society of Professional Journalists Award for his writings based on the Marines. Thomas E. Ricks lectures to military officers and was a member of Harvard University’s Senior Advisory Council on the project on U.S. Civil-Military Relations. As a Pentagon correspondent, he can access information where no other civilian can step foot—traveling with soldiers abroad, his eyes tell the tale of the life of a Marine. On December of 1992, U.S. troops landed in Somalia. It was Thomas E. Ricks’ first deployment as a Pentagon Reporter. Opening the beginning chapter, he speaks of his first-hand experience he encountered while traveling with a squad from Alpha Company of the 1st battalion of the 7th Marines. Exceptionally qualified, his work on Making The Corps was cited by Thomas E. Ricks himself. Few events were videotaped, and some related by several participants and observers. Thoughts of Platoon 3086 and military documentations, such as â€Å"Recruit Incident Reports† and â€Å"Recruit Evaluation Cards†, were used as well to get an inside feel of the way recruits and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp. Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a â€Å"me† attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul in life. Team meaning everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity. As a Marine, it is imperative to have leadership skills along with being capable to work with others. This book was written to enhance the reader’s mentality of how the Marines operate. It informs those who are looking into the service, and provides an in depth look into the trials and tribulations it has been through—as well as conquered. This book substantially explains the vigorous training platoon 3086 went through in order to earn the title of being a Marine.

India 2014 Elections Essay

Congress had an emphatic victory in 2009 Lok Sabha elections. UPA-2 started on a high by winning almost full majority on its own. However, their second term has been marred with controversies and corruption allegations. Starting with Commonwealth Games scam, every few months saw a new scam coming out like Adarsh Society scam and the biggest of all, the 2G scam. Fuel and commodity prices have risen sharply in the past few years adding to the woes of common man. Crusade against black money and corruption by Anna Hazare and to some extent baba Ramdev has only added to the woes of Congress. But Congress is shrewd and knows politics quite well. They know that offense is the best way to defend. For every scam or corruption news that comes out, they bounce back with equally controversial news against rival parties. Their projection of Rahul Gandhi, who has not yet proved any political sense, as a Prime Ministerial candidate may help them in their campaign build up to 2014 polls. [pic][pic]M ain opposition party Bhartiya Janata Party was left down and out after the 2009 polls. BJP’s arch enemy is not Congress but BJP itself. It’s leaders have failed to capitalize on core issues of price rise and corruption against the Congress. They should have learned from how Congress and some smaller parties have been able to successfully use the anti-minority tag against the BJP for over two decades now. BJP has also lost a lot of mass appeal leaders over the years. Most popular elader in india Atal Behari Vajpayee has now retired from active politics. Charasmatic leader and face of modern India, Pramod Mahajan was killed in a tragic incident. Stalwarts like Govindacharya and Jaswant Singh were thrown out. Prime Ministerial candidate Murli Manohar Joshi has been made to sit on the sidelines with no influence on national level politics. L K Advani is close to retirement years and firebrand Sushma Swaraj hasn’t proved to be a winner yet. That leaves the party with only one leader of mass appeal, Narendra Modi, who may not yet be ready to leave Gujara t and join National level politics. Besides, everyone knows Congress will play the anti-minority tag aginst him quite well. BJP has also destroyed its chances by not forming strategic alliances with other parties in states. It used to ahve an allaince with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC in West Bengal and BJD in Orissa, but they have all left BJP group now. BJP’s loss has been Congress’s gain. Third Front parties have been reduced to play a minority role at the center over the past few years. Leaders like Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jayalalitha, Mayawati are no longer king makers. Most of them have been left with no option then to support the ruling Govt, in this case the Congress. Left Front has already become non-existent after the debacle in 2011 Assembly elections and it’d be highly unlikely that they’d make any comeback by 2014. FOr the past few years, most third Front allies have been hob-nobbing with the Congress, which raises doubts on their very existence. Third Front was formed to combat BJP as well as Congress, but if you are going to chose Congress after the polls every time, then won’t it better for people to vote for Congress directly? Third Front needs to get its priorities right and decide on thei future survival options, because as of now their future looks bleak. The Contenders for India Elections 2014: Though Congress may not admit it yet, but Manmohan Singh may be shown the door out, and Congress may prefer to field Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014. it may be too ealryfor Rahul to lead the nation as he has not proven his political accumen yet, but after the negative reviews UPA-2 is gathering, Congress amy want to chnage Manmohan Singh. As for BJP, the choice may be between one last try for L K Advani and popular leader Narendra Modi.

The Great Gatsby Comparative Essay - 1049 Words

The central antagonist of Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age classic, Jay Gatsby, is revealed to the reader throughout the novel, creating a sense of mystery around his character, his past and his future. The quasi - fantastical pictorial of the same name, by Greenberg, also follows this reveal, portraying Gatsbys world and evoking a lingering curiosity. Initially, in both novel and graphic novel, the reader is set up to expect the worst. In the introduction of the novel by Fitzgerald, Nick states ‘ No- Gatsby turned out alright in the end; it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interests in the abortive sorrows and short winded elations of men.’ This introduction creates a†¦show more content†¦Fitzgerald does not, however, describe the physical characteristics of Gatsby. This allows the reader to understand that he is a plot device, and his dreams serve a larger purpose in the story. Gatsby’s infatuation with the green glowing light in the distance maintains the mystery surrounding his character. Fitzgerald uses this as a tool to enhance the readers understanding that Gatsby has a goal and ambition, although it is unknown at the time. Greenburg’s interpretation promotes the thought that Gatsby is almost worshiping the light, and is investing all of him into his quest. This symbol of hope is explained in the final chapter of Fitzgerald’s novel, comparing Gatsbys green light to the green breast of the new world, with the suggestion that Gatsbys dream is tarnished by his material possessions. Gatsby dreams, yet does not realize that his dreams are unworthy of him. Gatsby invests Daisy with an idealistic perfection that she cannot possibly attain in reality and pursues her with a passionate zeal that blinds him to her limitations. This is represented by Greenberg in the detailed view of daisy’s past and the emphasis placed on her imperfec tion. Daisy’s past, in the hospital giving birth and before her wedding day show her real emotion, however the reader is pulled back into her facade after only a few small yetShow MoreRelatedComparative Essay- the Great Gatsby4190 Words   |  17 PagesBehind every great man lies a great women. In some cases the women herself may not always be good or ideal according to society. Nevertheless it seems to add character to the man,and also influences his actions and maybe even his morals. In Shakespearean literature,Shakespeare tends to use people to develop certain characters throughout the play. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is the person with the most influence on Romeo. This influence allows him to develop as a character and also helps developRead MoreComparative of the Great Gatsby, Casablanca and Translations2685 Words   |  11 PagesThe texts which I have studied in my comparative course are â€Å"The Great Gatsby† (G.G.) written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. â€Å"Casablanca† (C.B.) directed by Micheal Curtiz and â€Å"Translations† (T.) written by Brian Friel. The cultural context of all three texts impacts on how and why the people behave the way they do. In this essay I will examine the elements which I thought had the most significant impact on the characters which contributed to their behaviour throughout the narratives. The first aspectRead MoreThe Great Gatsby Enduring Love Comparative Essay ‘Obsessive Love Has the Capacity to Drive a Person to Insanity, Leading to Irrational Behaviour, Alienation and Despair’ Compare and Contrast the Ways Mcewan and3060 Words   |  13 PagesThe Great Gatsby amp; Enduring Love ‘Obsessive love has the capacity to drive a person to insanity, leading to irrational behaviour, alienation and despair’ Compare and contrast the ways McEwan and Fitzgerald present the complexities of human love in light of this comment. F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ian McEwanpresent obsessive Idealised love as deranged and harmful.Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’, published in 1925,epitomises the euphoric atmosphere which permeated consumerist attitudes afterRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1628 Words   |  7 PagesThe point that I am going to talk about the story The Great Gatsby is the way they took care of materialistic things all through the story. A vital topic of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is riches and the procedure of achieving it. This longing for material riches and belonging is known as realism. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan are both amazingly materialistic and put a great deal of quality into the belonging and abundance of a man while Nick Carraway doesn t show any materialistic cravingsRead MoreThe Equality Myth Essays656 Words   |  3 PagesIts pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness. Poverty and wealth have both failed. --Kin Hubbard, Sociologist The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is as much a novel about social hierarchy as it is about class-consciousness. Throughout the novel we are bombarded with images of extravagant wealth and shuddering pauperism with the elite upper class using those around them as stepping-stones to their own selfish happiness. The novel makes a point to differentiate between classesRead MoreComparative Essay: Toms Party V.S. Gatsbys Party802 Words   |  4 PagesJoanne Kwan April 24, 2012 Comparative Essay: Tom’s Party v.s. Gatsby’s Party The comparison between the two parties of Tom and Gatsby portrays the main difference between a Manhattan party and a West Egg (New money) party. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author, uses this comparison to portray the 1920’s as an era of corrupted social and moral values. Although the parties at both Tom and Gatsby’s are drenched in alcohol, the motivation behind the parties is different. Tom’s main goal in throwingRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald989 Words   |  4 PagesGatsby Essay Hayden Gordon The overall theme of â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by Scott Fitzgerald is the rise and death of the â€Å"American Dream†. The theme is shown to us through the life of Nick Carraway and the high-class society of which he lives amongst. The characters continually hint at the falsified â€Å"American Dream† in their actions and viewpoints throughout the novel. This dream is built through false hopes and crushed by failed goals. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity and hope, andRead MoreCharacteristics Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1615 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the protagonist is a man named Gatsby who is accustomed to the party lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties. The novel follows a group of people living in a fictional town known as West Egg and East Egg.The two towns represent old money and new money. Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor upbringing and earns an enormous amount of money only to be rejected by the old money people. No one really knew Gatsby, so people created terrible rumors about him, but Gatsby was justRead MoreMen and Their Music in Death of a Salesman by F. Scott Fitzgerald1085 Words   |  4 PagesFitzgerald in his novel The Great Gatsby. Music is a very useful method of communicating in prose because it can give off a sensation to the reader that mere text or dialogue cannot. Although the authors use drastically different typ es of music, one using popular music and the other using solo instrumental music, both authors are very effective. The authors use music ironically in order to undermine the classical masculinity of their characters. Both Willy and Gatsby are originally portrayed as primeRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.’ Essay1047 Words   |  5 Pagesfurthermore emphasised by her choice of home. She lives ‘on the outskirts of town, within the verge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other habitation†¦ abandoned, because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of social activity†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Hester’s geographical detachment from society correlates with the mental and emotional detachment between her and the citizens. One could ask the question, ‘Is Hawthorne creating an outsider