English as a Global Language by David Crystal

English as a Global Language by David Crystal gives a history of English as a developing and far-reaching language in the world.

·        He explains the growing dominance of the English language gracefully.

·        In the first chapter, entitled “Why a Global Language?” Crystal observes that when native speakers of English think of their language’s relative significance in the world, they may feel pride but their pride may be tinged with concern, when they realize that people in other countries may not want to use the language in the same way that as the native speakers do, and are changing it themselves.

·        Examples: British English/American English/Indian English/ Sri Lankan English etc.

·        Crystal is thorough in his explanation of how English has spread in its relatively short history. Crystal explains that it is technology – particularly of modern communication and of accessible air transportation – that has enabled and advanced the spread of English across the world.

·        Transmission of the first radio telecommunication signals, which were in English. Because the technology an innovation of English-speaking Britons and Americans

·        Crystal highlights, the implications and eventual outcome of this – that within a quarter of a century public radio broadcasting would be made for the first time, in English, and would eventually lead to the establishment of English as a lingua franca in international politics, could not possibly have been foreseen.

·        English language has been learned and spoken by an unprecedented number of people