True or false?
The expansion of the British Empire helped spread English around the world.
True.
Radio, television, films, popular music, and the internet helped spread English globally.
True.
English was spoken by only about 5-6 million people, mainly in England.
1500s.
Why is English compared to the Ugly Duckling?
English started as a relatively unimportant language spoken mainly in England.
Like the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan, English eventually became the dominant international language.
Why was the growth of the United States important for the rise of English?
The United States experienced rapid population growth and became the world's leading industrial and technological power. Millions of immigrants learned and used English, making the country the largest English-speaking nation. As American influence increased, so did the influence of the English language.
Latin was the language of the Church and many printed books in AD 1500.
True.
The author believes Norwegian is likely to replace English as the world's dominant language.
False. The author suggests this is very unlikely.
The United States gains independence from Britain.
1776
Why was English not considered a very important language around AD 1500?
It was spoken by only about 5-6 million people. Latin dominated religion and education. French was used by the king and the nobility. Celtic languages were widely spoken in other parts of the British Isles. Outside England, English had little value.
Why is English called a lingua franca?
English is called a lingua franca because it is used as a common language by people whose native languages are different. It allows people from different countries to communicate in areas such as business, education, science, technology, and international politics.
English became a global language mainly because its spelling is easy to learn.
False. The text says political and economic factors were more important.
The growth of English had no effect on other languages.
False. Some languages declined or even disappeared as English spread.
Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule, symbolizing the end of the British Empire.
1997
Why isn't Norwegian a language that will replace English in the near future?
1. Few speak Norwegian.
2. English already has a global position.
3. English is supported by history and global influence.
4. Globalization reinforces English.
English was the most important international language in AD 1500.
False. It was spoken by only about 5-6 million people and had limited international importance.
By 1910, the United States was the largest English-speaking country in the world.
True.
British Empire reaches its greatest size with about 410 million subjects.
1920
5. Why did Britain's Industrial Revolution strengthen the position of English?
Britain became a world leader in technology, industry, and military power during the Industrial Revolution. People from many countries travelled to Britain to learn about science, engineering, and business. They brought English back home as a useful international language.
Why does the author argue that political and economic power are more important than grammar or spelling in determining the success of a language?
The author points out that English spelling is often difficult and inconsistent. Nevertheless, English became the world's leading language because the countries that spoke it became politically, economically, technologically, and militarily powerful. This shows that the success of a language depends more on the influence of its speakers than on the quality of the language itself.
World War II strengthened the British Empire and made Britain the world's main superpower.
False. The war weakened Britain and strengthened the United States.
USA becomes the largest English-speaking country by 1910.
True.
U.S. population reaches about 4 million.
1790