Globalization of the English Language

Globalization of English has a significant impact on language by the ways its usage of words and meanings are becoming altered and utilized by many different cultures. The English language is expanding due to the more participants of the language. There are many reasons why people of different cultures are taking up English as a second language for its benefits in trade, commerce, and technology. These are areas in which hold and have influence over an individual’s financial future for they are the aspects that are growing with value among the English speaking world. Referring to “Not the Queen’s English” claims that all computer books are written in English. Therefore, much of the beneficial information is limited to others that do not know the language. As English continues to evolve and advance, it forms and molds into the English that is needed by its environment. People of new generations to come pick up where the past generations left off and carry on ideas, traditions, technology as well as language. The only way to carry something on is if it serves the needs of the people. That is the reason that all things, including English will eventually, in our time period, and continually throughout the endless time frame of others, evolve in ways that best fit the needs of the utilizers. As it has been seen that people of different cultures and different backgrounds have already made significant efforts to learn the language in efforts to participate in the beneficial opportunities. Many jobs are making English a requirement for the reason that there is a larger market pool of English speakers than in any other language. As English is globalizing and a variety of cultures are picking up this language, there becomes a new blend of languages depending on the dialect and voice pitches heard in different accents. There has already been a widely known concept of “spanglish” as the Spanish speaking culture is combining with English speaking cultures. This idea of two languages combined together is going to globalize furthermore as generations continue to become bilingual. This has an effect on how language will be used. The combination of English and other languages may be used in informal settings and formal diction will be considered what we consider informal today. Globalization of the English language will continue to depict changes in the usage and meaning of words by modern day people.   

Selection in Language

I will be reviewing the differences between three person’s perspectives of the outfit that I am wearing currently in order to exemplify how selection has an impact on the information that each individual takes in according to their own personal interests. The perspectives will be among an artist, a tailor, and a nudist. I am wearing a capris-like blue tights with a long, brown sleeveless tunic and a long bright, magenta pink vest over the tunic. The tights reach down to just below the knee and the tunic, as well as the vest, reach down about mid thigh. An artist may pay closer attention to the color scheme of the neutral blue and brown hues against the vibrant magenta. Also, the perspective of an artist will have interest in how the clothing flows away from the body in its length. The idea of making the clothing seem appealing is by its structure of soft lines and fluidity in movement. The outfit can be considered attractive by the shape, colors, textures, and movements. The diction that could be chosen by the artist to describe the outfit may be “contrasting” and “fluid”. If this same outfit were to be viewed through the eyes of a tailor, there may be many errors in the right fitting of the clothing against my body type. Their perspective will be emphasized on the lines and curves of the material. Their interest would be on the measurable sizing of the different pieces of clothing. The capris-like tights may be seen at too tight; therefore needing to alter the fitting so that the tights will look more like comfortable fitting capri pants. There would not be much detail on the color palette of the outfit. Their attention will be on the sizing, shapes, and cut of the clothing. When describing the outfit, the tailor may use wording such as “loose-fitting”, “formless”, and ill-defining.” A nudist may have a perspective driven with the idea of less clothing to be more flattering to the shape of the body. The “flowing” appeal to the artist may look like too much material to the nudist. Their concentration would be on the simplification of the outfit. Also, the bright magenta may be too extreme or animated for a nudist. They may be more attracted to the neutral color toned palette of just the brown and the blue shades. Their overall effort would be to minimize each article of clothing. To a nudist, it may seem better to wear shorts with a shirt and vest that reach the hip. In their description, their focus may be on how oversized the outfit is. For example, they may use terms such as “baggy”, “shapeless”, and “voluminous” when describing my outfit. The differences in each person’s perspective will be looking at the aspects of the outfit in which appeal to their areas of interest. Therefore, each description is made up of the features in which they select being that these are areas that they are most knowledgeable about.  

Freedom in Language

 The experiences from Malcom X and Helen Keller regarding using language as a freeing experience is understandable because language is a set system that is universally used in order to convey thoughts and express wants, desires, and needs. Without being part of this system, people such as Malcom X and Helen Keller are left out from the sources others use in order to express themselves. Malcom X gained power through his experience of becoming literate. He could not have portrayed the magnitude of his thoughts in the struggle to take action for African Americans. By having access to this language, he is able to be heard by others of the opposing side in order to have views heard. Hellen Keller was able to use language as a means to communicate with any of the world. Being cut off from all communication, her low functionality is what prohibited her from being able to gather meaning in all her surroundings. She was limited by the feeling of having other pass her by but there were no ways of communicating what was happening before she had lessons from Mrs. Sullivan. When Hellen broke her doll and pieces flew everywhere, she felt content and glad that she did that in order to communicate her frustration. After she realized what her teacher had been trying to explain to her, she was freed from her inability to understand as she felt sorrow after realizing that she was lacking comprehension of what Mrs. Sullivan was trying to communicate earlier. In my own experience as a child, I had an older sister that would at time not allow me to express myself and get my point across. Frustration would build up inside of me and it was as though I felt captive by not being able to express my thoughts or feelings. It felt freeing when I finally was able to gain better diction in order to describe and in better detail, explain my thoughts. I felt as though I was finally being heard. Also, now working with children with autism, some within the spectrum of a speech impediment or low verbal skills, it is difficult to function properly when there is a barrier in communication. Although pictures and words are shown for the basic needs, there is still a level of expression that is left out. This expression may have a lot to do with the feeling of love and other emotions in which are not describable as tangible objects are. When a want or desire is unable to be communicated to the level of being able to be understandable to the communicative partner, there is a metaphorical sensation of being barred. Not having this freedom can be extremely complicating to someone who has the thought process and understands what is going around them but their voice is discredited by others who have may not be aware of what this other person feels. There is a degree of freedom in language that enables some to fully request for what they desire. This freedom is felt after experiencing the limitations of an under developed vocabulary.