English as a Global Language

David Crystal

Cambridge University Press, Jul 28, 2003 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 212 pages

David Crystal's informative account of the rise of English as a global language explores the history, current status and potential of English as the international language of communication. This new edition of his classic work includes additional sections on the future of English as a world language, English on the Internet, and the possibility of an English "family" of languages. Footnotes, new tables, and a comprehensive bibliography reflect the expanded scope of the revised edition. An internationally renowned scholar in the field of language and linguistics, David Crystal received an Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his services to the English language. He is the author of several books with Cambridge, including Language and the Internet (2001), Language Death (2000), English as a Global Language (1997), Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (1997), and Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (1995) as well as Words on Words (University of Chicago, 2000). First edition Hb (1997): 0-521-59247-X First edition Pb (1998): 0-521-62994-2

Contents

• Why a global language?: 1
• What is a global language?: 3
• What makes a global language?: 7
• Why do we need a global language?: 11
• What are the dangers of a global language?: 14
• Could anything stop a global language?: 25
• A critical era: 27
• Why English? The historical context: 29
• Origins: 30
• America: 31
• Canada: 36
• The Caribbean: 39
• Australia and New Zealand: 40
• South Africa: 43
• South Asia: 46
• Former colonial Africa: 49
• Southeast Asia and the South Pacific: 54
• A world view: 59
• Why English? The cultural foundation: 72
• Political developments: 78
• Access to knowledge: 80
• Taken for granted: 83
• Why English? The cultural legacy: 86
• The media: 90
• The press: 91
• Advertising: 93
• Broadcasting: 95
• Cinema: 98
• Popular music: 100
• International travel: 104
• International safety: 106
• Education: 110
• Communications: 114
• The right place at the right time: 120
• The future of global English: 123
• The rejection of English: 124
• the US situation: 127
• New Englishes: 140
• The linguistic character of New Englishes: 147
• Vocabulary: 158
• Codeswitching: 164
• Other domains: 168
• The future of English as a world language: 172
• An English family of languages?: 177
• A unique event?: 189
• References: 192
• Index: 202

Bibliographic information

• Title: English as a Global Language; Canto (Cambridge University Press)
• Author: David Crystal
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, revised
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2003
• ISBN: 0521530326, 9780521530323
• Length: 212 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General