Why did English become the "global language"?

Question

Sun_Kim-Ai · Accepted Answer

Two big cathalists - the first one, when the British Empire was still powerful and by all effects, the "Empire where the sun never sets".
The British taught their language to the native populations of the colonies as a way to create and effective middle class and bureaucratic apparatus that could support the work and profits of their colonial masters.
It did not take long for those local "middlemen" to come and see English as the language of social mobility and one of the ways to prosper and gain benefits from the new system.

The British Empire at it's maximum extent, 1922

The second factor, was the Second World War and its aftermath. With the establishment of NATO and the supremacy of the American military, coupled with the many bases and outoposts maintained all over the world, made sure that English was a must-have knowledge for anyone who found work around the military bases or worked directly with US troops. Interistingly enough, English really exploded as the world's common language only in the 1990s, with the fall of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc - previously, German was the popular language in Eastern Europe up until 1945, while Russian was favored post 1945 and it's still widely used in the ex USSR territories.

ChrisMaster69 · Accepted Answer

It’s a multitude of reasons, key are certain wars won against the French and Spanish.

If those wars were not won, the world would most likely all be speaking French.

Commerce, shipping, technology, all push towards English being critical to a common way to communicate.

Prior to WW1 English was already the worlds main language used between different nationalities, then with WW1 and WW2, things like aviation made the world closer and a common language required for global aviation.

Then look at the huge increase in global commerce, there also needs to be a common language.

One of the biggest reason in the modern era though is media, both music and film, those drove the desire to understand English, which is why a lot of younger generations learned it and not their parents.

Then we have the internet, which pretty much means English becomes the dominant language.

If England, Britain had not beaten the Spanish Armada, Won the Seven Years war, then this question would likely be why is French…..

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

1st---Because of the internet revolution. It started from The States, where majority of the people spoke English at that time. The States is still reaping the benefits of the internet revolution.

2nd---English is probably the most easiest language you can learn on the planet. With flexible grammar and only 26 alphabets to learn.

3rd---It is because of the two reasons listed above, English language was selected as the official language for all international pilots to learn and be fluent in. This rule was brought in after the 1996 mid air aircraft collision in India. Which further accelerated the importance for the language.
The English language rule is for international flights only. When in domestic airspace, you can switch to local language too.

I acknowledge that British people ruled the Earth for nearly a century. Our own constitution is inspired by them. Our steering wheel side matched to Britain's. But I fail to understand one thing. If they were so big, how could they not replace the French, German languages? Which were like closest to them.

Grond21 · Answer

After World War II America became the military for the whole world. Keeping the peace and stopping another World War. This incentivised international finance and travel to become English. It took decades to institutionalize, but this is where it began. Plus many countries have already had an English presence from when they were colonies of England and so were very ripe for the English language becoming the lingua Franca of the world. Finally, American culture has rapidly become the most influential culture in the world and as such it's means of communication, English, has become the dominant language.

English is not the easiest language to learn. It has the most words out of any language, the words have a great many of exceptions due to influences from other languages, and pronunciations are quite varied. However, it is uniquely flexible in its construction and precise in its content. This allows it to be a perfect language for international communication, science, business, and everything having to do with numbers

HighlyVolatile · Answer

It's not a subject for which I have great expertise but I'd think it's the dominance of English-speaking cultures throughout the world from Great Britain to the United States with cars and Hollywood and the American music industry and so forth.

In my field as a software engineer, all major programming languages use English keywords and often English identifiers between mathematical expressions. Even assemblers often use English labels for instructions (possibly abbreviately like JMPLE for "jump if less than or equal"). It's become a practical prerequisite throughout the world even to program computers.

htmndg183 · Answer

Because colonial victims accepted its "superiority" and are paying the price for it now. In some countries especially India and Pakistan: people will look down upon you if you are from a social status middle class and above but can't speak English. Its a language. Not an assessment of one's intelligence.

Chiarac2003 · Answer

Britain or England ruling all over the world. My opinion. I remember learning English and my parents were super mad because I hated it. If I get mad I start speaking Italian n I don’t even know im speaking Italian… lol. It’s ok if I’m in Italy but in school my friends look at me and say…. what?🤣🇮🇪

Zealconsumesme · Answer

Yknow why, Imperialism as well as trading, England became militarily powerful and had established connections with many regions in the world; Colonialism and bartering really worked, same reason people learn English and now Chinese these days (Chinese more so on bartering), people want to do business with countries that consume and produce the most, Lady England was and still kinda is that to this day.

Mahmoud_Madyan · Answer

For two reasons :
In the past it was because UK and France invaded and conquered the most of the world countries and English is easier than French
And now it's because the American caleature is the most common caleature because the movies, internet, video games, and even porn!!
And of course we can't forget that the most famous and common languages of coding in English making English more common and common all over the world!!

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Answer

Because it's easy to learn.

If you learn my language, we have more than 100 words for - rain.

We have 33 letters, very complex Grammar and very distinct alphabet.

ა ბ გ დ ე ვ ზ თ ი კ ლ მ ნ ო პ ჟ რ ს ტ უ ფ ქ ღ ყ შ ჩ ც დ ჭ ხ ჯ ჰ

MTC29 · Answer

Prior to WWII, French, which had been the global language. With the fall of France in 1940, French became a less desirable language- unless of course you were a supporter of Vichy.  Enter, English.

MrShaun · Answer

Ironically, no one has come up with the real reason. I thought this was better understood.

First, it's important to accept the fact that English is the global language. Most countries teach English as a second language, along with their native language, for a reason.

The reason: because of two brothers — Orville and Wilbur Wright. Because airplanes needed a way to communicate with one another, the Wright brothers native language was chosen.

Msputiton · Answer

I would guess because at one point the British empire ruled a lot of the world and very influential in the trading market and their language being English many countries needed to learn it

genericname85 · Answer

i think it's because if you look at all the languages in the world, English is the one that scores the most points if you compare all the languages in the kategories: "easy to learn" and "number of people who already natively speak it".

Hanrej · Answer

Mostly through Hollywood. Lots of entertainment are written in English. Lately games too have been a major influencer. Point is, you don't need to educate yourself in English for English to suddenly appar around the world, The market does that.

KingofCups · Answer

The American industrial-military complex, neo-capitalism, and the exploitation of undeveloped countries for their natural resources and other financial assets.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

It's thoughtfulness towards the mentally less talented :D

ArtemisSilver · Answer

British imperialism for good or for bad spread the language.

Kelly6 · Answer

Because English people colonized different countries

Surely · Answer

English speaking countries are where the money is. Tourism and the money standard would be my guess.

MrTaboo · Answer

Since Great Brittan on e owned 25% of the earth at one point. The largest empire in history.

BLP11520 · Answer

Airlines picked it, it is the money language., To succeed you must speak it. Spanish came close, but English rules. Music is English much of the time.

Zygum · Answer

Most of the world is ruled by Britain, Britain has English language, so the English is widely spoken and written, so got Global recognition

CuriousMufuxka · Answer

Because it's easier to understand. Also the United States adaptation sure didn't hurt.

Lust-Vampire · Answer

Because they invaded more countries in the name of trade and looted them and enslaved people

Amur8711 · Answer

Because of the British empire and the American influence around the world since WWII.

IdentetarianimSucks · Answer

The Bri'ish had the worst food and the best boats.

anylolone · Answer

Trade, the secret was trade.

Luckycharms12 · Answer

Yes it is pretty much

beechman2129 · Answer

The British Empire.

OddBeMe · Answer

USA! USA!

EaterPeter · Answer

Invasion

Passing_by · Answer

Colonialism.

Why did English become the "global language"?

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