The debate is rife on whether global native languages are at risk of disappearing with one dialect dying every fortnight (Chigbu, et.al, pg 98-114). It is paramount that we do a lot to promote the use of local languages, whether we adopt other foreign dialects or not. It does not mean that we should shun English, but we should be careful not to compromise our native dialects. Therefore, this article will focus on whether studying in English should be mandatory in my country.
It is commonly regarded by people from my country that in today’s global dynamics mastering the Queen’s language is mandatory. The English dialect is genuinely essential but not necessary. Many world leaders are successful, yet most of them do not see the need to use the language. Most of them do not possess the minimum know-how of the language, yet they make decisions on behalf of their nations. Therefore, we cannot base the success of these leaders on their knowledge of the English language but the expertise to make decisions.
English might be the preferred teaching language in my country, but we should not construe this notion to mean that after completing studies, success will be waiting. To be successful, hard work and determination are the key determinants. Nations around the world use the Queen’s language as the instruction language in all learning institutions from baby class to university, but the majority of these people are far from successful. Thus, the mandatory use of the English language will not mean a smooth sail to success.
World over, some billionaires do not have a grasp of the English language. For example, according to a study conducted in 2013 by the Global Rich, Asia had more dollar billionaires’ than the United States (Wei, Ye, et al 77-85). Many nations’ in Asian do not recognize English as the first language ;hence with that in mind, it reflects that for anyone to accomplish a lot in life, he does not use English as a primary or learning language. These Asians use Mandarin yet they are in the billionaires club.
It is wrong for people to have a conviction that nations’ around the world that do not use English as the first language cannot generate influential personalities. Heading an institution such as the United Nations is no mean feat; it is a very compelling position that has been held by people from English non-speaking countries. These leaders never used English as their first language until they got to a certain level of education. Financial institutions’ like the IMF have also had influential people whose first dialect is not the Queen’s language such as Christine Largade who at the moment heads The European Central Bank (Luckhurst, 2018, pg 117-153).
Some skeptics believe that English is the key to success. These people argue that English is the finance and business language. They contend that large firms have established themselves around the world; thus the need for a common business language has risen.
The skeptics say that English is best suited for this position. Further, these pessimists say that the world is a global village thanks to the internet. More than fifty 50 % of the material on the web is published using English; thus the need to learn and understand the Queen’s language (Al-Kadi, et.al, 2018, pg 727-736).
More people around the world are choosing to learn English more than any other language. The aftermath is that different dialects fall along the way. Studies show that every two weeks a tongue slips into extinction. Also, parents in modern society rarely pass native languages to their children because modern society consumes them and they do not feel the need to teach their children their native languages. The inclination to profit from economic advancement causes loss of local languages too since people identify more with significant languages such as English with opportunities and native dialects with slowness.
Furthermore, if my country decides to adopt English as the first language, it should not be at the expense of native dialects. For example, the internet language must not be left to English only. Translators can develop functions that will make it possible for everyone to speak and write in the language they are most comfortable with on the web. As a country, we should not allow English to dominate our native languages, however small.
Preserving local languages plays an essential role in protecting the unique cultures of the world. Loss of indigenous dialects will have adverse outcomes that people will only understand when it is too late.
According to UNESCO, between 1950 and 2010, 230 languages became extinct (Isern, et.al, 2014). It is essential to preserve local languages because most spheres of a nation such as science, medicine, and the government depend partly on local traditional knowledge. When this knowledge ceases to exist, these important spheres are affected. When a language is extinct, its cultural diversity dies with it. Also, it is essential to note that UNESCO declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages, and it shows how serious preserving these native languages has become (Morris, 2019).
Some cynics believe that English as a language does not erode local cultures by taking over from local dialects. They contend that the use of the Queen’s language is a second option in most countries. The native languages are used as the first option; thus culture erosion is not possible. The skeptics also argue that UNESCO is doing a lot to protect heritages of the world; hence loss of native languages is impossible. Lastly, these skeptics may say that a language either dies when the last person of that ethnic group dies, which is rare or when the people who speak the language stop doing so.
In conclusion, it is essential to note that the mandatory use of English as a learning language does not guarantee success because there is proof that there are more billionaires in English non-speaking countries’. Protection of indigenous dialects should not be compromised at any cost for the preservation of our national heritage. Most people prefer English, but it should not be at the expense of native languages. Also, governments’ should partner with international institutions to promote cultural diversity.
References:
Morris, Miranda. “2019 UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages-The Modern South Arabian Languages.”
Al-Kadi, Abdu M. Talib, and Rashad Ali Ahmed. “Evolution of English in the internet age.” Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics 7.3 (2018): 727-736.
Chigbu, Uchendu, Chimaraoke O. Izugbara, and Walter T. de Vries. “Land, culture, culture loss and community: rural insights from sub-Saharan Africa.” The Routledge Handbook of Community Development. Routledge, 2017. 98-114.
Wei, Ye, et al. “The rich-club phenomenon of China’s population flow network during the country’s spring festival.” Applied Geography 96 (2018): 77-85.
Luckhurst, Jonathan. “Globalization, Inequality, and Challenges to Free Trade.” The Shifting Global Economic Architecture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2018. 117-153.
Isern, Neus, and Joaquim Fort. “Language extinction and linguistic fronts.” Journal of the Royal Society Interface 11.94 (2014): 20140028.
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