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English as a global languageEnglish has evolved to become a language commonly used by millions of people around the world, thus; giving it an international standing. It has advanced and has acquired a unique role that is recognized in countries worldwide. English has acquired a status of great importance, influencing all domains of human activity in the world. For instance English usage dominates in every field such as the media, foreign language teaching, business, etc. English is so important that it has different kinds of specialized dictionaries to regulate its usage. There are international dictionaries (Cambridge International Dictionary of English), dictionaries designed specially for countries and regions (Oxford English for Cameroon Schools), dictionaries for professions and trades, dictionaries for english idioms, slang, proverbs, just to name a few. While English is widely used across the world, it also deviates from the original (native accent) and varies with its users and regions as we go further into the communities that use English, be it as a Mother Tongue, Second/Foreign Language. The English that is spoken in Europe is not exactly same as that spoken in America, Africa or Asia, yet it remains English. In the united kingdom, linguists have been drawing lines between what is for instants, British English, Scottish English, Irish English. In the Americas, Canadians are said to speak not exactly in the same way as Americans. In Africa where some of the countries are former British colonies, there exist West African English, East African English as well as South African English. Asia is not the least when it comes to different types of English. Here, McArthur identifies many kinds of English as he groups them into West Asian English, South Asian English, South-East Asian English and East Asian English. As a Global Language, English, according to McArthur exerts a lot influence on global media, (The Times, TIME, CNN, BBC ?) and international organizations (the United Nations, the World Bank ?). At the social level, McArthur claims: ?English is both the world?s key up-to-the-minute operational language and a kind of living classical language.? There may not be as many native speakers of English as there is in some other languages, but the very fact that users of English are spread across the world and the number of its learners is ever on the rise gives English a more international status than languages such as chinese, Spanish or Hindi. English as a Global Language can be heard on almost every country on the planet. As a global language, English has arguably more classifications and sub-classifications than any other language. There are people to whom English is a mother tongue, to some others it is a Second Language and yet to others it is a Foreign Language. Among ?native? speakers, there are differences despite their being native. For Example, there are lexical, phonological, syntactic, etc differences between British English and American English ? (elevator/lift, dialog/dialogue, pants/trousers, etc). In the article ?Across cultures, English is the word?, Seth Mydans writes: ?There may be more native speakers of chinese, Spanish or Hindi, but it is English they speak when they talk across cultures, and English they teach their children to help them become citizens of an increasingly intertwined world. At telephone call centers around the world, the emblem of a globalized workplace, the language spoken is, naturally, English. On the radio, pop music carries the sounds of English to almost every corner of the earth.? Acquiring English has become obligatory especially for those whose wish is to participate in globalization and to take advantage of what it offers in terms of culture, job, travel, technical knowledge and practice. The learning of English today makes the claim that English is a global language ever more unchallengeable. Reference: 1. McArthur, Tom (2003). Oxford Guide to World English. new york, Oxford University Press Inc. 2. ?The New York Times? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/world/asia/09iht-englede.1.5198685.html (page 1)
