Language is a structured system or a principal method of human communication, comprised of words, symbols, speech, and gestures used conventionally. Most of the languages used around the globe have a visual or graphical representation that is encoded into a form writing-a writing system.
Well, as of now, around 6500 languages are spoken in the world today. Every one of those languages is beautiful, diverse, and unique of its kind. Some of these languages are even less widely spoken.
Which Languages Have the Most Speakers?
Estimated number of first-language speakers worldwide in 2019(millions).
- Chinese – 1,311,
- Spanish – 460,
- English – 379,
- Hindi – 341,
- Arabic – 319,
- Bengali – 228,
- Portuguese – 221,
- Russian – 154,
- Japanese – 128,
- Lahnda – 119.
English As The Global Language:
The world’s language structure is experiencing a rapid shift because of the changing demographic trends, new technology, and international communication, and this shift can influence both written and spoken communication. English is the lingua franca of business, academia, and the internet, but, English shall not be the ascendant language in the future, and there is a need for multilingual enhancement in the field of global communication. Many languages are becoming extinct, the new ones are surfacing in cities and extended social groups.
In the past, societies or communities used to live locally, divided by habits, land, tradition, and ways to communicate. Every tribe communicated in their dialect or language. Local languages, due to globalization, have diminished and the need to learn new languages has grown rapidly. This was the mainstream idea behind the creation of artificial languages like Ido, Esperanto, and Volapuk however these languages were very difficult to understand. The emergence of English was very fast and it became widespread quickly, which artificial languages couldn’t do. As of now, every third person in the world speaks English. Even after the Brexit, English is the most widely spoken language in Europe.
Future of languages:
Language is not only a medium to communicate but also a pillar for economic growth. China and India are the largest populated countries in the world and one of the biggest and rapidly growing economies. The languages like Mandarin, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, and Punjabi have become some of the most spoken languages on the globe. Studies and surveys say that the higher increase in the speakers of the language is interrelated with the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and these are usually perceived as the world’s biggest emerging economies.
The Washington Post reported a study made by the British Council which stated that English may not be the dominant language of the future. Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and Indonesian will dominate the business world by 2050, due to the ever-increasing population and the gradual shift of economy and trade to the Asian space.
The increase in foreign-language speakers and multilingual people is a piece of evidence that the students who usually went to other countries to pursue their careers and the business people who want to expand their economy are all a part of the global phenomenon that increases the use of more languages. In the new world order, most people will speak more languages for routine tasks. Multilingual English speakers may find it difficult to fully participate in a monolingual society.
Technology's effect on language:
Software is a key enabler for the entire global information infrastructure. We are living in a rapidly evolving age of information. The information industry and its infrastructure are creating new opportunities for improving all aspects of life from childhood to old age. Along with that, technology is making a huge rise in the field of privacy and security of information systems.
Programming languages are becoming easier and easier in ways that include more English related words. A paradigm shift to JavaSCript and Python shows how the language of English and its effects on the globe. This shows that technology is heavily dominated by the English language.
Global Economy May Decide The Global Langauge:
English has been the global language or the lingua franca of the business world but some people believe that changes in the global economy can make changes to the seating of English, as the global economy shows a shift from the western world to the Indo-China or the South-Asian world.
But in a way, English provides vast knowledge in every field and this can’t be changed. People who are in search of knowledge, as of now, study English rather than searching for the same copy in their native tongue. Chinese is the most spoken language, but it cannot be a global language for all because of its difficulty in writing, studying, and hardness in its intonations and grammar.
English plays a great role all around the world and stands as a global language with active speakers in almost all the countries in the world. The world economy and its transactions standstill on the English base. It is really hard to find an alternative for English.
