WHAT IS A GLOBAL LANGUAGE ?
A global language is a language which is spoken
internationally and learned by most of the people as a second language. A
global language is characterized both by the number of speakers and by its
geographical distribution, international organization and in diplomatic
relations.
The
world’s most widely used language is English that has over 1.8 billion speakers
worldwide. The international prominence of Arabic has its historical and
religious reason in the medieval Islamic conquests. Standard Chinese is the
direct replacement of Classical Chinese which was a historical lingua franca in
Far East Asia until the early 20th century. In addition, today it is spoken by
not only within China proper, but also in overseas Chinese communities as a
common language. Moreover, it is widely taught as a second language
internationally. Russian was spoken in the Soviet Union and The Russian Empire
in the past, and is spoken and widely understood in central and Eastern Europe,
Northern and Central Asia in today’s world. Besides, it remains the lingua
franca in the Commonwealth of Independent States. German also is used as a
lingua franca in large parts of Europe for centuries, basically the Holy Roman
Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It keeps being an important
second language in much of Eastern and Central Europe, and in the international
scientific community, as well.
SHOULD THERE BE A GLOBAL LANGUAGE OR NOT?
We are in the favor of a global language for an international
and easier communication. Today, even in a country there are many dialects of a
language and this causes handicaps, when it comes to communicate in an easy
way.
When you want to go to a foreign country and live there, you have to learn
the language being spoken there and after going there, you will probably see
that it varies from city to city. Then just think about all languages, dialects
and varieties, you will easily get it that not having a global language prevents
you to communicate with all people. Thanks to a global language, people unify
in a common communication point.
The idea that one country is better than the other in terms of
wealth of languages will also disappear with the help of global language.
Not having a global language is a barrier in literature field.
All over the world, we have many well-beloved and valuable writers, poets and
critics whose works are really priceless, but when we try to translate them to
any language, there emerge a lot of conflicts and losses of meaning.
Via a global language trades, business and travels would be easier,
because you will not have a problem like communicating and will easily handle
your affairs.
When you go to abroad or come across a foreign in your
country, you psychologically feel
that you cannot speak to him/her because of not knowing each other's language
or a common language.
By the way, not having a global language is also a barrier
in political field and international relationships. For example, in
international interviews leaders have to have interpreters to understand each
other and despite them sometimes, they may misunderstand each other. EU is
trying to translate lots of documents to many language and update them in
intervals.
Shortly, a global language is indispensable for all
humankind. We all need it for a complete communication.
ŞEVVAL AKTAŞ
KÜBRA ALTUN
SEDA ASİL
BETÜL ÇİFTÇİ
