Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue

            In the story I found it interesting on how people don’t realize how they can go from one point of language (time period, Old English) back to present/middle English. Listening to how people speak today you can find not only the similarities by the same usage in word/sentence formation. On p. 39, it stated that the word stan actually means ‘the stone’. Now days, we say ‘the stone’ instead of ‘stone’ when talking of a specific item. In the Old English only one word is needed when talking of an item. I know in certain dialects, depending on what a person’s L1 (first language) is, one word is used when a person describes an object. In this sense history can repeat itself to a point based on what dialect of English is used.

English to Chinglsih

                The article English to Chinglish tells about the fear of destroying American English. Due to Globalization other countries are conforming their language into American English. As a result mixes of cultures as well as a dialect evolve, such as Chinglish. One language (such as English) can become superior to others due to political or cultural reasons.

                Whether it’s an economical, cultural or resource related cause, the American-English is becoming familiar in China. This is called globalization. Globalization is the action of the world integrating together, which results in the loss of some individual cultural identities (Dictionary.com). In this case, the 2008 Summer Olympics is the reason for the Chinese to use the American-English language. A visiting immense state (such as the USA) calls for the need to communicate. The Chinese learn the American-English language to do so. In the end China finds it profitable to know the American-English language useful and teach its citizens the language. In the end unfortunately may lead to the death of their own language (Chinese) and the possibility of a new form of the language as well.

                When the affect of globalization plays a role in different countries another language, culture, fads, etc. are exchanged. In the sense of China and North America the two languages form together creating another dialect called Chinglish. The Chinese government does not approve of “Chinglish” due to the improper translation of words/phrases to their English-language equivalent. In other words, they just don’t want to go down in history for making a mockery of the translated American-English language. Even though the dialect of Chinglish doesn’t appear to be threatening the existence of the Chinese language completely. This affect creates what’s known as a biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of living beings in one location. This shows in one country with more than one culture/language. For example the USA, which has no national language but has adopted a variety of them (American-English, Spanish, French, Creole, etc.).

                Throughout history a variety of language has been separated by leaders and overpowered other nations for power. English has become the new Lingua Franca. Lingua Franca means any language that is widely used as a means of communication among speakers of other languages (Dictionary.com). English is one of the top three languages used in the UN (United Nations). The use of the English language is used beyond diplomacy which is how it receives the title of the new Lingua Franca.

                With any language and the change in culture can bring the fear of a soon to be dead language is a continuous speculate. Globalization plays a huge role in the change of a language. The world is growing and shrinking every day. The mixtures of different culture can evolve a langue into another dialect as well. Molding English and Chinese together creating Chinglish. The popularity of one language can even make one language superior over others. No matter the cultural, political or even as a trend can evolve one language into a Lingua Franca “superior language.”