English as the Global Lingua Franca

Around the globe, there are many people who are using English as a second language. In fact, an estimated minimum of 400 million people to a maximum 1 billion individuals speak English as their second language, with varied levels of mystery. They even outnumber people who speak English as their primary language, numbering more than over 375 million. Those who have achieved a level mastery of English as a second language numbers around 200 million, with most of them are residing in the Philippines and India.

Although English is only the third most-spoken language in the globe, its impact and dominance has been undeniable. Although only more than a billion of the world’s seven billion population speak English on varied levels of mastery, it is considered that majority of all human beings understand English. As a matter of fact, English is considered as a lingua franca, being a language used by people to communicate with each other even if they have different first tongues.

In global commerce and industry, English is widely used as the main language. When doing transactions, businessmen around often provide and sign documents written or translated in English. Even brand labels are often written or translated in English. Manuals and instructions on how to use certain products or avail of services are written or translated in English. Even the Internet is dominated by mostly English web sites. Most web sites written in languages other than English offer translation or an English version of their online page. These are only a few of the evidences that supports the fact the English remains the dominant lingua franca.

Whether one uses English as a second language or as main one, this tongue will remain as the most dominant mean of communication as long as people still use it extensively.