ENG 333 G - English as a Global Language

Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
Maximum Credit(s) Awarded: 4

One facet of globalization is linguistic globalization, and the increasing prominence of English as the lingua franca of the world is as full of benefits and dangers as is globalization itself. We will explore the historical context and cultural foundation of the global spread of English as well as the cultural legacy of the language in both English and non-English speaking countries. This will include an examination of the growing prominence of English in different regions of the world including South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia in terms of English varieties or “Globish” as well as the impact English has had on the native languages, national attitudes toward the English and Americans, cultural resistance, economic mobility, and the likelihood that one’s second language will be English to the exclusion of others. We will also study specific settings requiring a common language, such as aviation and travel.

Prerequisite(s): W tag.