Track 13

Unit 2

linguistics

global English

page 20

Extend the topic

part A

Between 300 and 400 million people speak English as their first language, and many millions more speak it as a second or third language.

It’s estimated that one out of every five people in the world is competent in English.

Soon the number of people who speak English as a first language will be less the number of people who speak it as a second or third language.

Specifically, a lot of business communication is now among people who don’t speak English as a first language.

This raises some important questions.

For example, should there be an international standard for English.

If so, which variety should be based on.

If not, which variety of English. Should students learn.

And which pronunciation of English should be used.

These are just a few of the questions I’ll be addressing today.