The growing and dominating world language

In the future, I see a much more connected and united world. I guess the English language will dominate more, and become the second language in several countries, especially in the western world. Therefore, it’ll be very important to learn to speak, write and understand English. In Norway, English is a very important subject at our schools. Germany and Spain, on the other hand, don’t put so much time and energy to learn English. But I’m certain this will change. I believe they will turn to English. The same will happen in China. Due to international events like the Olympic Games, and the growing use of internet, the Chinese people will get to know the English language better. The consequences are; English will grow and become the language that connects the world. It will, as Eli wrote in her blog, become ”the language of communication”.

My hypothesis above is the foundation of my next thoughts. I believe that we in the future, no matter what job we get, have to use English on a daily base. If you add the extreme acceleration of vacations and travelling, you are forced to talk English. However, I think this increasing use of English is healthy. If more and more countries start to have English as second language, the relationship between different lands and cultures will be better. In this connection our future jobs will include a lot of English. A professor have to write his papers in English to get bigger attention, a construction-worker will work with people who don’t know Norwegian, and therefore talk English and receptionists and other service occupations will serve people talking English. Also politician is a profession that use English, and should improve their English to an international standard!

An important part of how we meet and use English on a daily basis is through the internet. As Lisa wrote, 85 % of all internet pages are in English. Almost every Norwegian student use English web pages through school, through work and through the computer at home. Online games, network societies, video-channels and information websites are among the most popular. This makes a regular Norwegian youth read, hear and use English on daily basis.

Norwegian television is invaded by English speaking comedy-, drama-, action- and reality-series. Especially after school there are a lot of sitcoms. In the evening on weekdays there are drama-series, reality- and action-series. Personally I watch tons of English-speaking TV-series, and I expect I’m not alone. Luckily, these series aren’t dubbed, as they are in Germany and Spain. However, is this use of American and English TV-programs good to the Norwegian language? These English-speaking series are cheap to send, and get lots of viewers. Of course the television stations do what they do. But I think it’s good that we produce our own TV-series as well. Maybe the television stations should have a bigger focus on producing Norwegian programs?

Can new Norwegian TV-series like “Himmelblå” and “Hvaler” by the Norwegian television stations NRK and TV2 compete with the American TV-series like “The Wire”, “House” and “Grey’s Anatomy”?


Anyway, the English language is taking over Norway. But maybe we should limit the development? We don’t want to be a copy of America. At the same time it’s important not to build a wall around our country and hide inside metal-doors. We should be open, we should learn to speak, write and understand English, and simultaneously protect our unique Norwegian way of living, speaking, eating and thinking.

Further reading: - Read professor Svein Lies article in Aftenposten about English language in the Norwegian society. The article is in Norwegian.
http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kronikker/article463506.ece