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English as a Global Language (Paperback)

by David Crystal (Author) "A headline of this kind must have appeared in a thousand newspapers and magazines in recent years ..." (more)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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English as a Global Language + The Stories of English + The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language
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Product details

  • Paperback: 228 pages
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (28 Jul 2003)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0521530326
  • ISBN-13: 978-0521530323
  • Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.8 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 24,484 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #26 in  Books > Reference > Language > Communication
    #38 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Linguistics > Reference
    #52 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Multicultural Studies

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Product Description

Review

‘A masterly synopsis of the spread of English across the world … English as a Global Language arrives as an elegant successor to Robert McCrum’s The Story of English, published in 1986. It is at the same time cool and immensely authoritative. Less than half the size, but with scarcely less text than its richly illustrated Rolls-Royce predecessor, it sets a new standard in the popularisation of linguistics.’ Sir John Hanson (Director-General of The British Council), Times Higher Education Supplement

‘This little book is a cross between a tourist guide and a no-nonsense school textbook ... Crystal is skilled at assembling scattered yet useful data in a form that seems safe and reliable. He presents enough facts and figures to make readers feel that they are getting good value for their time and money … The book’s value is clear. It is a judicious mix of outline facts and good sense about language ... Overall, this commonsensical little book will be a useful tool for spreading the important message that English is not supreme because it is superior … , that English is not declining, and that it would be a tragedy if English alone remained among languages.’ Jean Aitchison, Times Educational Supplement

‘This is a fascinating and useful book... a fine introduction for a wide variety of potential users.’ Choice

‘Crystal provides us with an excellent account of the growth of English as the global language.’ Good Book Guide


Product Description

David Crystal, world authority on the English language, presents a lively and factual account of the rise of English as a global language and explores the whys and wherefores of the history, current status and future potential of English as the international language of communication. English has been lauded as the most ‘successful’ language ever, with 1,500 million speakers worldwide; but Crystal avoids taking sides and tells the story in a measured but engaging way, backed by facts and figures. This new edition of his classic book includes new material (on the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of New Englishes), footnotes, new tables, and a full bibliography. There are updates throughout. This is a book for anyone of any nationality concerned with English: teachers, students, language professionals, politicians, general readers and anyone with a love of the language.
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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
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3.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A short history of the rise of a language to dominance, 10 Feb 2003
By Jon (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: English as a Global Language (Paperback)
This is a fascinating review of how the English Language got to its present position of world dominance. David Crystal is not, contrary to Daniel's review, a linguistic imperialist. He lives in Wales, speaks Welsh, and champions minority languages. But he also understands that an interconnected world needs a global lingua franca, which will be a second language for the great majority.

From Daniel's review, you might get the impression that Crystal advocates fertilizer bags having instructions only in English. In fact, Crystal is quoting the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who said that farmers in her country should learn English as a second language, since international companies were never going to print instructions on fertilizer bags in Sinhalese. She was simply being realistic.

Crystal recognises that the dominance of English today is the result of chance, the language repeatedly being in the right place at the right time. If English had not become the common second language, another language would have done so. Crystal gives us the reasons for English's rise, the history, the effects on other languages and some predictions of where its going. It's quite a short book, and I would have preferred more detailed discussion in places. But it's certainly worthwhile reading.

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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Good overview of an interesting subject., 27 Nov 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: English as a Global Language (Paperback)
Short and to the point, this provides an overveiw of how English came to be a global language, the different status it has worldwide and the issues it raises. It's a slim volume and it won't take long to read but it's an interesting subject and makes you realise how lucky you are if English is your first language. I read right after doing a Teaching English as a Forign Language course so it was an illuminating look at where in the world I could go.

However it sometimes lacks detail and leaves you wanting more, but don't let that put you off - it's an interesting introduction to a subject I intend to learn more about.

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16 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars too blue eyed, 14 Nov 2001
This review is from: English as a Global Language (Paperback)
Crystal's book is the exact counterpart to Phillipson's "Linguistic Imperialism". While the former has been called an "alarmist" (because of his view that English has been used for imperialistic purposes) the latter apparently sees no problem what so ever (and has thus been called "triumphalist"). Crystal seems to suggest that all linguistic cross-cultural problems could be solved if everyone would learn English from an early age onwards. He apparently sees nothing wrong if Asian farmers cannot read the instructions on fertilizer bags because they are in English. Rather suspiciously, Crystal disregards Phillipson completely in this. While there are some good arguments against Phillipson, Crystal refuses to enter the debate. More generally, it seems to me that he refuses to deal with the more unpleasant facts of the global spread of English. Better to continue writing about the happy family of English speakers! The book is thus rather naive in its evaluation of the role, status and attitudes connected with the English language.For those who would like to read a really damning review I can recommend Phillipson's "Voice in Global English: unheard Chords in Crystal loud and clear." which appeared in Applied Linguistics 20/2:265-276.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed, learned and very interesting!
This is an extremely interesting, accurate and comprehensive review of the status of English in the world. Read more
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