Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador January 22nd, 2020

Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas

Departamento de Idiomas Modernos
Curso: Introducción a la literatura y cultura de los países de habla inglesa
Estudiante: Miguel Tábara

Assignment 1
State how the process of globalization/technological, cultural, social and scientific
advancement has contributed to enrich the English language. Take one example from
the documentary to support your statement.

Over time English language has gained a certain status around the world, even being
directly associated with the term “globalization”. So, due to globalization process, English
has been enriched from different point of view: grammatically and in terms of status in the
world.

It is noticeable that English language has been enriched grammatically through the
process of globalization. Nowadays, because of the development of several
communicational media like streaming TV and Social networks, a huge quantity of words
such as YouTuber or Instagrammer have emerged, and enriched English. Another example
could be appreciated in the 80’s documentary “the story of English” where new words such
as computer, software, hardware and internet have been added due to technological and
scientific advancements; and their usages in the language has increased, too.

Additionally, technological advancements into the computing field has brought new
meanings to words such as “scrolling” which is now associated to the action of checking
social networks, or texts in a digital context; also, it can be found mouse that is not only
referred to a rodent but it also means an essential device of computers. Into the
communicational field, words like influencer and follower are currently conceived more
with a digital connotation associated to those who work through social networks.

On the other hand, globalization has not only enriched English from a grammatical point
of view, it has also enriched it in terms of status. English has taken the place of the main
lingua franca, as French was once; and this is partly because of the dominant power that
American advancements, into the field of technology, science, politic and culture, have
represented to the world for the past seventy years.

Although the grammatical enrichment has been the main contribution of the process of
globalization, such contribution should not be perceived as the only one, since mentioned
process has also contributed to consolidate the status of English as “universal language.”
That is, many people around the world want to learn English either to be paired with
technological advancements or to have more chances into working fields.

Last but not least important, those whose second language is English represent a strong
backup to the language. In other words, the worldwide status that English has achieved is
due to the process of globalization and this is other way of contribution.