Thème : Relation au Monde

Résumé de cours : Axe 3 : héritage commun et diversité

Common heritage and diversity in the USA and the UK: principles

Supported by the British colonial empire, the English language is spoken by 1,132 million people
worldwide (1,117 million for Mandarin Chinese and 534 million for Spanish). English gained traction
around the world during the 17th century due to the influence of the British Empire and the US, and
English has become the leading language of international discourse.
Of the nations where English is a de facto national language (= it exists in reality and is practised, even
though it is not officially recognised by law), the United States is the most populous with a population
of over 331 million.
There are four nations where English is the de facto language and the primary language. These include
Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Although English may have
evolved and have a totally different vocabulary and structure, the different alterations and addings
contribute to making English a dynamic and living language (for instance, the influence of French
words during history).
The concept of "common heritage" in America refers to the shared history and cultural traditions
that have shaped the country and its people. This includes elements such as the founding principles
of democracy (the constitution), the legacy of the Civil War, and the contributions of various ethnic
and minority groups (Afro-Americans, Hispanics).

In the UK, common heritage includes elements such as the legacy of the British Empire, the
contributions of various ethnic and minority groups, and the cultural traditions unique to the
different nations that make up the UK (Wales, Scotland, Northern-Ireland, England).

Diversity in America and in the UK is also an important aspect of the nations’ heritage. The United
States and the UK are melting pots of cultures, with people from all over the world coming to live
and contribute to the country. This diversity is reflected in the countries’ diverse population
(immigration, commonwealth, Eastern Europe), which includes many different ethnic, racial, and
religious groups.

While there have been conflicts and challenges throughout the nations’ histories related to race,
religion, and ethnicity, many Americans or British view diversity as a strength, in spite of all its
challenges (Black Lives Matter or Dreamers in the USA or Wind Rush/ Brexit, controlled immigration
in the UK for instance).

The issue of heritage and diversity in the English language: examples

English is spoken all over the world nowadays and it is the official language of many countries like
Belize, Kenya or Zimbabwe. In the UK English is said to be the official language de facto but not de
jure (which means it is a fact that everyone uses English but it is not a legal obligation). For
example the official language in Wales is Welsh and in Scotland quite a few people speak Scots or
Gaelic. If you have watched the series Outlander, you will have heard the Scottish characters speak
Gaelic. In the USA there is no official language either, even though in 32 out of the 50 states
English has become the official language. In Australia, like in the UK there is no official language
but English is the de facto official language.
Any country wanting to join The Commonwealth has to accept the use of English "as the medium
of inter-Commonwealth relations". In former British colonies, English remains widely spoken. In
India for example, English is said to be the Associate official language along with Hindi. According
to the Harvard Business Review, "English is now the global language of business". Business
partners with no common language will readily use English to communicate.

The main UK institution in charge of teaching English abroad is the British Council. It is supposed to
"build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries
through arts and culture, education and the English language." Some people even see it as
a tool to increase Britain's soft power in the world. A 2018 article in The Guardian claimed that "No
language in history has dominated the world quite like English."

However English is not a homogeneous language. There are wide regional differences in accent
and vocabulary in the UK and according to The British Library "The UK is a rich landscape of
regional accents and dialects". This linguistic landscape includes the Geordie dialect of Newcastle,
Caribbean English but also The Queen's English, which was once considered to be typically English.

In 2017, the BBC launched BBC Pidgin for its African audiences. Pidgin is defined as a mixture of
English and local languages. It is primarily an oral language, used in places like Nigeria, Ghana or
Equatorial Guinea. A Guardian journalist in 2017 pointed out that many people might wonder "why
the world’s foremost exponent of the Queen’s English, the BBC World Service, is investing in what
is often called “broken English”. However the journalist explains that "pidgin is so much more. It is
the widely spoken (and wildly inventive) lingua franca of much of west and central Africa."

Needless to say there are also vast differences between British English and American English, and
also regional differences in the US. The "southern drawl", for example, "outside the South is
considered a serious speech impediment" (Chicago Tribune February 5, 2018).

Some people wonder how long English will still prevail in the US, which has a growing population
of native speakers of Spanish. Since Trump was elected, some people have openly shown their
resentment of Hispanics in the US by demanding that the use of Spanish be limited in the US.”

Conclusion: making a leading culture and distinctive cultures compatible through unity

All cultures draw strength from their own traditions but at the same time they only flourish when they
come into contact with others. The problem lies in the balance between the dissemination of a single
leading culture and the respect of unique distinctive cultures. The integration of common values and
the recognition of a proper identity are inseparable. Rich and prosperous countries are those which
have managed to preserve, promote and revitalise indigenous traditions, beliefs, lifestyles and values,
as is the case in New Zealand and Australia. While homogenisation leads to impoverishment of
humanity, cultural diversity guarantees harmonious interaction and mutual understanding.

Vocabulaire

• is said to be : on dit que c'est

• Wales : Pays de Galles
• even though : bien que
• widely spoken : largement parlée, répandue
• along with : en même temps que
• readily : facilement
• abroad : à l'étranger
• trust : confiance
• tool : instrument
• Pidgin : le pidgin (une forme de « créole anglais », mais le pidgin n’est pas la langue
maternelle comme le créole, structuré, le pidgin n’est utilisé qu’entre individus)
• Broken English : anglais sommaire
• landscape : paysage
• to wonder: se demander
• foremost : le plus important
• exponent : partisan, représentant
• needless to say : inutile de dire
• southern drawl : accent du sud
• speech impediment : défaut d'élocution
• to prevail : dominer, prévaloir
• resentment : rancœur, ressentiment
• Needless to say : il va sans dire
• Native speakers: locuteur natif
• Resentment of: avoir de la rancœur contre , avoir du ressentiment contre