Get down with cultural encounters Understanding cultural diversity and stereotypes By Atle Strømstad, Ulrik Broge & Kristoffer Nygaard This brief summary is based on
the
article
understanding
in
Cultural language
teaching - where now? By Karen Risager. The article is among other things based on the cultural understanding and
how
knowledge,
it
comprises
attitudes
and
behavior.
Understanding culture To understand culture, its
important in Denmark. An
but
diversity and the stereotypes
important point in connection
emphasize on a youth culture
with the knowledge aspect is
that most of the students can
that
relate
that we create within culture, it is important to understand
it
depends
on
it
is
to.
important
This
could
to
for
perspective, on the eyes that
instance be something about
do the seeing. Attitude is a
school
term for feelings and attitudes
countries
Behaviour is another term for
towards
people
and
language, and how it is in
knowledge of the cultural
conditions
in
target
comparison to the studentsâ€&#x;
rules and conventions that
country. Itâ€&#x;s about working
culture.
apply in the country one
with
might visit. It would be
morals,
the important aspects that make up culture.
the
systems of
But
the
in
the target
because
of
values,
ethics
and
internationalization it would
but
also
the
be a good idea to have a
things as social conventions,
development of the ability to
global language. It would be
clothes, food, your daily act
have a sympathetic insight
a positive thing for the world,
etc. Knowledge is a term of
into the situation of other
no misunderstandings and
insight
people.
easier
into
cultural
and
e.g. why agriculture is so
make
business
between countries. If you will
social conditions. Knowledge includes also a deeper insight,
to
Consider
teaching
youth
abandon the national aspect
cultures in English, it is hard
in language teaching, you
to choose one specific culture,
would get a more intense way
1
of teaching, which would
But as cultural understanding
to
have a positive effect on the
is a common part of teaching
around us and thus being
students. The national aspect
English, we still need a way
able to orient us within it.
could be moved to other
to accommodate this demand.
Stereotypes are a part of our
classes, but it is also difficult
One solution would be the
social culture that is the core
to teach these things because
ethnographic method, where
of our traditions, and defines
of all the immigrants in the
the
integrate
our identities. Stereotypes are
different
The
themselves into the culture,
hard to get rid of because it
teaching would increase the
by observing and taking part
defines different groups in
students‟ ability to speak and
in the cultural practice. The
the social environment that
understand the language. By
result
we
removing the cultural part of
completely
language teaching, we would
distance to the target culture.
also
countries.
remove
the
problem
is
a
reduced
or
disappearing
problem
about cultural testing. The main
students
in
testing
cultural understanding is that it is easy to fall back on
categorize
the
belong
consequences
world
to. of
The
negative
stereotyping are that they don‟t just describe the world
Stereotypes Stereotypes arise because of the human need to create mental pictures in our heads
but also form it. It is therefore important to deal with them because they are inevitable. Even though using „cultural
testing knowledge of facts via multiple-choice tests. Testing a deeper insight on social
and
relationships more
cultural requires
a
discussion-type
mode of testing. It is also important to mention the question that arises as the testing should be done in the
native
or
target
language. There is another problem
about
the
students‟ ability to reflect on their own and others‟ attitudes and feelings and thereby hard to test.
2
stereotypes‟ as a definition,
in
1994,
people does not help the
might seem as a negative
„Culture is like the sky at
students when the objective is
phrasing, that does have its
night‟. His opinion is that it
to make them open and
positive uses. We belong to a
depends on how you look at a
tolerant towards strangers.
place, we fit in as members
culture, meaning that the
One also has to consider how
and the stereotypes are a big
picture of the culture changes
hard
help
depending how you look at it.
different nations in language
He also mentions that you‟ll
teaching, when the view of
never
another culture is coloured by
to
orientate
and
to
identify ourselves.
Sprogforum
get
1,
the
same
it
is
to
deal
with
As teachers, it is important to
description of a culture. Take
deal with stereotypes because
for instance Danish culture.
it gives us the opportunity to
Through foreign eyes it is a
Putting it all together
take
matter of looking at traditions
To understand culture is to
more
and
understand the world. It is to
considering pictures, films,
historical events. Some would
understand every aspect of
jokes, media and sport just to
describe Danish culture as
what lies within in the term
mention a few.
traditional meals, such as
culture. It is the behaviour in
roast pork with parsley sauce
a culture and the perception
Cultural Diversity
and rib roast. Some would
of
The old view of culture was
describe it by the relaxed
Understanding culture is to
based on language, culture
attitudes
and
understand the diversity that
and nation. This is no longer
consumption of alcohol, and
lies within it, but also why we
possible, it never has been,
consumption of it in public
create cultural
and it never will be possible
places.
would
and why should be aware of
to maintain this old view.
describe
their
them, for good or worse. To
This is because there will
humour e.g. use of irony and
be able to live side by side as
always be differences within
sarcasm. But it is important to
a world society, we have to
each
only
remember that these points of
understand
recently that culture sciences
view, change based on the
surrounding us. By lack of
have become aware of the
viewer‟s
trying to understand another
fact.
background.
advantage
students‟
own
culture.
The
of
the
experiences
It
is
difficulty
in
than
political
of
And
sale
some
them
by
own
cultural
the viewer‟s own culture.
this
behaviour.
stereotypes,
the
cultures
culture, we create a fear of the
comparing culture, lies in the
unknown, and in the process,
problem that cultures are not
Everyone
makes
that uniform after all, and is
opinions and they will draw
therefore hard to decide what
different
one should compare. As John
lack of understanding which
Gulløv Christensen describes
makes differences between
conclusions.
own
creating hostility against it.
The
3
Summary of Shakespeare in the bush By Laura Bohannan By Atle Strømstad, Ulrik Broge & Kristoffer Nygaard The
anthropologist
Laura
Laura
is
Bohannan is conducting and
asked
to
collecting materials for her
contribute
studies
because of
on
a
fieldtrip
to
Africa.
her reading
From her friend she was
habits,
handed the book Hamlet to lift
which they
her mind above the primitive
know
surroundings. The friend who
about. They
handed her the book tells her
think
that
might have
Hamlet
often
misinterpreted. protests
by
is
Laura saying
that
a
she
good
story to tell.
human nature is pretty much
Laura knows that it is a hard
the same, except for minor
job to be a good storyteller,
details,
because of the high demands
the
whole
world
over.
in the tribe. She is soon going to find out that her universal
When
the
water
in
the
thoughts of
understanding
swamps rises and keeps the
Hamlet is not at all the same
tribe in enforced isolation for
as the cultural ones.
to
habits,
insane dancing
drinking
Laura realizes while telling
and
her story that there are a lot of
storytelling.
aspects that the Tribe elders
Laura is not particular happy
cannot find a meaning in.
about the native beer and the
These are aspects that are
partying and retires to her
based on their own culture.
own hut. She reads her book
They
Hamlet.
understanding monogamy, as
have
mother Gertrude marries her brother in-law again. They find it disrespectful that, as from their point of view, the elders are not asked for advice and counsel.
When Laura finishes the story
three months it drives the tribe
is bad thing that the queen
problem
the elders instructs her in the errors they see in her story. The elders ask her to tell them more stories, so they can tell her the true meaning of them, and then go back to her elders and tell about the wisdom that she had been taught.
it is important for them to The tribe is especially happy
ensure a large family to help
about the storytelling and
out. They cannot grasp why it
4
Biography of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala By Atle Strømstad, Ulrik Broge & Kristoffer Nygaard The author Ruth Prawer Jhabvala was born in Germany, May 7, 1927 in a town called Cologne. Her
father
of
polish-
Jewish origin was lawyer. Her
mother
was
of
German-Jewish origin. Jhabvala attended Jewish segregated school before she immigrated in 1939 with her family to Britain. Her
family
Hendon,
settled
in
northwest
London, where Jhabvala attended the local
prize-winning novelist and short story writer.
Country School. In her new home country she
Later on she became a two-time Academy
adopted the English language in an early age.
Award-winning screenwriter. Collaborating with Merchant
Ivory
Productions
together
with
During the Second World War she read Margaret
director James Ivory and the producer Ismail
Mitchell's “Gone With the Wind” which she took
Merchant they won six Academy Awards.
with her into an underground shelter during the bombings. In 1948 she became a British citizen. Studying
Analysis of Myself in India by Ruth
English literature at the University of London
Prawer Jhabvala
she received her MA in 1951. In the same year she married and afterwards she moved to India. For the next 24 years she lived in New Delhi. Losing interest with India and the Indian way of living she moved to New York City in 1975. Yet again she changes her citizenship, this time to be an US citizen. During her writing career she became Booker
By Atle Strømstad, Ulrik Broge & Kristoffer Nygaard Jhabvala refers to India as an animal, because she sees it as a living thing, an untamed life form. According to Jhabvalas perception, there are several types of animals that partially fit the description of India. India is wild and brutal as a tiger, but carries people through life on an
5
elephant. It also resembles a sick starving dog with all its poverty and illness.
She sees religion in India, as maybe the reason for the way India is the intolerable country that
Furthermore she states that the best way to
she thinks it is. And she finds it ironic that the
adjust to India is to accept India‟s conditions, this
Indians can "see God in a cow", when all the
is what Indians do because they believe in
cows she sees is starving and full of diseases. Is
reincarnation. If you are poor in this life, then
that a picture of God?
you might do better in the next life, and if you are rich in this life, it is because you have
We think that one should be true to ones self, but
deserved it by being good in a past life. Jhabvala
still be able to accept the surroundings that one
seems to understand the way of life in India, but
lives in, even though it is not the culture that one
she doesn‟t seem to be embracing it as her way
has grown up in. If becoming Indian is to adapt
of life.
fully to the culture, then Jhabvala could never fully be an Indian, she will always carry a part of
There are what she calls westernized Indians and
her own culture within herself.
then there are the 'traditional' Indians. She has
She is in a continuous culture shock. She still
problem relating to the westernized Indians as
maintains a lot of her own cultural behavior and
she sees them living a 'synthetic' life, e.g. that
seems to become annoyed by a lot of small
there is no truth behind their lifestyle, or you
things, that summed up becomes a culture shock
could say that their life is artificially created, as it
lasting years and years.
is set in stones, according to how it should be
Her difficulties of integrating make us think, that
lived. The Europeans she divides into two
this is a clear picture of a woman who is afraid of
groups, one that embraces the Indian lifestyle,
losing her identity in terms of letting go of her
and the other is defiant in keeping their way of
western cultural views on life.
life. She dislikes the Europeans embracing the Indian culture, because they will return home before they can see the whole picture and the defiant ones cannot see the whole picture.
When reading Jhabvala‟s essay, India seems to be a harsh place to live in, with a lot of injustice. I don‟t think I could cope living in India in the long run. I would feel isolated and out of place, not belonging anywhere.
6
Dear editor By Atle Strømstad, Ulrik Broge & Kristoffer Nygaard Regarding Ian Ahmed Newton's comment about East is East last month, I am appalled that Mr Newton has such obvious lack of insight into mixed marriages. It is clear that Mr Newton misses this point in his 'garbage' review of the film, and I find it curious that he, with a mixed cultural background, cannot see this himself. First of all the story is based on the childhood events of the writer Ayub Khan-Din and therefore very realistic. It is a common problem in many mixed marriages between any types of culture, that the foreign part in the marriage has a need to give the children a part of his/her own culture and identity. This is obviously the father‟s problem, even though he is integrated into English culture, he finds that his own identity is being lost, when the children are not picking up his customs. The children's point of view is based on the fact that they are growing up in a British culture. They find it difficult to understand their father's point of view in carrying out customs and traditions. His reasons for acting like he does makes no sense to a British citizen without knowing anything about his culture and religion. After all, this movie gives us an insight into the problems of two cultures colliding and the need to hold on to your own identity. I therefore strongly recommend that Mr Newton to watch the film again with a different set of glasses, as he has clearly missed the point of the film.
Sincerly S. P. Ice
Reader’s competition
The Chickens disaster
The magazine has held a competition asking
By Kristoffer Nygaard
readers to submit a story based on Witi Ihimaera’s The Other Side of the Fence. Three of
Well, it all started when I was six years old. I
the best stories will be published. The three
lived with my family who besides me, counted
winners are as follows;
my five siblings and my mother, who by the way could be very strict when she was in her bad mood, and my father who just did what mom told him to do. We lived in a nice neighbourhood with
some
great
neighbours
called
the
Hammonds. Sam was the father of the family
7
and
the
mother
was called
Jackie. They had two kids called Kevin and Kylie. My little sister Hanna always went to their house on Sundays when they came home from their picnic to get the cakes which they didn‟t ate.
The
Hammonds
liked
Hannah and they always gave her some cake she could share with the rest of us.
that Mr Hammond would get very upset with
For a long time I helped Mr Hammond in his
me for destroying the eggs. I was in my bed just
henhouse and especially one hen was my
waiting for Mr Hammond to come and talk to
favourite. Her name was Claire and she was
me but I couldn‟t hear anything. Suddenly I
about to lay eggs. I had taken good care of her
could hear from the outside:
and I gave her something to eat and drink every
- You damn kids never come on my property
day. I really liked Mr Hammond because he let
again
me take care of his hen.
- What‟s wrong Mr Hammond? My older brother
- Have you given her enough food today Jimmy?
Joseph said.
Mr Hammond asked me.
- You know exactly what‟s wrong, don‟t you
- Yes I think so Mr Hammond. I really hope she
ever set a foot on my side of the fence again.
will give you a lot of eggs Mr Hammond
My mom went out and she started arguing with
- That‟s what I am hoping too Jimmy, you have
Mr Hammond. I felt sorry for Mr Hammond but
been taking good care of her.
my mom was in her bad mood so I didn‟t dare to
This was pretty much what I did every day, I
tell her that I had been doing it. After a while the
really enjoyed it. But one Sunday when the
silence came again but not for long. Suddenly Mr
Hammonds were on their usual picnic I went to
Hammond came to apologize. He talked with
give Claire some food. This day she was a little
my mom and first I didn‟t know if I should go
bit angry and I didn‟t know why. Then I saw
out there because of the mood my mother was in
some eggs. I tried to move Claire but she started
that day. After a couple of minutes I went out
kicking with her feet, which destroyed most of
there but I stayed away from my mother‟s visual
the eggs, only two eggs didn‟t break. I ran as fast
angle. I was crying and Mr Hammond saw it, I
as I could to my room and stayed there the rest
was sure he knew that I had been doing it, but I
of the day. I told my sister Hannah that she
really hope he knew how sorry I was and how
should tell the Hammonds I got the flu if they
bad I felt about it.
asked for me. As the Hammonds came home I got more and more frightened, because I knew
8
The Chickens disaster
her body firmly pressed under my arm, I
By Atle Strømstad
managed to unhook the wire around her neck. But as I let her go, the disaster struck. She was
I crack another egg, and let it slip into the bowl,
flapping her useless wings so fervently that it
adding the milk, pepper and salt. As so many
brought me off balance. I tried to regain my
times before, my thoughts lead back to a certain
momentum by grabbing hold of one of the shelf
childhood memory. It was Sunday and the sun
supports, but to no avail. I managed to twist my
was scorching hot outside. Mum‟s sister entered
body during the short fall, landing with one foot
the front door with a loud and cheerful „Ki ora
making a clear impression in the soft henhouse
Wahine‟ directed at my mother, and she replied
dirt. I was still overbalanced though and had to
„Haere Mai‟! She turns to me and gives me a light
use my hand to stop me from tasting the dirt.
puff towards the front door with the words “run
The second my hand touched the ground, I knew
a long now „tamaiti‟, this is women talk”. I knew
something was wrong. I had landed in Maria‟s
it was best to leave, never knowing when mum
little incubating spot, smashing four eggs in the
would throw one of her fits; they were so
process. Maria was placed back on the hatching
common those days. As I left the front door, I
nest, and I fled the shack as quickly as possible
remember how the smell of rotten eggs hit me as
with the thought that if I got caught by Mr
the wind came from west and directly from the
Saunders, he would have my little Maori Kakï.
mud pools. It reminded me to check on the Saunders family‟s hens, to see if any of them had hatched yet. Quickly I jumped the fence that Mr
The smell of scrambled eggs on the brink of becoming burnt brings me back from my reminiscing.
Shaking
my
head
at
the
Saunders thought would stop a Maori child,
continuously returning memory, I wonder if
smiled at the thought that all it did was fence in
things would have been different if I had told Mr
his own children. The Saunders were, as always,
Saunders the story as it was.
on their Sunday picnic, so the coast would be clear. As I closed in on the hen house, I heard that the commotion coming from the little shack was much louder than usual. I quickened the pace a little in anticipation of newly hatched chickens, but as I opened the door I saw the real reason for the ruckus. Mr Saunder‟s favourite hen, Maria, had gotten her head ironically stuck in the chicken wire. The wire was used as coverage in the top corner of the shack, and provided some air circulation on the hot summer days. I quickly climbed the hatching shelves and got to her before she strangled herself. Holding
The Chickens disaster By Ulrik Broge I remember back in the days, when I lived together with my family. Our neighbors, who were the most exiting thing on the street, were a British family consisting of two kids Brian and Kelly and their parents Ben and Alice. The neighbors had their British traditions and every Sunday they went away for picnic. Back then I was not familiar with that expression. But it was the day of the week where all of my brothers and
9
sisters could visit their house and try the different things they had thrown around the
The daily routine together with Ben in the
garden.
henhouse, watching his favorite hen lying on her
The father Ben, was my good friend, at that time.
eggs became such and excitement to me. So I
He never shouted at me, like he did with my
started my own routine.
brothers and sisters, I think he liked me. He
That Sunday it all went wrong.
taught me different things about the British way
I woke up thinking about Ben‟s favorite hen. He
of living and especially his hens and how to treat
had told me the day before that soon the eggs
them the right way. My mother always laughed
would crack and the chickens would come out.
at me, when I told her about Ben and his favorite
Therefore we had to be very careful about the
hen. I remember her saying “Hens are only for
hens and especially his favorite one.
eating, they are not pets”
I was sure that this was the day and I went
My mother liked Ben and Alice when they
straight to the henhouse. First I had to climb the
moved in and became our neighbors, but after a
big fence that Ben had put up last year and
while things didn‟t work out. My mother was
trough the garden of roses and other pretty
angry every time Ben yelled at my brothers and
flowers to the henhouse. Entering I heard the
sisters. She loved her children and became very
sound of the hens scratching the ground, but at
angry when other people told her what to do.
the same time I heard Ben‟s voice in my head
Now I realize what really was the problem. The
“Careful around the hens” I had to be check on
great differences between Maori culture and
the eggs. I lifted up the hen and watched. They
British culture were too big for Ben to handle.
were not cracked and I thought, “Maybe they
The children always had nice clean clothes and
need some help” I cracked them one by one but
clean hands. They always stayed by them selves.
nothing happened. No chickens came out.
They never came to visits if we didn‟t ask and
Quickly I placed the hen on top of the eggs again
besides that, they had a strict schedule for eating
and ran home, hoping for the best that when Ben
and drinking tea. The British have many rules
entered the henhouse that Sunday evening, small
and tradition that we don‟t know about as
chickens would dance around. That‟s not how it
Maoris. I imagine that is how it made it all
ended. Of course the chickens were dead and
difficult living as neighbors.
Ben went crazy, blaming everyone but me,
The day Ben went crazy was the day I messed
because I was his friend.
up. It was a Sunday. They were away for the day. Having their picnic. I still remember the tall, pale British man turning red and furious.
10
Cultural Encounters Project Three persons from the Cultural Encounters Project where asked to write an article stating their point of views of English as an international language.
English, the tower
foundation for the English
language of the world with
babel reversed
language. In Danish schools,
over a billion users, the bar
English is getting more and
for linguistic proficiency must
more attention and is on the
be raised.
With focus on the continuous
rise becoming one of the
There are several indications
growth of English as a widely
major compulsory subjects.
to why it is desirable to have
spoken and written language
This emphasis on English is a
students leave school with a
in the world, it is imperative
thing of necessity, but as the
higher
that educational institutions
future brings the world close,
English than they used to
in countries where English is
both
have.
not
language
culturally, one must consider
connection between financial,
follow suit in the race to
if it is enough. Even as
culture and tourism will only
achieve a more than adequate
English
become stronger in the future.
By Atle Strømstad Is it time to rebuild the tower of Babel? As Genesis and the story of the tower of Babel from the Holy Bible come to mind, one has to wonder if a lot of things would be easier with
a
language
that
everybody understood and spoke as a native language. It would
achieve
understanding
a
greater
and
unity
between nations and cultures. Where
Esperanto
failed,
English in the world of today is very well on its way becoming that language, but there is a long way to that goal is achieved.
the
native
economically
is
the
de
and
facto
understanding
The
of
interlocking
11
Many
multinational
corporate world continuously
slang terms used in massive
corporations of today have
growing closer.
multi-player
online
English
obligatory
There is, of course, a more
roleplaying
games
documentation form, and the
personal interest to students
(MMORPG), these are not
number
to have a more sufficient
suitable when it comes to
grow. These world-spanning
English.
technology,
academic and other none
companies force employees to
mainly the internet, binds the
personal pieces of writing. It
use
world closer together, it is
must
as
an
will
continue
English
at
a
to
more
As
be
made
clear
to
advanced level, especially
students that there is a
when
to
time for using slang and
reside
„trendy‟ terms, and there
it
comes
businesses within
that
certain
of
is a time when using the
expertise. Businesses that
good old Queens English
are
is the only accurate way
heavily
areas
technology,
financially
or
pharmaceutically use
more
to proceed.
based,
With English binding the
niche-oriented
world more and more
English full of work-related
together,
terms. Of course, this said,
trying to accommodate
schools
this
shouldn‟t
teach
and
schools
development,
English aiming for such
something must be in
specially
danger of being lost in the
branched
industries,
but
the
process.
Young
people
necessity of gearing up the
today might lose some of
students for more technical
their
culture
when
terms is not something that
important
English
English becomes a much
should
the
speakers of tomorrow can
too integrated language. It is
educational system. This is
address the right forum in a
said that Intuits have 100
something
proper way. As language is
words for snow if this is true
easily done by incorporating
not
and
or not should be left unsaid,
English into other subjects.
SVOCA, idioms, false friends
but if they do, what happens
Physics or social study classes
and phrasal verbs but also
to the meaning of the 99 other
in English, for instance, will
involves using the right form
words
broaden the students‟ mind
in the right forum, it is
translated? There is a danger
and strengthen their English
abundantly clear that using
that
when committing them to a
abbreviations such as LOL,
language and its culture will
BTW and AFK, which are
be lost in translation. This is
be
lost
that
on
could
be
just
that
grammar
that
part
of
don‟t
the
get
native
12
where
teachers
should
encourage their students to
Morning Yet On Creation Day
language to the extent that its
from 1975:
value
incorporate their culture into
as
a
medium
of
international exchange will be
the English language instead.
“The African writer should
As
novelist
aim to use English in a way
Chinua Achebe so eloquently
that brings out his message
This is something that should
puts it in his essay collection
best
African
English,
the
Nigerian
writers
students
but
of
also
English,
without
lost.”
altering
the
not be lost on not only
could
not
One has to avoid forcing the
advance in the school system.
English language on students
one
regardless if we are Danish,
in a way that will choke their
Indian or Brazilian, and it is
will to learn, but introduce it
the role of teachers to point
in a way where the students
them in the right direction.
can
Culture
incorporating
should
not
penalized
for
shortcomings
of
be the
participate
by
their
own
culture into the language.
English‟s
English is the language of our
ability to define and describe
century and most possibly of
part of a student‟s heritage.
our millennium, and are the
Though it will be essential for
successor of Latin as a world
students of tomorrow to have
language, dwarfing it by a
school days filled with the
mile. It reaches across the
English
is
globe and brings with it trade
important to bear in mind
and tourism and much, much
that the increase of this
more. I always think that
language,
it
workload is not something
Quite
is
through it we seek unity and
involuntarily pushed onto the
starting to get the appropriate
community at a larger scale,
students. The Kenyan author
attention
and I always do that when
Ngûgî wa Thiong'o explains
systems it should have, but it
remembering
so
is not enough to oblige the
teacher
Decolonizing the Mind: The
forthcoming
of
College for Teachers, final
Politics of Language in African
corporate leagues, and one
parting words as last class of
Literature, how the English
would not want to be left
English was over: „English is
language
on
behind in
a language that binds us
the
industry
horrifyingly
Kenyan
was
in
forced
students
and
his
clearly,
in
English
the
school
demands
global trade and just
because
the
native language was banned
educational
in school, and that without
cannot keep up with the
proper
demand of English expertise.
understanding
of
establishment
at
my the
English
University
together, it is the Tower of Babel reversed.‟
13
English these days
where the English live. He
English
like
By Kristoffer Nygaard
holds the opinion, that people
English”
is.
in
important to preserve the
The English language is the main language around the world although it is difficult to
count
the
English
amount
speaking
of
people
around the world. During the years the importance of the English
language
increased.
has
According
to
Chinua Achebe, who is a Nigerian author and poet at Brown
University,
English
language
the
brought
many Africans together and it gave them a language with which to talk to one another. Ha also claims that English is the language they have to learn in Africa in order to obtain
an
understandable
society. But how did English become such a worldwide language and why is it so important? According
to
Henry
Widdowson,
who
is
an
authority
in
the
field
of
applied
linguistics
and
language teaching, and his article “The ownership of English” is England where the language originated and
England
are
bound
“standard It
very
together with the language by
proper
both morphology and history.
difficult because of all the
He writes that England is the
new
place to go if you want real
around
and proper English. Of course
countries are making their
you
own
can
find
English
English
is
words
but
it
coming
the
world.
words,
is
up Other
which
is
a
elsewhere but these countries
combination of their own
have “stolen” the language
words and an English word.
and is not proper English.
In Germany they came up
The
Americans
for
an
with “telefon junkie” which is
have
the
a combination of the two
English language from the
languages. With all this talk
English colonists, who moved
about what real or proper
to England hundreds of years
English
ago to settle. That tells us,
originated but also about
that the English language
other countries making their
originated in England and it
own words, it would be easy
belongs to them. Like Henry
to think, that a lot of the
Widdowson
world‟s population would be
example,
they
writes
“(..
)a
is
and
luxuriant growth from imperial
considered
seed. Seeded among other people
speaking people.
as
where
it
English
but not cede to them.” This shows us the fact mentioned
Bill Bryson, who is a best-
above, that the real or proper
selling American author of
English language belongs to
humorous books on travel, as
England but is spoken in
well as books on the English
many countries around the
language and on science, is
world. He also writes about
Chancellor
of
“standard
University,
writes
would
be
English”
which
the
English
Language”,
a
authorities
quality.
English
in
his
article “English as a World
language from England with higher
Durham
that have
different put
the
around the world is also
number of people who speaks
English but not real or proper
English as a first language at
14
anywhere
between
300
whether you speak English or
British
million and 400 million. He
not? For me, an English
imperialism.
mentions
problems
speaking person is a person,
reason is an international
about this in his article. It is
who has the language as a
political
difficult to decide whether a
first language. A person in
English language provides a
person is speaking English or
Germany
something that seems to be
English
English
some
American The
second
reason,
because
can
speak
neutral
a
native
communication between the
is
speaker because he knows
different ethnic groups. Also
different.
how to speak the language. In
the use of English in the
According to Dr. Loreto Todd
that case the number of
media
of
the
English speaking people in
dimension. The third reason
world has 61 English-based
the world would be much
is
an
external
creoles
soar.
reason
because
but
really
something
Leeds
University,
around the world
who
and
is
not
which would increase the number of people who are speaking
English.
Another
problem is to decide if a person is speaking English or just thinks he is speaking it. He gives an example of an experience himself.
he
ones
had
He writes about a
brochure he ones had from Italy. It contained a dozen of pages, written in English, with twisted grammar and a lot of misspellings and if he asked the people of Italy if they could speak English, this author would be the first to raise his hand. This tells us, that the number of English speaking people around the world is very difficult to put an exact number on. Are you speaking English because you think you can or who decides
means
adds
a
of
further
economic of
the
dominant economic position Why English you could ask yourself. During the years English
has
obtained
the
position of the international
the USA has, which they use as a magnet for international business.
Because
of
the
position the English language
language in our world. According to the article “Excerpt 1� from The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language by David Crystal, who is an honorary
professor
linguistics
at
University,
of
Bangor
there
are
seven reasons of why English should have a special
status
countries
in
and
the why
Linguistic Professor David Crystal
people should learn it.
has today every multinational
The first reason is a historical
business
reason
many
establish offices in the major
their
English speaking countries.
English
Another reason is that there
because of the legacy of
are some practical reasons.
because
institutions
carry
proceedings
in
would
wish
to
15
English is the language of international air traffic
in Denmark are having a sort of free
and it is developing in police and emergency
schooling during the students first 3 school
services. The last reason I will mention is the
years, which means that the students do not
entertainment reason. All popular music is written in English and it is the main language of home computers and video games. These reasons are giving an indication of why English has a position of an international language in our world.
pass to the next class before they have a certain amount of skills. This is a way to make sure that the students in Denmark would have a certain level when they finish their school period.
The position of English in the world is very important. It is the most spoken language and you can find signs everywhere in the
The significance of the English
world with an English word on it. During
language in a global world
the years English has, because of the reasons
By Ulrik Broge
mentioned above, become more and more important. When business men are trading
I find the development of English in Denmark
with each other across countries English is
very interesting. As a teacher in English, I often
the spoken language and when some big
think about how I would prefer the position of
international political meeting is set
English
English is also the spoken language.
develop in the
Many countries around the world
future.
teachers
into their own language in order to
to develop the
only make sense in the certain
system
the
Danish
we
can
also
language
school
see
of
English decide
come up with new words, which
In
How
should we as
are adopting several English words
country.
to
in
the future? We
the
need to think
importance of English because the
about
education of English is starting in
globalization
an earlier age than just ten years ago. If we in
and English as an international language. I
Denmark
the
believe we, as teachers, are contributing to
international trading we have to educate our
maintain the wealth in Denmark by giving our
want
to
be
a
part
of
students from an early age and make sure that the education is working. Some schools
young students the tools to communicate and take part in a global community. Therefore we
16
need to consider globalization as a huge factor,
Traveling around the world you will most
in the development and positioning of English.
certainly see slogans like these, products and
We need to prepare the students for the
signs on the streets, stating numerous of
consequences that globalization brings. Such
different English statements or punch –lines. Bill
consequences as increased development in the
Bryson stresses the obvious observation, that
technology sector, sharing vital information with
English is the most global of languages. In his
companies
article he states his view on why products carry
abroad
and
the
process
of
outsourcing production. We need to make our
English statements or punch –lines.
students adjustable to the world, in terms of
“Products are deemed to be more exiting if they
creating a platform of an international language
carry English messages even when, as often
that makes it possible to cooperate with other
happens, the message don‟t make a lot of sense”
countries and share vital information and
Witnessing this as a sign, of the continuing
understanding. How do we then prepare our
development in sales- strategies and sharing
students? Is it a matter of integrating English in
information between nations, the need of a
schools early on, or do we need a different
shared language is essential. What are the
strategy to welcome the language demands for
reasons for this? The sales –strategies could be
the future?
based on the fact, that with an international language you are not going to miss out on any
In the following I will describe some of the
foreign customers. David Crystal is a linguist,
mechanisms of globalization and views on the
academic and author. He presents several
position of English to develop in the future.
reasons in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the
Furthermore a description and reflection on the
English Language. He writes that English is the
consequences that follows as a result of teaching
primary language of international business,
English in Denmark.
satellite broadcasting and home computers for that reason it is obvious that you will see the
The signs of an international language
English language everywhere you go.
Bill Bryson, who is a best-selling author and
A mutual understanding
Chancellor of Durham University writes about the many findings of the global language in his
By observing the medias and how we relate to
article “English as a world language”. On his
several things in our lives, we need to think
travels around the world and observations in the
about English as an international language.
media he witnesses these signs of globalization.
I base this view on what I see on the Internet,
“In Hong Kong you can find a place called the
what I read and what I notice when I travel
Plastic Bacon Factory. In Naples, according to the
around the world.
Observer, there is a sport shop called Snoopy‟s
On the Internet much of the communication is
Dribbling”
written
in
English,
especially
news
from
17
different
countries
like
newspapers and commercials concerning things like sport, shampoo, clothing etc. English is becoming the main language on the Internet, and if we consider how many people are influenced by it, we could easily describe English as an international language with a
and communal needs of different communities
common understanding. Henry Widdowson is an authority in the field of applied linguistics and language teaching. In his article “Who owns English today” He writes about how English serves the communicative an
international
people all over the world, the need for
understanding of the language is necessary. He
that enables them to participate in a global
continues by expressing the need for a common
society and at the same time have in mind, that
code
the
our country are going to benefit from this effort.
development in new transmission systems like
An effort, that supports the positioning of
the Internet.
English as a fundamental thing for living in the
“For there is little point in opening up such
world today. For that reason I prefer that the
amazing new transmission systems if what you
English language is to become a key factor in
transmit makes no sense at the other end. The
schools around the globe. English are to be
availability of these new channels calls for the
incorporated into schools from day one, to let the
maintenance of a common code”
students absorb the language as their own, and
Henry Widdowson also uses communicative
to acquire a great vocabulary. We need to take
effectiveness as the main reason for maintenance
action, if we want to stay in touch with this fast
of this common code, which could be the
evolving world. The vocabulary and general
keystone of a valuable cooperation with other
understanding of the language has to be almost
countries.
as good as the mother language, if we want to
based
a
Because of the Internet and how it connects
prepare and provide the students with the tools,
communicating,
and
meet the need of the communities involved.
shared
for
English
and how it stabilizes into a form required to
on
stay on top of the development in relation to
Reflection and conclusion
business and preserving the status as a wealthy country.
Looking at the signs of a world calling for an
All over the world the reasons for learning
international language, we as teachers need to be
English are becoming more and more intense.
aware of the facts. The facts that we are going to
David Crystal stresses that the intellectual
18
motive for learning English are described by the
therefore we need to place the importance of
facts, that most of the scientific, technological,
learning English side by side with the Danish
and academic information in the world is
language.
expressed in English, and over 80 per cent of all
Stating the fact, that I think English is to be
the information stored in electronic retrieval
included in schools at the same time as Danish,
systems is in English.
and basing my thoughts on views and meanings
This information illustrates the importance of for
of Bill Bryson, Henry Widdowson and David
being taught the English language to get an
Crystal I will conclude by saying, that this is the
education
way I prefer, the position of English to develop
by
understanding
the
academic
information in general. It is a matter of fact that
in the future.
we are in need of the English language, and
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