Главная страница | Контакты | Случайная страница Автомобили Астрономия Биология География Дом и сад Другие языки Другое Информатика История Культура Литература Логика Математика Медицина Металлургия Механика Образование Охрана труда Педагогика Политика Право Психология Религия Риторика Социология Спорт Строительство Технология Туризм Физика Философия Финансы Химия Черчение Экология Экономика Электроника

English as a World Language

1. More than three hundred million people speak English as their native language. English is their first language. They live in Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Six hundred million people speak English as an official, second language. They live in India, Pakistan, Nigeria. But at least one hundred million people now study English as a foreign language. They live in Spain, Greece, Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, Argentina, China, Poland – almost everywhere. Therefore, at least one thousand million people can read, speak, write and understand English today.

2. English has become a world language because of its establishment as a mother tongue outside England, in all the continents of the world. This export of the English language began in the 17^th century. For a long time English was the most important language of the colonial countries in Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania as it was imposed on the enslaved nations as the only means of communication. Nowadays the majority of the former British colonies are independent but English has not lost its dominant position there.

3. English is losing its political and cultural associations and becoming the property of all cultures. It is now the international language. In the modern world, people need English for work and for international communication. We can use English to help us meet new people and establish business relations around the world.

4. TheEnglish language is closely associated with the economic modernization and industrial development. Information is sent and received at increased speed. The competitive demands of governments, industries, and corporations, both national and multinational, for technological progress require an understanding of the language of that technology – English.

5. English is also an international language of commerce, the main language of airports, air traffic control and international shipping. It is the language of diplomacy and sport. English is one of five languages used in the United Nations Organization (with French, Russia, Spanish and Chinese) and the language used by the International Olympic Committee. It is the working language during the meetings of the General Assembly and the Security Council o f the UNO.

6. English is studied as a foreign language in educational establishments of our country.

Ex.3 Find in the text and put down English equivalents to the following word combinations:

Рідна мова; офіційна мова; міжнародна мова; поневолені народи; засоби спілкування; колишні британські колонії; зверхнє (домінуюче)положення; політичні та культурні зв’язки; міжнародне спілкування; встановлювати ділові відносини; навколо світу; економічна модернізація; промисловий розвиток; прискорений темп; технологічний прогрес; міжнародні перевезення вантажу; робоча мова; навчальні заклади.

Ex. 4 Give Ukrainian/Russian equivalents to:

foreign language need

General Assembly commerce

Security Council competitive

majority independent