Why has english become a universal language?

The day doesn’t end until you have talked to your best friend and opened the bottle of feelings inside your mind. Communication is the process by which we express our thoughts and feelings to one another. In ancient times, when there was no universal language, people used to communicate by drawing images on the cave walls.

There are different forms through which you can communicate your thoughts. There are verbal and non-verbal methods of communication that express what’s going on in your mind and heart. 

There are different countries in the world with unique cultures and native languages. Have you ever wondered how representatives of these countries would communicate if there was not a universal language? 

The idea of universal language

Linguistic barriers causes miscommunication issues when people from different nations and countries are unable to understand the other’s language properly. It was essential to have a common language so dialects could happen smoothly without any error. 

A universal language has the power to become a universal language because of the power of the people who speak it. People from different cultures can understand each other’s thoughts and figure out solutions to fix the problem. The idea of having a universal language helped primarily in businesses and world trade deals.  

English stands on the top of the charts when it comes to which language is the most popular in the world. According to extensive surveys and studies for the British Council, it is found that the number of non-natives who speak English as a second language is more than the native speakers. 

English is considered the universal language

English has its origin belonging to a Germanic language family in its grammar, syntax, and key vocabulary. It is descended from Proto-Germanic, German, Dutch, Swedish, and other 43 living Germanic languages. If you move further in the language family tree, English is an Indo-European language. Have a look at the table data below-

Rank	Language	Native speakers (millions)
1.	Mandarin Chinese	929.0
2.	Spanish	474.7
3.	English	372.9
4.	Hindi	343.9
5.	Portuguese	232.4

The above table represents the data of the top five languages spoken by the natives of a country. As you can notice, Mandarin Chinese tops the list as 929 million people speak the language. Most people speak Spanish as their first language rather than English. 

7.8 billion inhabitants live on the Earth, and around 1.35 billion communicate in the English language. However, the interesting thing to notice is that there are only 372 million native speakers who speak English! Millions of non-native speakers use the English language as a universal language to engage and establish a conversation with each other. 

How did English become the universal language? 

If you think that people chose English as a universal language of the world because of simple grammar and easy words, then that is not the reason behind its popularity. 

Two prominent factors led to the diversification of the English Language and led the evolution of the modern English language. They are

• The invention of the printing press 

In the 16th century, the invention of the printing press allowed the mass production of printed goods and copies. It led to the spread of English language to different corners and over the next century, the word spellings became standardized. The words traveled further than they ever could. 

• British Colonialism and Imperialism 

Experts think Colonialism and Imperialism played a pivotal role in spreading the English language to different parts of the world as the British conquered territories. The British introduced the English language to the school curriculum in the territories they captured. 

When British colonialism was about to end, it was soon replaced by American Imperialism which made English a widespread language as it is today. Soon, English became a universal language of business, commerce, medicine, and other professions. 

Reasons why English has been declared the universal language

Here are some reasons that made English popular in different parts of the world

• Rising America 

After the world wars brought down the economy, American businesses supported the world. American businesses started blooming and flourishing all over the world. 

• Internet 

The Internet changed the world and opened portals to communicate to different corners of the world. According to the studies, most of the content shared on the Internet is in the English Language. 

• Technology 

When the USA was climbing the stairs to becoming the world’s business superpower, they were also developing technology like computers. All the computer hardware and software were programmed and written in the English language. 

Tips to increase your fluency in English! 

Want to learn the English language? Here are some easy tips to master the universal language of the world! 

• Practice makes the man perfect, and speaking English in your day-to-day life will help you grasp the English language grammar quickly. 
• The internet is a portal from which you can learn anything. There are youtube video tutorials and language learning apps to begin your journey to learning the English language. 
• Music is also a universal language, and it will help you learn new words and slang used in the English language. 
• Develop a habit of reading books or newspapers and try to learn ten new words every day. After learning, practice those words by framing a sentence around them. 

What’s at the end? 

There is no way you can escape learning the English Language because it is a universal language. To survive and get a job in the global world, being fluent in the English language is necessary. 

If you are looking for ways to become a professional writer and master the art of writing English, here are some tips to improve your writing! 

FAQs 

1. How many languages are there in the world? 

As of 2022, there are around 7117 different languages spoken by people in the world. There are a variety of communities and groups of people that have their own language and culture. It makes the world a more diversified and colorful place. 

2. Why is English considered a universal language? 

English is considered a universal language because a major proportion of things and tasks in the world are based on English. English provides a base for everyone to present their thoughts in front of the world.

3. Is the English language easy to learn? 

It is essential to learn and understand the grammar and phonetics of a language to get fluent in language. The English language is regarded as one of the most difficult languages to master due to unpredictable spelling and grammar rules. However, you can speak English fluently with consistency and practice.