The role of english as an auxiliary international language in a globalized world

Abstract

In this age of globalization,2people need an international auxiliary language in addition to their mother tongue to improve communication and foster unity among nations. In India, English is the preferred ‘global’ language3 and it plays an important role as a library language’4 in higher education. Parents and children perceive English as a ‘language of opportunity’5 and yearn for an English language medium education. Although English has a recognized role in employability, international mobility, and in accessing information,6 its overall role in development7is being questioned. There is evidence that the widespread craze to learn English and adopt a so-called western lifestyle is stifling local cultures and languages.8 Furthermore, students face difficulties in their studies because they have to learn the content of a subject using a language that they may not know well. Conversely, countries like China, where English is not used for general everyday communication, have set high standards in all fields of human endeavour while preserving their culture, language and identity. Therefore, it seems that a bilingual9 or a multilingual10 approach might be more effective than the contemporary monolingual ones. This paper presents the results of the study and research undertaken on the issue of global language impact on the undergraduate students in India.