Sociolinguistics—After Chapter 9: Language & Contact and

English as a Global Language

Review & Discussion

1. What can happen when two people come together and do not speak the same
language? (Try to think of at least 3 different scenarios.)
2. What is a lingua franca? What is it used for?
3. Go to the Internet. Look for a short article on the concept of a global / world
language. Print 3 copies (one for you, one for your discussion partner, and one
for me). MAKE SURE YOU GIVE US THE website on the article.
4. What is the global language they talk about? Do they like this situation? What
other points of view does your article mention?
5. If English is the most widespread language spoken today, will it become the
world language? Is it already the world language?
6. Could some another language (like Chinese, for example) become THE world
language or A world language? Under what conditions?