Purposive Communication

1. After listening to David Crystal, briefly explain those requirements for a language to become global.

The three factors that make a language global are the people who speak the language, the power
that these people hold in terms of military, political, and economic influences, and if the recognized most
powerful nations in the world are using it. The main prerequisite for a language to become global is the
people. It is by the power of individuals who speaks the language that determines this disposition.
Language has no independent existence. Language exists only in the brains and mouths and ears and
hands and eyes of its users. By passing English from one mouth to another, it spreads like a wildfire
resulting to become the current main language of the world. History has shown that a language becomes
global mainly due to the escalation of the military power combined with the political power of its native
speakers, and the economic power with which it is able to maintain and expand its position. Without a
strong power-base, no language can make progress as an international medium of communication. As
people started using the same language in academics, science, entertainment, literature, diplomacy, and
many more areas and industries, this dominance caught up fast and has become widely spoken by almost
everyone. Being said, a global language arises mainly due to the worldwide reach of its speakers. If the
most powerful nations continue using English as the main language, then it will stay and live on its
capacity, and the rest of the world will follow.