The Global Influence of the English Language English is more than just a language—it has become a symbol of opportunity, power, and international connection.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-10-03
Understanding the global influence of the English language is a critical skill for succeeding in your English studies, as it requires you to reflect on both the immense opportunities it creates and the complex cultural challenges it poses.
Read the material below.
Referring to the material, reflect on the influence of the English language in the world today.
Text 1:
English is everywhere, and everywhere, English dominates. From humble beginnings on the edge of Europe, it has grown to have astonishing influence. Almost 400m people speak it as their first language; a billion more know it as a secondary tongue. It is an official language in at least 59 countries, the unofficial lingua franca of dozens more. No language in history has been used by so many people or covered a greater portion of the globe. It has become the golden ticket to the worlds of education and international commerce. It is inescapable: the language of global business, the internet, science, diplomacy and aviation. And everywhere it goes, it leaves behind a trail of dead: dialects crushed, languages forgotten, literatures mangled.
Source: The Guardian. Adapted by Udir: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jul/27/english-language-global-dominance.
Text 2:
As of January 2020, English was the most popular language online, representing 25.9 percent of worldwide internet users. Chinese was ranked second with a 19.4 percent share. USA and India, the countries with the most internet users after China, are also the biggest English-speaking countries in the world. As a result, most of the information online is created in the English language.
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262946/share-of-the-most-common-languages-on-the-internet/
Illustration:
From an advertisement for a Ugandan travel agency.
Source: https://kabiza.com/do-they-speak-english-in-uganda-best-english-speaking-country-in-africa/. Retrieved: 04.11.22
The Global Influence of the English Language
English is more than just a language—it has become a symbol of opportunity, power, and international connection. As the first text states, English has grown from its origins in Europe to become the most dominant language the world has ever seen. Almost 400 million people speak it natively, and over a billion use it as a second language. It is the language of global business, science, education, and diplomacy. English has truly become a global passport.
The image from Uganda reinforces this idea. It proudly claims that Uganda is “Africa’s Best English Speaking Country” and that “English is the Offical Language.” Although there’s an ironic spelling mistake in the word “official,” the message is clear: speaking English is seen as something to be proud of and as a way to attract tourists or international partners. The use of both the American and British flags further shows how English is linked with global power and influence.
According to the second text, English is also the dominant language online. In 2020, over 25% of internet users used English, making it the most common language on the web. Since the USA and India are among the countries with the most internet users—and both have large English-speaking populations—this dominance shapes who creates and accesses digital content. It means that English speakers often have better access to information, knowledge, and global communication.
However, this power comes with consequences. The Guardian article reminds us that English spreads by replacing other languages: “dialects crushed, languages forgotten, literatures mangled.” While English opens doors for many, it can also threaten cultural diversity and local identities. In places like Uganda, the focus on English may lead younger generations to see their native languages as less valuable.
In conclusion, English is a global force that connects people and creates opportunities. But as it spreads, we must be careful not to lose the richness of the world’s linguistic and cultural diversity. Language should be a bridge—not a bulldozer.
Tasks like this one are central to the English subject, particularly in VG1, VG2, and VG3. They test your ability to move beyond simple comprehension and engage in critical reflection, a core competence in the curriculum (LK20). The prompt, "reflect on the influence," is a direct invitation to discuss complex, two-sided issues. This aligns with the curriculum's aim for students to "discuss and elaborate on culture, and social and literary topics from different English-speaking societies." An exam question like this assesses your ability to synthesize information from multiple sources—text, data, and images—and construct a balanced, well-supported argument. It is not enough to simply list facts from the attachments; you must connect them and explore the underlying tensions, such as the paradox of English being both a tool for global connection and a potential threat to local cultures.
To write a sophisticated reflection, you need a firm grasp of the key terminology. Using these terms accurately will elevate your analysis from a simple summary to a high-level academic discussion.
| Concept | Definition | Example from the task |
|---|---|---|
| Lingua Franca | A language used for communication between groups of people who speak different first languages. | Text 1 states English is the "unofficial lingua franca of dozens more" countries and the language of "global business, the internet, science, diplomacy and aviation". |
| Linguistic Imperialism | The imposition of a dominant language on other cultures, often leading to the marginalization or extinction of indigenous languages. It is a form of cultural power. | The quote from Text 1, "dialects crushed, languages forgotten, literatures mangled," is a direct description of the consequences of linguistic imperialism. |
| World Englishes / Global Englishes | The concept that English is no longer owned by its "native" speakers (e.g., in the UK or USA) but is now a pluralistic language with many different, equally valid, standardized varieties around the world. | The Ugandan ad, with its proud claim and minor error ("Offical"), can be seen as an example of a local community claiming and using English for its own purposes, demonstrating a form of World English. |
| Cultural Homogenization | The process by which local cultures are transformed or absorbed by a dominant outside culture, leading to a reduction in cultural diversity worldwide. | The dominance of English online (Text 2) can contribute to this, as English-language media, trends, and perspectives might overshadow local-language content, creating a more uniform global culture. |
| Soft Power | The ability to attract and co-opt, rather than coerce. It's the power of a country's culture, political ideals, and policies. | The Ugandan ad uses the British and American flags to associate English proficiency with the economic and cultural prestige of these nations. This leverages the soft power of the Anglosphere to attract tourism and investment. |
When tackling a reflection task like this, certain mistakes repeatedly appear. Avoiding them is key to securing a better grade.
As an examiner, I am not just looking for correct English; I am looking for evidence of critical thinking and analytical depth. Here is what separates a mediocre response from an excellent one: …