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A Universal Language - The Ultimate Means of Intercultural Communication

Intercultural Communication

A Universal Language - The Ultimate Means of Intercultural Communication
post by Jad Ardakani

In the 21st century, the world has witnessed an immense wave of globalization that has transformed the lives of humans on Earth. This wave has been the result of developments in the field of technology, industry, and transportation. As these aspects developed at an immense rate, communication between countries, travel, immigration, and media outlets rose. Such aspects lead to a mixture of people from different cultures and backgrounds who interact and live with one another. 

But wouldn't this interaction be stalled by the language barrier?

Actually, the recent 100 years has witnessed widespread of the English language across the globe to an extent where almost everyone from all countries speaks it. This has somehow made the English language the international language. Some of the motives that allowed the English language to be a potential universal language is imperialism, globalization, western education, and media.

I performed the following survey,
 "https://www.surveymonkey.com/analyze/1_2FlN3EHcPouOCgT4RZ4mPdbyYJ0_2Fv2z22aCzOjbAyA4_3D",
 asking people what they believe the universal language and almost 100% of the answers were that they believe that English is the universal language as shown below.


American education has had an effect on solidifying the English language as a universal language.
For example, the American University of Beirut, an English speaking university has been a pioneer since 1866 in spreading the English language in the middle east through education.
Image 1: The American University of Beirut
Image 2: Students at the American University of Beirut from different background united under their ability to speak English

However, an issue arises, what would happen to native languages as English spreads as an international language?
The native language must be learned to hold the coming generations’ identity, but students should also be learning English as a tool to follow the internationalism of the world we are living in. Learning two languages fluently broadens an individual’s mental capacities and allows him to develop several aspects of his brain.
The loss of a native language is risky. The following video narrates a short story written by Chithira Vijayakumar that deals with the loss of a native language because of English.

In conclusion, a universal language is a necessity in the global village we live in today; however, it should not by any means eradicate the existence of a native language.



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