Question
The development of tourism has contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in
the world. Some people think that this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken
globally.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?
Answer
In the last few centuries, English has risen to become the most important and influential language on
the planet, and it is possible that it could become the de facto world language at some point in
future. This essay will explore the advantages and disadvantages of having a single world language.
In terms of positives, having a single world language clearly makes it easier for people around the
world to communicate with each other. For tourism, business, education, and almost anything else,
this would be a tremendous boost. For thousands of years, people have been attempting to learn
foreign languages in order to carry out trade or diplomacy, but with just one world language there
would be no need. People could finally communicate with anyone else on Earth without seeking a
translator. This is perhaps the single biggest advantage that could arise from having just one
language.
However, there are undoubtedly some negatives that come with having a single world language.
First and foremost is the fact that having just one language means that many other languages have
died out. This means that hundreds or thousands of years of cultural history has come to a sudden
end. Lots of ancient books and inscription will no longer be understood. Beyond that, having a single
world language may bring people together but it also starts to erase their differences. All of the
myriad cultural quirks that make different societies unique have already begun to erode with
globalisation and the internet, and a world language would surely speed up that process.
In conclusion, there are various advantages to having a single world language, such improving the
ease of communication between people, but there are also many disadvantages like eroding cultural
differences.
