Abstract

Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language

Author: Robert McCrum

Globish is a book that follows the history and development of the English language step by step. Robert McCrum collected enough information about the origin of this language that as McCrum says, “has travelled and changed through time and space throws up many examples of contemporary craziness”. The author recreates historical events that were relevant to the English language development. The colonization of the British Island by Romans, Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, and finally Normans, brought many changes to the English culture and language. Therefore, McCrum took these events into consideration and made a clear and complete explanation of the effects they caused in the English culture and language. Ironically, the English language survived all those violent irruptions and became stronger. Latter Globish will be considered as the most relevant language in the world.

            The book also tells us about the global economic, politics and industrialization where the English language plays an important role. America is cited by the author as a powerful country where technology, television and cinematography world “have made of globish the worldwide dialect of the third millennium” (McCrum).

            According to McCrum the English language has a history of violence since its origin. It was exposed to many changes that it acquired from other cultures such as Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans. However, those cultures also have left other important legacies that enriched the English language. Romans for example introduced Latin into the educational system. As McCrum says, during the invasion of Anglo-Saxon, “there was an important cross-fertilization that still makes a powerful contribution to contemporary English culture”. The strong sense of national identity was a legacy of the Vikings.

English was brought to America by the British during the period of colonization. America became a powerful nation that transformed the world through its cinematographic industry, television and advertising. Similar to the English language, Spanish has many characteristics that come from other cultures and languages such as Celtics, Greek, Romans and Arabs. Those were the result of continuous invasions. New words were incorporated to the original language that was based in Vulgar Latin.  Words such as “escuela” (school) or “Huerfano” (orphan) all belong to the Greek tradition. Arabs also left an important lexical legacy that has been incorporated into the Spanish language. Like English language, Spanish language was brought to America by conquers who converted the American territory in colonies that belonged to the old world. Therefore, similar to English language, Spanish language spread throughout the American Continent.

Globish is a book that has a great among of information that could answer many questions about learning a new language. Reading Globish we can understand that language has an intimate relationship with the history of a culture. In other words, language is part of our identity and history. “The sea did more than just define the English; it inspired them to become sailors, merchants, explorers and empire builders. Language and culture reflected this experience and gave English its highly interactive character,” (McCrum).