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Home | Politics & Society | The future of English

The future of English

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The journey English is taking through globalism and digital technology, and what the future of the language sounds like.

Journalist and writer Mark Abley predicts that by 2015 half the world's population will be speaking -- or at least learning -- English. But as the language sweeps the globe, it's not just changing those it encounters, it's changing too. New words are being added at a "break-neck" rate from other languages, from hip-hop lyrics, from the blogosphere.

Abley joins "RadioWest's" Doug Fabrizio to talk about the journey English is taking and what the future of the language sounds like.

Abley says words just don't give names to devices; they give flesh to ideas, so you have to consider grammar, and accents, and culture. There's no going back, he says, no retreat into the grammar and lexicon of the past.

Hosted by Doug Fabrizio, KUER’s award-winning "RadioWest" features conversations with authors, politicians, artists and others, examining today's national issues with a decidedly Western perspective.

PRI’s presentation of "RadioWest" on XM Satellite Radio is made possible through American Public Radio, a partnership of Public Radio International, Chicago Public Radio®, WGBH Radio Boston and WNYC, New York Public Radio®. View the XM Satellite Radio XMPR scehdule.

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Subscribe to comments feed Comments (3 posted):

carolina cruceño on 29 November, 2008 06:59:46
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i loved that article about the future of english, it was very useful for me because I am studying to be a teacher of English, I´d liked to tape this interview, but i was not able to download it, can you send it to my e mail address? thanks!
carolina- argentina
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Bella Badegarshomali on 17 December, 2008 11:31:22
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It is ironic that I was discussing the downfall of the English language in America especially among the new generation.
When I see the classic movies, I enjoy the dialect used and the correct pronunciation of the words. In contrary when I listen to young people, I see how much damage is done to the language and how the new generation is lacking the proper use of vocabluray when converting to others. Change is always good if it is in a constructive way not in a destructive way.
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Nyssa on 21 November, 2009 03:51:43
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First of all, I'd to comment on Bella's post. I just want to say that the changing of any language is a very natural and unpreventable thing. The beauty of language is that it is constantly changing to fit the needs of the society and culture that surround it. The change is really neither good nor bad, it's just the way it is and that there is no use in getting upset about.

On a side note, I also am looking for the audio of this article - it doesn't seem to be linked to this page.
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