WHY IS ENGLISH A GLOBAL LANGUAGE?
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Abstract
This article systematically analyzes the primary drivers
behind English's unprecedented global status as a lingua franca.
Employing a qualitative research approach, it synthesizes insights from
sociolinguistics, history, economics, and cultural studies to delineate the
key factors. The findings reveal that English's global spread is not
attributable to a single cause but rather a complex interplay of historical
colonial legacies, post-World War II geopolitical shifts, enduring
economic dominance, and pervasive cultural influence. The research
highlights the self-reinforcing network effect and pragmatic utility as
crucial contemporary accelerators. Understanding these intertwined
mechanisms offers critical insights into current global communication
patterns and future linguistic trends, providing a foundational analysis
for further sociolinguistic inquiry into language power dynamics.
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References
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