This paper deals with the topic of English as a lingua franca as well as the past and current status of German as a language of science.
One issue which is discussed throughout this paper is English as a global language. The questions that arise regarding this topic are: Why did English become so important in the last century? Why do we speak of English as a global language? How could English reach such widespread acceptance? What are dangers of a global language and could anything stop globalisation? In this paper many facets of English will be presented and discussed.
The second important topic this paper covers is the decline of German as an international language of science. German used to be an important language of science in the 19thcentury until World War I. But what happened at that point and why did German lose its international character? Which circumstances are responsible for the decline of German? What is the present status of German in science and what are the future perspectives?
All these questions and assumptions will be discussed in the following term paper and the closing remarks will summarise the findings.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Globalisation of English
- Definition of the term global language
- English is the global language – Why?
- English as a lingua franca
- Definitions of the term lingua franca
- History of the term lingua franca
- Languages of science
- English as a lingua franca of science
- Reasons for and against English as a lingua franca of science
- German as an international language of science
- Definition of the term international language
- German, a former international language of science: a review
- Displacement of German as an international language of science by English
- Present status of English and German as languages of Science
- Future perspectives of English
- Do we need a global language?
- Dangers of a global language
- Closing remarks
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the global role of English as a lingua franca and examine the historical decline of German as a language of science. The paper investigates the factors contributing to the dominance of English in the 20th century and analyses the reasons for the diminished status of German in international science. It also touches upon the potential benefits and drawbacks of having a global language.
- The emergence of English as a global language
- The role of English as a lingua franca
- The decline of German as an international language of science
- The current status of English and German in academia and science
- Potential dangers and future perspectives of a global language
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with an introduction that highlights the main themes of the paper: the global role of English and the decline of German as a language of science. The second chapter, "The Globalisation of English", defines the term "global language" and examines the reasons behind English's global dominance. Chapter 3 discusses the concept of a lingua franca, offering definitions and a historical overview. Chapter 4 delves into the role of languages in science, focusing on English as a lingua franca of science and the historical significance of German in this field. The chapter also explores the reasons for the decline of German as a language of science and its present status. Finally, the paper concludes with a brief overview of future perspectives on the role of a global language.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The central themes and keywords of this paper revolve around the international use of language, particularly focusing on English and German. The paper explores the concepts of global language, lingua franca, and international language. It investigates the historical and contemporary role of English and German in academia and science, including the decline of German as a language of science. Additionally, the paper considers the potential implications and future outlook for a global language.
- Quote paper
- Silvia Eibel (Author), 2005, English, the lingua franca, as a global language and the decline of German as an international language of science, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/53651
