2nd edition

Unit 1 Culture clip

1C Global English: Worksheet

1 Watch the video. Are the statements true (T) or false (F)?
1 For most people around the world, English is either a first or a second language.
2 Many native English speakers don’t often speak a second language.
3 Most people do business using English in India.
4 13% of people in South Africa speak Dutch as their first language.
5 45% of South Africans use English as their first language.
6 Learning English is compulsory in all South African schools.
7 In some countries, local languages can’t compete against English.
8 According to the video, the Internet will help to revive endangered local languages.

2 Watch the video again. Answer the questions.

1 How many people in the world speak English as their first language?
2 What percentage of the world’s population is thought to be able to communicate in
English?
3 When did English become mandatory for international flight crews and air traffic
controllers?
4 How many official languages are there in South Africa?
5 What is the second most commonly spoken language in South Africa?
6 According to the video, which languages has South African English borrowed words
from?
7 What word does the video use to describe the ‘killing’ of minority languages?

Vocabulary Extra
3 Match the words from the video (1–9) with their synonyms or definitions (a–i).
1 commerce a ability
2 competence b become able to do something
3 derive c become part of
4 get to grips with d being very widespread
5 implication e business
6 incorporate f consequence
7 indigenous g local
8 mandate (v) h make compulsory
9 prevalence i originate

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 2nd edition
Unit 1 Culture clip

1C Global English: Answer key

1
1 F
2 T
3 T
4 F
5 F
6 T
7 T
8 F

2
1 370 million
2 25%
3 2008
4 eleven
5 Xhosa
6 Zulu and Xhosa
7 linguicide

3
1 e
2 a
3 i
4 b
5 f
6 c
7 g
8 h
9 d

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 2nd edition
Unit 1 Culture clip

1C Global English: Script

There are over 6,000 languages in the world. Today there are a lot of English words used in
Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are the world’s most languages like Zulu and Xhosa. But many words from
common first languages. And for about 370 million these languages are also incorporated into South
people, English is their first language. African English, enriching all the languages.
But, for most people around the world, English is But the prevalence of English as a growing global
neither a first or second language. Even in a city like language has some problematic implications too.
London, English is sometimes a second or possibly a There have even been accusations of linguicide
third or fourth language of many of the residents. levelled against English. The sheer dominance of
the English language is literally killing minority
But it is estimated that one out of four people
languages.
worldwide speak English with some degree of
competence. And, as a result, English is often In some countries there are no longer any native
used as a common language of international speakers of many local languages and, with no one
communication. For example, it’s been the mandated to pass it on to the next generation, the language
language of international aviation since 2008. dies. This has already happened to many of the
English was chosen in an attempt to avoid any indigenous languages of the Native American Indians
misunderstandings between international flight in North America.
crews and air traffic controllers. But it’s unlikely that anything can stop the continued
While the English language is derived from an expansion of the English language in the short term.
historic variety of languages, by and large native And with the influence of globalisation and the
English speakers are poor at learning other Internet, it is very likely that the dominance of the
languages. As a result, many native English speakers English will continue – at least for the foreseeable
grow up never having got to grips with a second future.
language.
But in some countries, like South Africa and India,
while English isn’t the first language of most of
the population, it’s widely used as the language of
education, science, commerce, and the Internet. But
English co-exists with many native languages.
English is just one of South Africa’s eleven official
languages.
Nearly a quarter of the population of 50 million
people speak Zulu as their first language, and
another 20% speak Xhosa.
Afrikaans is the third biggest first language. About
13% of the population speak Afrikaans; a very
similar language to Dutch.
English is the first language of only 8% of the
population.
But over 45% of people speak it as a second
language, and to communicate with speakers of
other languages.
South Africa uses English as the main language of
business, politics, and the media. All students in
South Africa have to learn English at school.

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