Open AccessAn Overview of Future Scenarios: Where Are We Going With English?
Author(s) -
Ersilia Incelli
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of linguistics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-5425
DOI - 10.5296/ijl.v13i2.18417
Subject(s) - lingua franca , geopolitics , brexit , hegemony , political science , english as a lingua franca , linguistics , sociology , history , economics , law , international trade , politics , european union , philosophy
This contribution aims to present an overview of future predictions about the evolution and status of the English language, in particular as a global lingua franca. The paper considers recent events such as Brexit and the emergence of new economic powers, and the fact that other widely spoken languages could compete with the hegemonic longevity of English as a lingua franca. Although English will certainly remain globally dominant for a large part of the 21st century, new geopolitical landscapes may influence the role of English both in Europe and in the world. This overview is not exhaustive in reporting all the variables in the debate, but it wishes to examine the main issues of concern in the future standing of English.