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English Today
Looking at the past is an important step towards understanding the future. Any serious study of English in the 21st century must start by examining how English came to be in the state it is not a spoken by those who speak it. What factors have ensured the spread of English What does it process tell us about the fate of languages in uni!ue political and cultural contexts "n what domains of knowledge has English developed particular importance and how recently English is remarkable for its diversity# its propensity to change and be changed. $his has resulted in both a variety of forms of English# and also a diversity of cultural contexts within which English is used in daily life. $he main areas of development in the use and form of English will undoubtedly come from no native speaks. %ow many are there and where are they located And when and why do they use English instead of their first language We need to be aware of the different place that English has in the lives of native speakers# second language user and those who learn it as a foreign language. &ritain's colonial expansion established the pre( conditions for the global use of English# taking the language from its island birthplace to settlements around the world. $he English language has grown up in contact with many others# making it a hybrid language which can rapidly evolve to meet new culture and communicative needs. $he story of English in the 2)th century has been closely linked to the rise of the *+ as a superpower which has spread the English language alongside its economic# technological# and cultural influence. "n same period the international importance of other European languages# especially ,rench has declined. $here are kinds of English speakers- those who it as a first language# those for whom it is a second or additional language# and those who learn it as foreign language. .ative speakers may feel the language

belongs to them# but it will be those who speak English as a second or foreign language who will determine its world future

1. Match the paragraphs and the headlines below: a3 $he influence of American English in the process. b3 4inds of English users c3 $he growth of English d3 factors that contribute to worldwide English. e3 $he diversity of English f3 English as a foreign language.

2. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) . Quote from the text to support your choice "t is irrelevant to know where English came from and how it developed. Learning about the evolution of English language helps us to understand the role of languages in cultural centuries. English is a permanent language# one which has remained unchangeable for centuries. .on(native speakers determine the fields in which English is used around the world. 0uring colonial period English spread through the word without suffering influence of other languages. $here are different kinds of English speakers in the world. 3. Find in the text words that mean the same as: stage in progress 5 1st paragraph3 destiny 5 1st paragraph3 special 5 1st paragraph3 heterogeneity 6 2nd paragraph3 certainly 5 7rd paragraph3

4. The following words on the left were ta en from the text. !atch them with their meaning on context. 1. 2. 7. 9. of 8. ;. :. 6. <. understanding 5line13 state 5 line73 contexts 5line 83 propensity 5line:3 a language users 5line 173 expansion 5line183 settlements 5 line 1;3 hybrid 5line 1:3 additional 5line 293 a3 increase b3 mixed c3 comprehending d3 speaker or writers e3 tendency f3 communities g3 extra h3 environment i3 condition

5. Now insert some of the words above in the gaps bellow. Expansion users propensity hybrid understanding. additional state

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 >ommunication begins by //////////// other people messages. $he ? /////////// of nation@ is a term often used in politics.