Do You Speak the Language of Work?

23rd April is celebrated as World English Day to commemorate the birthday of English playwright, William Shakespeare. Today, we look at the English language – its evolution, use and future amid the rise of a multilingual world, and after the widespread use of artificial intelligence.

In 2006, linguist David Graddol predicted the decline of English as a world language, assuming the rise of a large number of regional languages. However, today English is considered the world’s most spoken language with over 1.5 billion speakers, followed by Mandarin Chinese (1.1 billion) and our Hindi with millions of speakers 600 (according to Ethnologue data). This may be the work of the global world with the need for a common language.

Interestingly, English is not a difficult language, and it has different translations across different regions to help the locals converse in a relaxed manner. Over the years, more than 900 words from India have been added to the Oxford English dictionary, along with words from other languages ​​- emphasizing the global nature of English. Various local languages ​​such as Hinglish (a mixture of Hindi and English in India), Singlish (in Singapore, including Chinese and Malay) and Nigerian English (in both Standard and Pidgin versions) have become local lingua francas. , which enables greater collaboration. .

The importance of English as an essential skill for the 21st century cannot be disputed. Most of the world’s websites include English content for a global audience. The advent of Gen AI has made it easier to build AI tools to use suggestions in English, eliminating the need to write in machine languages. It is safe to say that many would benefit from having English speaking skills rather than none at all. In today’s highly competitive job environment, English language skills emerged as a key factor for professional success and development.

Information from ‘The Future of English: Global Visions’ of the British Council The report sheds light on the significant impact of English language skills on job opportunities around the world. According to the report, English proficiency is strongly related to increased job opportunities and career growth. Employers across industries value people with strong English skills, as it enables effective communication in different workplaces. This knowledge not only facilitates collaboration within teams but also improves interactions with customers and stakeholders around the world, leading to improved business results.

Like Gauri Puranik, Head of English Programs in India, British Council,“As part of the Future of English research, the British Council organized 14 long-term interviews with policy makers, employers and policy influencers across different countries to discuss teaching and learning approaches English language. About 92% of participants said that English is important (very or good) to get a job in their country. In India, we are working with various government departments to create teaching courses that take teaching English as a medium of instruction alongside other languages, in India’s multilingual environment.”

The Global Future of English report highlights that professionals who know English are able to find more job opportunities. Many international companies and international organizations prefer people who can speak English, as it simplifies the process and ensures seamless communication around the world. This option often translates into higher employment opportunities and promotions for people with advanced English language skills.

“The increase in Indian students taking English courses on Coursera highlights the importance of English skills as a means to succeed in today’s job market, where interpersonal skills are increasingly valued Popular courses focus on improving English skills for professional development, covering topics such as email writing, networking, grammar, workplace interactions and cultural attitudes in contexts. different of the world. Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and APAC, Coursera. “In the age of remote work, strong business English skills offer a wide range of economic opportunities for Indians across the country.”

English language skills help professional development and make a person successful. Professionals who are fluent in English can use many resources, including online courses, research articles, and online platforms. This access to knowledge and information empowers individuals to stay updated on industry trends, acquire new skills, and remain competitive in their fields.

The full report ‘The Future of English: Global Perspectives’ can be found here.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid article and does not belong to Hindustan Times media/editorship.