The Power Of English Flashcards
Why is english a global Language
Its a global language because of the power of the british empire and the rise of the USA as a superpower and because it was at the right plage at the right time
David crystal said it was because of the power of the people who speak it
Second british empire (asia)
Jewel in the crown because of its location, resources and population, out of which they could earn huge amounts of revenue.
After Britain had lost its most populous colonies in America, the settlements in Asia became more important, and this shift in attention is considered the onset of the “second” British Empire (1783–1815). During this period the British East India Company informally ruled India until 1858, when the British government took over. Queen Victoria took the title Empress of India in 1876, and British rule was formalized.
The first british empire
King Henry took the role of king of ireland.
the colonization of north america began in the late 1500 with settlements of the first Islands in the caribbean and the establishment of jamestown.
By 1775 there were 20 british colonies in north america
After the War of Independence (1775–83), the United States of America became an independent nation, and English was the language of the government and the vast majority of the population.
Australia and New zealand
1770 - James cook had claimed both australia and New zealand for the british crown. British convicts were transported to australia. They joined by free immigranter, but the sea voyage was expencive and dangerous.
During the gold rush immigration increased and large numbers of british and irish settlers tried their luck in Australia
New zealand was setteled around the same time as australia. From then on innogration pucker up and by 1911 one million europeisk immigranter lived there.
Africa
English merchants started trading in wesr Africa
The enormenous interior of Africa was not colonized and was little known to the europeans. In the late 19’th century the scramble for Africa began. And by 1930 90 percent of Africa was under european control
The empire had given britain political and military powe and combined with economic and cultural power, this explains the background for the growth of English as a global language.
The british imperial century
Napoleon and france were finally defeated by a coalition of european armies.
Britain was the leading global power
To describe the expansion of the british empire the parade «the empire on which the sun never sets» was used, because the sun was always signing in some terretory of the empire
The american century
the United States and Germany had begun to seriously challenge Britain’s position as “Workshop of the World”. After World War I, the USA was superior in terms of military and industrial power. From then on, the USA started to dominate the world in many different ways, and the 20th century is often called the American Century. As the British Empire was gradually dismantled and colonies gained independence, its political and military power was reduced. Its position was taken over by the USA, but they ruled the world with a different kind of imperialism.
