Question: The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken globally. What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?
Band 8+ Sample Answer:
(Intro) Thanks to the recent boom in travel and tourism, English has developed into the world’s most dominant language , leading some to suggest that it might become the only lingua franca in existence. I believe that although this trend might help facilitate more efficient access to knowledge, it could lead to the death of cultural diversity.
(Body 1) On the one hand, the collective pool of knowledge would be more accessible than ever once English was globally accepted as the only language. Indeed, an academic paper would be instantly available to students in all continents without having to be translated into other languages in a process which might take weeks to complete. Similarly, a Vietnamese farmer could learn how to cultivate more fruitful crops by following the rich source of advice on Youtube, while an Arabic student might be eligible to enrol in a prestigious university in Vietnam with no obligation to study a second language.
(Body 2) On the other hand, a mass disappearance of languages is highly likely to bring an end to cultural richness. Anthropologists have shown that a mother tongue is at the core of every culture as its unique features represent the belief and history of the culture. For example, the word “politician” in Chinese is a combination of three “mouths”, implying a common idea that politicians are generally greedy and self-interested. Meanwhile, the similarity between Chinese and Vietnamese pronunciation is a relic of China's attempt to occupy Vietnam over the course of centuries.
(Conclusion) In summary, the idea of one global language might foster knowledge exchange, albeit at the expense of cultural loss. Looking forward, I can predict with certainty that countries will refuse to give up their national tongues while still encouraging their citizens to acquire English proficiency for the thirst of knowledge and collaboration. (296 words).
Words: Student essay, corrected & upgraded by Nick Kemp, former IELTS examiner.
Image: Oli Lynch / Pixabay.
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