Global English Facilitates International Communication by Standardizing the Language

chillibreeze writer —Vimala S

Have you ever thought that what you write may not be comprehended by all international readers? Well, it is quite simple. Your English may be unintelligible to your target readership for the simple reason that the language has become “localized” to an extent and therefore not completely understood by all other English speakers. So, what can be done to restore harmony in the process of international communication?

Global English

Global English can be defined as a denationalized and simplified variety of the English Language. It is even called ‘World English’ or ‘Standard English’. Global English can be termed as a deglamourized variety of English.

The Need for Global English

When innumerable varieties of English are creating chaos in international communication, Global English becomes the sole solution to establish international communication. It has become the need of the Internet era as it is suitable for all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The British Council reports that nearly 375 million people speak English as a second language and 750 million speak it as a foreign language. Yet, the poor competency level of these English speakers demands a common global language which is simple, and easy to understand. Statistics show that three-quarters of the world’s mail is in English. Four-fifth of electronic information is stored in English. In the present world of communication, Global English is inevitable because information transfer occurs across the world. Further, many business organizations spend a huge sum in translating their web content, brochures, marketing collaterals and other documents to other foreign languages. However, it is not cost-effective to pursue translation, considering the enormous number of languages. So, Global English is the only alternative to tackle the problem of unintelligibility. By using Global English, an American’s mail can be easily understood by a Chinese in the other part of the world.

Mechanics of Writing Global English

Avoid Idiomatic expressions and slang

The foremost problem that the non-native speaker faces is the use of idiomatic expressions like ‘my cup of tea’, ‘sour grapes’, ‘It’s a hard nut to crack’. The list of such idiomatic expressions are never-ending. Idiomatic expressions find place in a particular language because the speaker’s culture exerts a great influence on the respective language. Besides, slang and metaphors cannot be understood by foreign language learners. So, idiomatic expressions have no place in Global English because it creates a communication gap.

Avoid Jargons

Jargons create difficulties in comprehension. Further, they make the style extremely formal and stiff. Replace such jargons with simple words as given in the table below:

Formal and stiff	Simple and preferable
This is to acknowledge	Thank you
We acknowledge	Thanks for your letter
We regret to	(be positive)

Focus on words and sentences

Avoid ambiguous sentences because your message may not reach the target readers as you intended it. Careless use of pronouns, indecisive placing of adverbs, faulty punctuation are some of the reasons that cause ambiguity. For instance,

John told Jimmy that he was not considered for the post of Senior Scientist.

Avoid using heavy words like visualize, terminate, utilize, etc. Instead you can use short words like see, end, and use which are simple and common. Pompous words may add to variety but it tends to block the communication process. Use words that are common in everyday speech. If it is inevitable to use uncommon words, put them in the context and do not fail to provide sufficient clues to identify the meaning of the words. Stop using words that do not find a place in a dictionary. Learn to write in a concise manner. A single word is highly effective when compared to long phrases. Replace such long phrases with single words as given in the table below:

Long Phrases	Single words
At all times	Always
At a later date	Later
For the purpose of	For
To the fullest possible extent	Fully

Concrete expressions create visual images that are easy to register in the mind. Use concrete expressions profusely. Using verbs often makes the communication simple and clear. So, it is advisable to use verbs in place of nouns. Replace such nouns with verbs as given in the table below:

Using Nouns	Using Verbs
Come to a conclusion	Conclude
Make a decision	Decide
Submit a proposal	Propose

Use of limited vocabulary may reduce the reader’s interest. To keep them engrossed, you should adopt an informal tone. Limit the length of the sentences as it increases the degree of comprehension for the target readers. Short sentences reduce anxiety and capture the focus of international readers.

The Magic of Punctuation

Use punctuation without hesitance because it helps the readers to grasp the meaning quickly. If you cannot avoid writing long- winding sentences, you can insert commas and semi-colons to break the sentences. Use linking words like ‘but’, ‘because’, ‘yet’ and ‘further’ to break long sentences. Such cohesive devices support the coherence of thought as well. Hyphenated words have a great place in Global English. Words like ‘sugar-coated’, ‘face-to-face’, ‘candle-lit’ are easier to understand for the foreign language learners.

Using fonts and bullets

Let the font size be a standard type, for instance, 12 point, Times New Roman. Leave white space around the text generously. Instead of using Bold, Underline, and Italics, use different font sizes to show the differences in topics and sub-topics. Bullet points are widely used to list items and to grab the attention of the readers. However, overusing them may confuse the reader. So, try dividing the points into sub-groups and sub-topics.

Conclusion

Global English aims at maximum comprehension. It never flouts the basic rules of grammar; yet, it helps you achieve success in the process of international communication. It is considered to be the variety of English devoid of national and cultural identity. Global English is the primary product of the Internet era that aims at unity in diversity.

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