In today’s globalised world, English has become an integral part of people’s routine, leading to disappearing local languages. While English has been converted into the first language in the world, allowing people to communicate and trade, I firmly believe that people should value their local languages, as they play an indispensable role in promoting cultural awareness and countries’ history.
On the one hand, English is widely considered a language that transcends the barriers between different cultures and enables people to communicate with one another worldwide. These features allow individuals to deepen their understanding of various traditions and customs while improving their essential skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Consequently, English can broaden people’s horizons and act as a catalyst for their personal, educational, and professional development. For instance, scientific articles are often written in English, which enable all students with different languages to read them without demanding learning various languages. Hence, English has become a need of the day as it opens countless doors for people’s personal, professional, and educational development while fostering globalisation in the world.
However, the dominance of English can pose a threat to local languages, which can give rise to social and cultural issues. Since local languages symbolise national cultures, traditions, and customs, playing a crucial role in bridging the gap between younger and older generations, thereby promoting social cohesion. For example, language festivals provide unique opportunities for younger generations to develop a deeper appreciation of national identity while helping them become aware of their countries’ history. Thus, English can have a negative impact on local languages, resulting in weakening social bonds and disappearing national traditions.
To sum up, from my perspective, English offers numerous advantages, contributing significantly to individuals’ overall development. The language can negatively affect local languages, which can bring about detrimental consequences to the community, including the disappearance of cultures and weakening social bonds. Therefore, people should value both English and their local languages to achieve substantial growth in their lives.