English is a Crazy Language!

“While hundreds of millions of people around the world may be learning textbook English, we Americans have evolved a unique, ever-changing dialect, a lingo that is confounding to non-native readers and listeners.”
-Do’s & Taboos of Using English Around the World, Roger E. Axtell

The English language has become the de facto language of global communication. English is the native language of only about a dozen countries, yet it is spoken in more than 90  countries around the world.  However, the native English spoken in these various countries is not the same.  

However, non-native speakers often do not use the idiomatic language spoken by native speakers.  Non-native speakers often use more "bookish" English.  

American English, for example, is a colorful language full of: 

Humor is a very important part of every culture.  Life would certainly be dull and boring without it.  However, humor is cultural-specific, i.e. what is funny in one culture may be insulting, misunderstood, or not understood at all in other cultures.  

Many feel that the final step in mastering a foreign language understanding humor.  Here is an example sent to Cultural Savvy.  Read more

Some Facts to Consider...

    More people study English than any other language

    Most non-native speakers use English as a lingua franca *

    Most international telephone calls are placed in English

    Most international mail is in English

    Most computer text is stored in English

    English has the largest vocabulary of any language

    English is the predominant language used by global travelers

    Currently, most websites are all or part English **

    One person in seven uses English in some way

    Currently, most on-line communication is in English **

* lingua franca:  Any of various languages used as a common language.

** With the explosive growth of Internet use throughout Asia, the numbers may change in the very near future.