Will English Continue to be the Lingua Franca in the Future?

English has been the universal language for almost one hundred years, having established itself as such after the end of World War II. Prior to this, French had been considered the dominant language for diplomatic relations around Europe. It seems that English has a firm grasp on its lingua franca status now, but is there a possibility that it could be replaced in the future?

Knowledge of English More Crucial Than Ever

Thanks to the rise of online businesses that operate internationally, knowledge of English is now more important than ever. There are various sources online that can help native and non-native English speakers alike get to an advanced level. The fact that more people are now turning to online courses to brush up on their vocabulary and grammar with expert tutors is due to the sheer necessity to speak the language.

If it is true that people could soon be mingling in online settings using virtual reality, the need for everyone to have a grasp of English could increase. The Metaverse would be available to people all over the world, and it would operate without borders. When people from different countries meet one another, they need to converse in a common tongue and English is currently the language that is officially agreed upon.

English Has Always been Important for Travel

Anyone who’s traveled the world knows how important it is to be able to speak English. However, people who’ve never left their home country may not understand just how crucial it is. When they start socializing in borderless settings like the Metaverse, it may help more people understand why there is the need for a global language.

Anyone who travels without speaking English will usually have to rely on tour guides to get by. Therefore, having at least a rudimentary understanding of the language can give holidaymakers a lot more freedom to travel around independently.

Of course, there’s also the option for people to choose to visit countries where their own language is catered for more. For example, Thailand has a vast number of Russian tourists, so many of the hotels in hotspots like Pattaya have Russian-speaking staff and signage. Still, travelers who book holidays in this manner are limited in where they can go.

Could Another Language Begin to Dominate?

It’s surprising to think that English has only been the world’s dominant language for less than one hundred years, and it would be fair to assume that it may not always be the number one.  Spanish is also widely spoken around the globe, with more than 500 million people able to converse in the language.

The biggest competitor to English, though, is Mandarin, which is spoken by more than one billion people. With China on its way to becoming the world’s primary superpower, there is a strong chance that more people will need to know the language in the future. However, the country also remains segregated from the rest of the world in many aspects, such as how residents there aren’t allowed to access western social media options like Facebook.There is a strong chance that English will continue to be the lingua franca for the foreseeable future, but it is also wise for people to learn other languages such as Spanish and Chinese in case they begin to dominate.