Priyanka Ray, M.A, B.Ed.
Digital Strategist, Vision Science Academy
Billions of people inhabit our world, where language is the common bond, connecting people and holding them together. English is one of the most frequently used languages across the world. Many countries consider English to be their official language and the role of the language in the professional sphere cannot be understated.
Let us have a glimpse at how the language originated:
Old English:
Old English or English at its earliest form was introduced in Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers around 5th century. The language was very different from what we use today. The vocabulary of Old English was mostly native with occasional borrowing from Latin. There were four dialects initially: Northumbrian, Mercian, Kentish and West Saxon.
Figure 1: Beowulf – Specimen of Old English Literature
Middle English:
Old English paved the way for Middle English around the second half of the 11th century with the Norman conquest of England (1066). The language and literary produce at that time was greatly influenced by French and Latin works.
Early Modern English:
The introduction of the printing press in England by William Caxton heralded the origin of the Early Modern English towards the end of the 15th century (1476). William Caxton “printed almost every English work of real quality in his day” including works of the famous author, Chaucer. Great literary artists like Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare further enriched the language.
Figure 2: Geoffrey Chaucer
Modern English, the language we use today:
The modern version of the language rose to prominence since the seventeenth century due to the rise of the British Empire. The nurturing of the language wherever they settled, led to the rise in popularity of English. Over the years, the popularity of the language in the U.S.A also contributed to the growth of English as a global language. The language has strengthened its place since then as a widely used global language in most of the industries and universities across the world.
According to Babbel MAGAZINE , currently English is the 3rd widely spoken language with roughly 379 million native speakers, just after Mandarin with 1.3 billion and Spanish with 460 million speakers. However, 753 million people speak English as their second language. This makes English as one of the widely spoken languages all over the world. To understand this we need to look at some factors below.
Figure 3: World Map with English Speaking Nations
Travelers in most countries communicate effectively using English. Many famous books are either written in or are translated into English and the language has been widely accepted as the medium of communication over the internet. Some of the top internet companies use English as their default language. Even most of the widely used programming languages are based on English. Most of the renowned universities across the world, offer their programs in English in order to prepare students for the competitive world, where effective communication is essential in order to succeed in all aspects of life.
In the present age of 
globalization, English has become the most common medium of communication, with many companies declaring English to be their official language. Students and professionals need to be well versed in the language in order to get good jobs in multinational companies, across the world. Adequate expertise in the language is also required for students aspiring to study and work abroad. Since English is a widely spoken language, a good command over it will enable students to enroll themselves in prestigious foreign universities, offering their courses in English. Most of the scientific research papers in top universities across the world are written in English; as a result, it is indispensable for scholars to have adequate proficiency in academic English. Academic English is extensively used for research purposes, writing scientific journals and blogs, teaching and writing university examination papers as well as conducting scientific seminars in universities and academic institutions. Academic English is more formal and objective in tone, precise and well structured.
To get admitted into the top universities, IELTS and TOEFL are one of the most important requirements and one has to score certain bands in Writing, Listening and Speaking. There are two types of IELTS exams, one for immigration and the other one for academic purposes. Vision science Academy considers this as a gap and wants to act as a bridge by offering a course to prepare its members for IELTS academic exam and TOEFL.
Students and professionals have to undergo extensive training in order to learn the language effectively and achieve the desired level of fluency. Using the right words, vocabulary related to the specific subject, accurate grammar, punctuation, appropriate tone of writing and well-structured content can make a scientific paper or journal stand out from the rest. A unique journal should not only contain the best ideas but the best words should be used to convey them too. Thus, mastering the language and knowing the art of using it appropriately is necessary for any individual to excel in their profession.
Considering all these factors, Vision Science Academy has decided to offer a CPD for its members, in order to give them a competitive edge over others. In due course of time, the Academy will launch its concise course in academic/business English where members will not only be trained in the diverse uses of the language but will also get the opportunity of one-to-one training, access to a rich collection of resources and competitions. This comprehensive course will not only enable members to achieve expertise and fluency in communication but will also help them to write flawless, unique and perfect research papers that stand out among the rest and definitely, set them apart.
References
- History of English Literature by Edward Albert Oxford University Press
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12017753
- Higham, Nicholas J., and Martin J. Ryan. The Anglo-Saxon World. Yale University Press, 2013. pp. 7–19
- Crystal, David (2003b). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-53033-0. Retrieved 4 February 2015. Lay summary (4 February 2015).
- “Subject control and coreference in Early Modern English free adjuncts and absolutes”. English Language and Linguistics. Cambridge University Press. 6 (2): 309–323. doi:10.1017/s1360674302000254. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
- https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/the-10-most-spoken-languages-in-the-world
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