Introduction

'Worldwide, there are over 1400 million people living in countries where English has official status. One out of five of the world’s populations speak English to some level of competence. Demand from the other four fifths is increasing… By the year 2000, it is estimated that over one billion people will be learning English. English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air traffic control, international business and academic conferences, science technology, diplomacy, sport, pop music and advertising.'
--British Council’s English 2000 Project

Looking at the past is an important step towards understanding the future. The end of the 20th century was characterized by much heart searching over the state of society – especially in social behavior and experimentation, fiction, science writing and legislative reform -- prompted by a concern at the social consequences of the industrial and information revolution. There is a general awareness of change, but no clear vision of where it may all be leading. The most rapid change is likely to last 20 years. During this period, the conditions will be established for more settled global relation, which may stabilize about 2050. Hence, the next 20 years or so will be a critical time for the English language and for those who depend upon it. The patterns of usage and public attitudes to English language, which develop during this period, will have long-term implications for its future in the world.

English is remarkable for its diversity, its propensity to change and be changed. English has changed substantially in the 1500 years or so of its use, reflecting patterns of contact with other languages and the changing communication needs of people. English is taken as the fabric of the social life, it acquire the variety of its own. English is also used for more purposes that ever before. Everyday it is at the leading edge of technological and scientific development, new thinking in economics and management, new literature and entertainment genres. These give rise to new vocabularies, grammatical forms and ways of speaking and writing. There is also the use of new concept of ‘Net English’ and ‘SMS English’.

We have entered a period in which language and communication will play a more central role than ever before in economics, political and cultural life. The spread of English in recent years is, by any criterion, a remarkable phenomenon. But when we closer examine the current trends, the more it becomes apparent that the future of English will be more complex, more challenging for the position of the native – speaking countries.

This paper is about the English language in the 21st century as well as today’s world, and about what is the significant aspect that is affecting the future of English language. This paper also talks about the position of English in the world and try to find out that the position of English will remain unchanged or changed in the world of communication explosion. This paper also explore the possible long-term impact of development in technology specially information technology on the English language. This paper also discusses the one significant global trend – development of technology, which will shape the future of English in the today’s world.

For this paper, I took the help of some of my friends, who belong to different social, cultural and economical background and different fields like Arts, Commerce, Management, Information Technology, Medical and Science. I had a discussion on the various questions related with the topic, with them. The questions were;

What role will English play in peoples live?
Will English language behave like a tool of expression and interaction? What effect will technology have on the demand for English?
Is the Internet the electronic ‘flagship’ of global English?
Will the growth of information revolution lead the future of English?

I could find that the technology (especially internet and computer) would have great impact on the future’s English language. My paper will give more light on this topic on next few pages.