The most spoken language in the world is English with 1.8 billion speakers, but only 18% are native (by comparison, the next-most spoken language-standard Chinese-has 1.345 billion speakers and 63% are native). This relatively recent change has followed globalization. How does increased globalization explain why so many people choose to learn the same language as a second language?
A) Globalization creates an incentive for people to learn other cultures.
B) Globalization began a standards war of languages; English won.
C) Globalization made it cheaper to learn new languages thanks to gains from trade.
D) Globalization expands the network of English speakers.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Globalization has increased the interconnectedness of different parts of the world, leading to more opportunities for communication and collaboration across borders. English has become the dominant language of international business, diplomacy, and academia, so people who want to participate in these activities are motivated to learn English as a second language. Additionally, the growing number of English speakers, both native and non-native, creates a larger network of people who can communicate with each other, making it more desirable to learn English.

The Most Spoken Language in the World Is English with 1.8