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Professor Dr. Juliane House, in her research journal, clearly differentiates between “languages for communication" and "languages for identification” and does not see any threat posed by ELF (English as Lingua Franca) to other national and regional languages. Her point is valid when a Sri Lankan talks to a Pakistani or a Bangladeshi talks to an Iranian, because all of the speakers use English as a neutral global language solely for communication purposes. However, the socio-cultural prejudice and superiority of the language may arise when an English person is conversing with a non-native speaker. Although the contemporary sway of English language over others is beyond any cavil, based upon the fact that it is also the language of the Americans, the most developed and influential nation on the global map in the fields of education, economics, defense technology and world trade, the fact remains that the seeds of English language's flourishing crop were sown by the unjustifiable British colonialism and forced occupation over weaker nations. Moreover, if people living in the developing countries have started believing that their educational, economic and social growth and future prospects totally depend upon developing English language proficiency, I am sorry to say, they are psychological slaves and under threat. This dominance of language is utterly illegitimate. In relation to the issue, we are, definitely, exposed to the risk of a socio-cultural decline because in the audio-visual labs and libraries of our educational institutions as well as language learning centers, the students are shown English movies, cartoons and TV serials and provided English storybooks, etc., to develop their listening and reading skills and for building their vocabulary. None can deny the fact that a nation's literature, folk tales and entertainment media are the most vibrant sources of promoting its cultural norms, moral values and social ethics, and the positive and constructive process of learning a global language.
What is the potential risk in using English as a medium for education?
AThe decline of a nation's social and cultural development.正確答案
BThe marginalization of children from underprivileged families.
CThe overwhelming frustration for those who have no talents for language.
DThe widespread discrimination against those who cannot master English.
答案與詳解
