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Will Mandarin Chinese replace English as the next world language? Will Mandarin Chinese replace English as the next world language?
Yes, Mandarin will become the next world language Yes, Mandarin will become the next world language
No, English will remain the world's international language No, English will remain the world's international language
Mandarin Chinese and English will coexist Mandarin Chinese and English will coexist
Mandarin is an economic necessity Mandarin is an economic necessity
China spreads cultural influence through Mandarin China spreads cultural influence through Mandarin
It is more beneficial to learn English than Mandarin It is more beneficial to learn English than Mandarin
English is politically neutral English is politically neutral
US pop culture is globally prevalent US pop culture is globally prevalent
Mandarin is too difficult Mandarin is too difficult
English is the language of business, science, and tech English is the language of business, science, and tech
Mandarin-English bilingualism is more needed than ever Mandarin-English bilingualism is more needed than ever
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Will Mandarin Chinese replace English as the next world language?
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No, English will remain the world's international language

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US pop culture is globally prevalent

As long as Hollywood and U.S. pop culture remains prevalent throughout the world, English will still be an influential language.
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Context

Hollywood dominates much of the world's media markets. Several US musicians are popular internationally. American English is more common in Europe compared to British English. The spread of American pop culture is even more prevalent due to the Internet. Since American culture is widely known across the world, the English language becomes widely known by default.[1]

The Argument

Due to the popularity of US pop culture icons, speeded up by globalization, English will remain a global language.[2] Young people around the globe are familiar with American English slang, such as "cool" "chill" or "nerd."[3] People around the globe who have never been to the US can have a view of American houses, families, and everyday lives through visual media.[4] Many non-native English speakers learn English through watching US media, such as Friends, Stranger Things, or The Office.[5] Chinese media does not have the same cultural influence as American pop culture. For example, youth in Vietnam, a country geographically closer to China than the US, prefer listening to American pop culture and resist learning Mandarin.[2] The cultural influence of American media will ensure that English holds more cultural sway and prominence rather than Mandarin.[6]

Counter arguments

US pop culture (and English) is no longer the only major player in the global pop culture field. South Korea is one of the only countries that actively exports its pop culture to the globe.[7] Netflix and subtitles allow US Americans and others around the world to watch movies and TV shows in Spanish, Japanese, French, German, and Chinese. Increasing globalization does not just promote English use; globalization promotes more cultures and languages too.

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americanization
  2. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17105569
  3. https://www.pbs.org/speak/ahead/globalamerican/slang/
  4. https://medium.com/@taieboussayfi/the-global-reach-of-us-popular-culture-d31be4aaeb4b
  5. https://unbabel.com/blog/pop-culture-language-impact/
  6. https://time.com/3585847/mandarin-lingua-franca/
  7. https://martinroll.com/resources/articles/asia/korean-wave-hallyu-the-rise-of-koreas-cultural-economy-pop-culture/
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 14 Oct 2020 at 21:56 UTC

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