THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: FROM ITS SETTLING TO NATIVIZATION
Keywords:
European variant of the English language, nativization, lingua francaAbstract
The article is dedicated to a brief analysis of the evolution of the English language in Europe and its unique functions in the European Union. The influence of the various political, economic and social factors on the settling of the English language as lingua franca of the modern world is demonstrated. The preconditions of the special linguistic status of the English language in the EU are determined, together with its influence on intercultural communication and the creation of common Pan-European linguistic and cultural space. The evidence of the English language nativization under the influence of other European languages is analyzed, together with the hypothesis of the European English variant existence – a new variant of the English language, different from the standard one and other existing variants. The illustrative material of the research demonstrates typical forms of lexical nativization of the English language in the European Union. The notion of disoursal nativization and the conditions necessary for its fixation in the English language of the EU are clarified. The article includes analysis of the existing social contexts of the European Union and their influence on the formation of the European variant of the English language. It is defined, that this influence takes place both, on the level of the official institutions (top down influence) like the recommendations of the European Comission on the professional usage of the English language. It also takes place on the level of everyday communication (bottom up influence), programs of language, educational and cultural exchange etc. The changes in the Ukrainian attitude to the study of English language by the population after the signing of the EU Association Agreement are shown. Special attention is paid to the phenomenon of immigration to the European Union and the popularity of the English language among the immigrants. The influence of the probable Brexit on the spread of English in the EU and the formation of the separate European variant of the English language is analyzed.
References
Brexit SHOCK: Brussels claims agreement 'shows leaving EU will NOT work' [Electronic resource] // Express. – Jan 8 2019. – Mode of access : https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1068898/Brexit-news-EU-Theresa-May-no-deal-video-Martin-Selmayr-Greg-Hands.
Berns M. English in Europe / М. Berns, М. Claes, de Bot, R. Evers // In the Presence of English: Media and European Youth. – 2007. – P.15–42
Berns M. English in the European Union / М. Berns // English Today. – 1995. – Vol. 11 (43). – No. 3. – Р. 3–11.
Cenoz J. English in Europe. The Acquisition of a Third Language. / J. Cenoz, J. Ulrike. – Clevedon : Multilingual Matters, 2000. – 86 р.
Crystal D. English as a global language: 2nd edition / D. Crystal. – Cambridge : CUP, 2003. – 212 p.
Edwards J. No Good Past Dover / J. Edwards // Enlish Today. – 2001. – Vol. 17 (68). – No. 4. – Cambridge : University Press. – Р. 3–13.
McArthur T. Euro-evolution? / Т. McArthur // English Today. – 2001. – Vol. 17 (68). – No. 4. – Р. 2.
Melckersson J. English in Europe post-Brexit: An analysis of the post-Brexit discourse surrounding English as a European lingua franca [Electronic resource] / J. Melckersson. – 2018. – Mode of access : http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8946164&fileOId=8946167
Modiano M. A new variety of English / М. Modiano // English Today. – 2001. – Vol. 17 (68). – No. 4. – Р. 13–14.
Simigné F. S. The Function Of The English Language / F. S. Simigné // The European Union European Integration Studies. – Miskolc, 2003. – Vol. 2. – Nо 2. – Р. 53–64.
Single-use plastics: member states confirm agreement which bans certain throwaway plastic items [Electronic resource] // Europa.eu. – 18. 01.2019. – Mode of access : https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/01/18/single-use-plastics-council-confirms-agreement-which-bans-certain-throwaway-plastic-items/
Foreign Secretary says UK may seek to delay Brexit in bid to secure deal [Electronic resource] // Тhe Journal.ie. – Jan 31st 2019. – Mode of access : https://www.thejournal.ie/brexit-extending-article-50-4469235-Jan2019/.
