The Adventure of English: Episode 8 - Many Tongues Called English, One World Language

The German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck said near the end of the 19th century, "The decisive element of modern history is the fact that North Americans speak English". English became a common language for communication in the 20th century. Especially English became the most significant language for international trade. This owes by and large to America's rise as an economic power after the second world war. And also two world wars, Hollywood movies, new technologies such as computers etc influenced the language's evolution. In addition, this episode shows that English is being used mixed with other languages, i.e. "Singlish" in Singapore.


Episode 8 - Many Tongues Called English, One World Language


Go to The Adventure of English Home or watch other episodes:

Episode 1: Birth of a Language
Episode 2: English Goes Underground
Episode 3: The Battle for the Language of the Bible
Episode 4: This Earth, This Realm, This England
Episode 5: English in America
Episode 6: Speaking Proper
Episode 7: The Language of Empire
Episode 8: Many Tongues Called English, One World Language
















English became a common language for communication in the 20th century.