Why study the English language?

It is remarkable how often the language turns up as a topic of interest in daily conversation – whether it is a question about accents and dialects, a comment about usage and standards, or simply curiosity about a word’s origins and history.

 

Because it is important

The dominant role of English as a world language forces it upon our attention in a way that no language has ever done before. As English becomes the chief means of communication between nations, it is crucial to ensure that it is taught accurately and efficiently, and to study changes in its structure and use.

 

Because it is beautiful

Each language has its unique beauty and power, as seen to best effect in the works of its great orators and writers. We can see the 1,000-year-old history of English writing only through the glass of language, and anything we learn about English as a language can serve to increase our appreciation of its oratory and literature.

 

Because it is useful

Getting the language right is a major issue in almost every corner of society. No one wants to be accused of ambiguity and obscurity, or find themselves talking or writing at cross-purposes. The more we know about the language the more chance we shall have of success, whether in our professions – or in general situations, as ordinary people, trying to understand and be understood.

 

Because it is there as a global language

English, more than any other language, has attracted the interest of professional linguists. It has been analyzed in dozens of different ways, as part of the linguist’s aim of devising a theory about the nature of language in general. The study of the English language, therefore also becomes a branch of linguistics – English linguistics.

 

And, because it is fun

It is a joy to play with the English language – with its words, sounds, spellings, and structures.Stand-up comedians, commercials, crosswords, quizzes and guessing games keep millions happy every day. We all enjoy teasing our linguistic brains, understanding witticism, double talk and multiple levels of interpretation. Knowing a language well is like walking up familiar alleys, feeling at home.