David Crystal - Will English Always Be the Global Language?

"To ask about the future of language is to ask about the future of society."

In this short lecture David Crystal discusses the concept of 'Global English'. He lists the main factors
that led to the rise of English as a global language: the strength of the British Empire, American
Imperialism, the Industrial Revolution and global trade.

Crystal believes that the future of English as a global language is stable in the short-term, so long as the world's most powerful nations continue to speak English, but he is hesitant to make any predictions past the short-term, stating that a number of scenarios could take place which would knock English off its throne.

Crystal goes on to speak briefly about 'accomodation', the process by which speakers adjust their accent to according to the speech style of the other participant. He talks about the way his own speech would change depending on where he found himself.