23rd April is observed as World English Language Day by the United Nations.
This day is celebrated to multilingualism and cultural diversity in the United Nations, along with promoting the use of all the six official languages at the United Nations – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. The UN celebrates each of these languages on designated days.
English, along with French, is one of the two working languages at the United Nations.
Why is this day celebrated on 23rd April?
23rd April is observed as the birthday and the death day of one of the greatest writers and dramatists the world has ever produced, William Shakespeare.
The first World English Language Day was celebrated on 23rd April 2010.
On English Language Day, let us understand why this language is so important in today’s times.
Language is the primary way in which humans can communicate their thoughts, ideas, and beliefs with others. Isn’t this the one factor that separates us from animals? And while there are thousands of languages in the world, there are only very few that are spoken and understood by a majority of people. English, certainly, is one among them.
English is the language of communication of the world
English is the most commonly spoken language in the world, if one counts both native and non-native speakers. It is the official language of over 50 nations across the world and one out of five people can speak or understand the language.
English opens up a world of new career opportunities
In today’s global world, English is the language that can help you climb up the ladder in your career. The global job market requires one to communicate effectively with partners and clients across the world. This often means finding employees that can speak English well.
English can open a wave of new opportunities and make things easy
English can open newer avenues for any person because most of the sectors today use English to communicate. Education, media and the internet, entertainment, science, and tourism, all these sectors use English as their primary medium to communicate.
For instance, most scientific papers and journals today are written in English. Also, English is the language of the internet and the media. Doesn’t travelling also become a lot more easy with a knowledge of English? Imagine that you are in Thailand – you do not know the local language and the receptionist at the front office certainly would not know your mother language. How then do you communicate? Yes, English is the key!
English gives you access to various other cultures
Most movies and books in regional languages are translated into the global language of English. So, knowing and understanding this language gives you a better understanding of cultures, values, and traditions across the world.
Happy World English Day, folks!
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