The Global Spread of English - U3

What was John Wallis’s primary reason for writing a grammar of the English language?

• To replace Latin as the dominant scholarly language

• To assist foreigners in understanding English literature

• To advocate for English as a global lingua franca

• To standardize English pronunciation

In the 16th century, Richard Mulcaster believed that English:

• Lacked the capacity for intellectual discourse

• Should be used exclusively in Britain

• Was superior to Latin in clarity and expression

• Would soon replace Latin as the dominant European language

Why did Samuel Daniel predict the expansion of the English language?

• Due to the British Empire’s political strength

• Because English was linguistically superior

• As a result of the increasing British population

• Because of its adoption by European aristocracy

What was the key factor in the spread of English according to David Hume?

• British naval dominance

• American territorial expansion

• The influence of British literature

• The decline of French as a diplomatic language

Why did John Adams predict English would become more widespread than Latin or French?

• British control of global trade

• America’s growing population and global influence

• The collapse of the French monarchy

• The rise of the printing press

Jakob Grimm’s assertion that English was a “language of the world” was significant because:

• He was a prominent British scholar

• He accurately predicted English’s global dominance

• He emphasized its phonetic complexity

• He promoted English as a scientific language

Which statement best describes attitudes toward English in the 19th century?

• It was still considered inferior to Latin

• Its global dominance was seen as inevitable

• It faced resistance in British colonies

• It was primarily a language of diplomacy

What was a major miscalculation made by 19th-century linguists regarding English?

• The belief that English would reach a billion native speakers by 2000

• The assumption that Latin would make a resurgence

• The idea that English would only remain a European language

• The belief that English would replace all indigenous languages

Why was the British Empire considered a primary reason for English's global spread?

• English was the official language of all colonies

• Colonized populations were forced to abandon native languages

• English became a tool for administration and trade

• British rulers directly imposed language laws

How did industrialization contribute to English's dominance?

• It allowed for rapid expansion of the British navy

• It made English the primary language of innovation and science

• It reduced the influence of Latin in scientific communities

• It led to mass immigration from English-speaking countries