Англ.мова Liberman I.E

Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade

named after M.Tugan-Baranovsky

I.M.Gizhko

ENGLISH AS A POWERFUL MEANS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Nowadays English has become the world's most important and most universal language. It is the official language in over forty countries and the most used language in international business, science, medicine, trade and cultural relations. Over 300 million people speak it as a mother tongue. The native speakers of English live in Great Britain, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. English is one of the official languages in the Irish Republic, Canada, and the South Africa Republic.
   It is one of the official languages of the United Nations Organization and other political organizations. It is the language of world's scientific literature and technology.
   England's history helps to understand the present condition of English. Many English words were borrowed from the language of Angles and Saxons. Hundreds of French words came into English. Many new words were brought by traders and travelers.
   To know the English language today is absolutely necessary for every educated person, for every good specialist. English is everywhere in our life. It is in signs, clothing, soft drinks, and household products around the world. The names of pop groups, computers software, and magazines are often written in English.
   English words are also used as elements of magic to be included on T-shirts, sweaters, caps etc. Some think English is chic, stylish, even when the language on these designed items makes no sense .  Every day we can see that it is very important to know foreign languages. The Internet and satellite TV enable us to get information from all over the world. We are able to get education or a job in any country of the world. But we all know that we have to know the language of the country we want to study or work in.
   English is the world's first truly universal language. Today there are more than 1.5 billion English speakers in the world. At any station or airport in the world we can find instructions in English. Pilots and air traffic controllers, sailors speak English at all international airports and ports.
   English is also the language of the information age. Computers talk to each other in English. More than 80 percent of information of any kind (scientific, commercial, personal) is stored and exchanged in English. Business and trade can't exist now without English. It is the official language of international aid organizations such as OXFAM and Save the Children Fund as well as of UNESCO, NATO and the United Nations.
   If we listen to the talk of young people we'll hear words like 'rap music', 'bodybuilding', 'windsurfing', 'computer hacker' and others. English has become a part of youth culture all over the world and in Ukraine too.
   If we want to feel ourselves comfortable in our modern world we must know English. But it's not the limit. The knowledge of one foreign language extends our mind more than twice. It's a well-known fact that knowledge of foreign languages opens many doors before you, gives you many opportunities and advantages. Knowledge of foreign languages has always been a sign of high culture and deep erudition. It helps to promote cultural and technical cooperation among nations. That's why one of the characteristic features of life in Ukraine nowadays is a great interest in studying foreign languages, mainly English.
   English is a wonderful language. It is the language of the great literature. It is the language of William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Walter Scott, and Charles Dickens. The great German poet Goethe once said 'He, who knows no foreign language, does not know his own one'. That is why in order to understand better the world around us we have to study English and other foreign languages. Having a good command of foreign languages you are able to enjoy foreign literature, to understand the words of a pop song and foreign films; visiting any foreign country you will have no difficulty in communicating with foreigners and will escape a lot of troubles asking the way or doing shopping.
   I believe that knowledge of foreign languages makes me an educated and intelligent person. I think English is worth studying. There is a proverb, 'As many languages you know, as many times you are a person'.