【正文】 語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言中央權(quán)威機(jī)構(gòu)維護(hù)英語(yǔ)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，因此形成了許多方言：美國(guó)英語(yǔ)、英國(guó)英語(yǔ)、加拿大英語(yǔ)、印度英語(yǔ)和澳大利亞英語(yǔ)，就是眾多的方言中的幾種。英語(yǔ)沒(méi)有標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的發(fā)音。但在其多樣性里存在一個(gè)統(tǒng)一的語(yǔ)法和一套核心詞匯。這樣，每一個(gè)講英語(yǔ)的國(guó)家都能將各自的文化融入英語(yǔ)的用法和詞匯中。 10 However, the future is unpredictable. There has never been a language so widely spread or spoken by so many people as English. So, there are no examples to help us predict what happens to a language when it achieves genuine world status. 然而，英語(yǔ)的未來(lái)無(wú)從預(yù)測(cè)。從來(lái)沒(méi)有一種語(yǔ)言像英語(yǔ)這樣為這么多人如此廣泛地傳播使用。因此，沒(méi)有先例來(lái)幫助我們預(yù)測(cè)，當(dāng)一種語(yǔ)言取得真正的國(guó)際性地位之后會(huì)發(fā)生什么情況。 11 The world is in transition, and the English language will take new forms. The language and how it is used will change, reflecting new patterns of contact with other languages and the changing munication needs of people. 世界正處于變革之中，英語(yǔ)將會(huì)出現(xiàn)新的形式。英語(yǔ)及其使用將有所變化，將反映出它與其他語(yǔ)言交往的新模式，以及變化中的人際交往需求。 12 English is ridding itself of its political and cultural associations as more people realize that English is not the property of only a few countries. Instead, it is a vehicle that is used globally. It belongs to whoever uses it for whatever purpose or need. 英語(yǔ)正在消除其自身的政治和文化的含義，因?yàn)樵絹?lái)越多的人認(rèn)識(shí)到，英語(yǔ)不是少數(shù)幾個(gè)國(guó)家的財(cái)產(chǎn)。相反，它是一種全球通用的媒介。誰(shuí)使用它，它就屬于誰(shuí)，不管用于何種目的或需要。 13 There is no reason to believe that any one other language will appear within the next 50 years to replace English. However, it is possible that English will not remain unchallenged in the 21st century. Rather, a small number of languages may share in importance each with a special area of influence. For example, Spanish is rising because of expanding trade and the increase of the Latino population in the United States. This could create a bilingual EnglishSpanish region. 沒(méi)有理由相信在未來(lái)50年內(nèi)會(huì)出現(xiàn)任何其他一種語(yǔ)言取代英語(yǔ)。然而，英語(yǔ)在21世紀(jì)遭遇挑戰(zhàn)的可能性不是不存在。少數(shù)幾種語(yǔ)言倒是有可能與之分庭抗禮——各有其特殊的影響地域。比如，由于貿(mào)易的擴(kuò)展和美國(guó)國(guó)內(nèi)拉丁美洲人口的增加，西班牙語(yǔ)的地位正在上升。這可能產(chǎn)生出一個(gè)英語(yǔ)和西班牙語(yǔ)共存的雙語(yǔ)地區(qū)。 14 A language shift, in which individuals change their language loyalties, is another possibility. These shifts are slow and difficult to predict. But within the next 50 years substantial language shifts could occur as economic development affects more countries. 改換語(yǔ)言，即人們放棄自己一向使用的語(yǔ)言改用其他語(yǔ)言，是另一種可能。這種改換過(guò)程緩慢，難以預(yù)測(cè)。但在未來(lái)50年內(nèi)，隨著經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展對(duì)更多國(guó)家產(chǎn)生影響，重大的語(yǔ)言改換可能會(huì)發(fā)生。 15 Because of these shifts in loyalties, more languages may disappear. Those remaining will rapidly get more native speakers. This includes English. 由于語(yǔ)言使用上的這些變動(dòng)，更多的語(yǔ)言可能會(huì)消失。剩下來(lái)的語(yǔ)言將迅速為更多的人作為母語(yǔ)使用，其中包括英語(yǔ)。 16 Universities using English as the medium of instruction will expand and rapidly create a generation of middleclass professionals. Economic development will only increase the middle class, a group that is more likely to learn and use English in jobs. 用英語(yǔ)講課的大學(xué)將會(huì)增多，并迅速造就一代中產(chǎn)階級(jí)專(zhuān)業(yè)人員。經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展只會(huì)壯大這個(gè)中產(chǎn)階級(jí)，這一群體更有可能在工作中學(xué)習(xí)并使用英語(yǔ)。 17 (4)While languages such as English, German, and French have been international languages because of their governments39。 political power, this is less likely to be the case in the 21st century where economics and shifts in population will have more influence on languages. 雖然英語(yǔ)、德語(yǔ)和法語(yǔ)這些語(yǔ)言曾經(jīng)憑著各自政府的政治力量而成為國(guó)際語(yǔ)言，這種情況在經(jīng)濟(jì)和人口變化對(duì)語(yǔ)言的影響更大的21世紀(jì)不太可能發(fā)生。 18 English has been an international language for only 50 years. If the pattern follows the previous language trends, we still have about 100 years before a new language dominates the world. However, this does not mean that English is replacing or will replace other languages as many fear. Instead, it may supplement or coexist with languages by allowing strangers to municate across language boundaries. It may bee one tool that opens windows to the world, unlocks doors to opportunities, and expands our minds to new ideas. 英語(yǔ)成為國(guó)際語(yǔ)言至今僅有50年。如果英語(yǔ)的發(fā)展沿襲以往的語(yǔ)言發(fā)展模式，那么在一種新的語(yǔ)言主宰世界之前，英語(yǔ)仍可享有100 年左右的主導(dǎo)地位。然而，這并不意味著如許多人所擔(dān)心的那樣，英語(yǔ)正在或?qū)?huì)取代其他語(yǔ)言。相反，它可以作為其他語(yǔ)言的補(bǔ)充，或與其他語(yǔ)言并存，讓陌生人跨越語(yǔ)言障礙進(jìn)行交際。它可能成為人們了解世界、開(kāi)啟機(jī)遇大門(mén)、擴(kuò)展思路、接納新思想的一種工具。