近现代世界通用语的变迁--以法语、英语为例

语言在国际事务中的地位通常与一个民族、一个国家的政治、经济、文化的兴衰有着密切的联系。如果某国家政治、经济、文化实力强大,在国际事务中发挥主导作用,其语言在国际交往中也处于主导地位。因此从世界通用语的更替,可以窥视国际舞台大国的兴衰。18世纪法国在欧洲大陆的称霸,使法语成为重要的近代世界通用语。法语成为欧洲各国上层社会的语言,也是国际的外交语言。随着英国的壮大,英语又成为世界通用语。但英语取代法语,成为世界通用语却经历了漫长的过程。其中美国的发展促进了英语的传播并且维护了英语的国际地位,还促使英语成为全球通用语。

Change of International language in Modern History

In modern history, international language changed from French to English. French was an important international language in modern history after France became a power in Europe. French became not only the language of high society in many European countries but also the language used in international business and diplomacy. With the rising of England, English, at first, became the lingua franca within its own nation, and later became an international language. It took a long time before it could replace French as the international language. Since the 20th century, the development of USA has sped up the spread of English, helped maintain its position and made English the global language.