13

30 Mar – 2 hours lecture

2.6 Language and technology
3 Apr 2 hours tutorial
2020

PPISMP TESL (BI)1

Lecture: 31 March 2020 / Time: 1030am-1230pm
Tutorial: 2 April 2020 / Time: 0930am-1130am

PPISMP TESL (BI)2

Lecture: 31 March 2020 / Time: 0830am-1030am
Tutorial: 1 April 2020 / Time: 0730am-0930am

___________________________________________________________________________
Please complete *

*Name: Rynna Kho Hui SHing

*Group: PPISMP TESL 1
*Date/Time: 10.30-12.30

Lecture (Part 2) - 60 minutes.

*You are advised to spend 30 minutes on each section.

Section A: Read Text 1 below and answer the questions that follow:
Text 1
What is the most spoken language?

English is the largest language in the world, if you count both native and non-native speakers. If
you count only native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the largest.

Mandarin Chinese is the largest language in the world when counting only first language (native)
speakers. This is due to the significant population of China.

We consider Mandarin to be largest of the Chinese macrolanguage, a grouping of thirteen

languages all considered “Chinese” due to a shared writing system and literature. Other well-
known examples include Wu and Cantonese.

When factoring in second-, third-, and higher language speakers, English is the largest language in
the world. This is due first to the colonial influence of the British Empire, but later to the spread of
American culture.

Mandarin is concentrated, while English is spread out. Because Mandarin's size is primarily due to
native speakers, it is not surprising to see it concentrated in fewer countries – primarily in Asia –
that have the most first-language speakers. English has more non-native speakers, and so can be
found in far more countries, particularly in Africa. English is spoken in 146 countries, a stark
difference to Mandarin’s 29.

To get a deeper view of each language, see our interactive maps for both Mandarin and English.

https://www.ethnologue.com/guides/most-spoken-languages
 Questions

1. “This is due first to the colonial influence of the British Empire, but later to the spread of
American culture.” (para 4, line 2)

Based on the statement above, list 3 ways can one encounter the English language daily.

 During formal context such as classroom.

 In a situation where there are no other common language instead of English
 In a place where the native speakers of English lived

2. Between Mandarin Chinese and English, which language would you likely see being used
more on the internet? Why is this so? Provide 2 reasons with explanations.

I can see both languages are widely being used in Internet. This is because Chinese
and English are the world two widely used languages. However, the frequency of seeing
postings in English are higher compared to Chinese. This is because in the Internet is where
people across the world meet with each other. English would be the preferred language
because there are no other better language and common language that can be used . Other
than that, English language is also the world most understandable language as it is taught in
school worldwidely.

Section B: Read Text 1 again and then study the table below.

The Most-Used Languages: The Internet

Most-Used Languages Percentage Of World Most- Used Languages Percentage Of World

In The World Online By User
1. English 15.0% 1. English 25.4%
2. Chinese 15.0% 2. Chinese 19.3%
3. Hindi 7.2% 3. Spanish 8.1%

4. Spanish 6.9% 4. Arabic 5.3%

Source: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/internet-language

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think there is so much of English on the internet?

Because most of the people across the world can understand in English and it
can also avoid miscommunication.

2. In relation to language loss and language death,

 do you think that minority languages are important? Provide 2 reasons.

Yes. Through minortiy languages, we can learn the culture of that one
minority group in that region. Also, minority languages are important and
should be preserved to avoid language loss and death. New generation should
learn minority language so that that language would not lost in the passage of
time.
  do you think that minority languages should also be available on the internet?
Provid 2 reasons.

Yes. The residents of the Internet should be given exposure on the

minority languages that are rarely being used by our community. They could
discover the uniqueness of that particular language. Also, this language should
also be used to avoid language loss and death.

* Submit your responses via Whatsapp now (and wait for next instruction form the lecturer).