The Previous World Language: French
Not long ago, French was actually seen as the most important language in the world. It was the language of science, diplomacy, and high society. It showed up in courts, in treaties, and was used as a language of diplomacy. Even in other countries like Russia, elites spoke French fluently.
This was because France was one of the most powerful nations at the time, both politically and culturally. The French Colonial Empire held colonies and territories from the 16th century onward. And during their rule, they spread their language, their literature, and their thinkers to other parts of the world, both willingly and unwillingly.
So what happened? How did French lose its place to English?
How English Took Over the World
The Rise of the British Empire
What we’ve seen throughout history is that language follows power. And in the 19th century, power started shifting. While France was building its cultural impact on the world, Britain started building the largest empire in history. For them it wasn’t just about aristocrats, but about industry, global trade, and territorial expansion.
At the peak of the empire, Britain controlled nearly a quarter of the world. And what did they bring with them? English, of course.
The British weren’t just taking land, but were setting up trade networks, administrations, businesses, and even schools, all in English. The more the British Empire expanded, the more people had to speak English to keep up.
But even then, French still had a stronghold on the world. What really sealed the deal was the rise of the United States.
The Rise of the United States
After World War II, the United States became the world’s dominant economic and cultural powerhouse. Think about it: America brought us Hollywood, pop music, and tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Even in the United Nations, English rose up with French as one of the two main working languages.
And then came the internet, which was created and distributed in English as well. Now with social media, English content is shared all around the world!
Why French Couldn’t Keep Up
There are several different reasons why English rose above French:
First, there are several different parts of French that make in harder to learn than English, like its pronunciation and gendered nouns.
Second, English is a very adaptable language that can absorb words from other languages like a sponge. French, on the other hand, has groups like the Académie Française, that fight to keep out foreign influence on the language rather than embracing change.
Third, because of its impact on economic efforts around the world, English has become the default language for sectors like business, science, and tech. If you want to work internationally or publish works for the world to read, then you almost always need to know English. Even pilots, no matter where they come from, have to communicate in English.
And while French couldn’t hold its ground against English, it’s still spoken by over 300 million people worldwide and is still one of two main working languages at the United Nations. So, while French is still prominent around the world, taking the thrown back seems unlikely.
How English Took Over the World [VIDEO]
If you’d like a deeper dive on the topic then check out the video below. Our teacher Isabella highlights the ebbs and flows of French passing the power to English and where we find ourselves today. The video is in English with subtitles available in 5 different languages just by clicking on the gear in the bottom right corner.
What do you think was most important in propelling English forward? And do you think any other language could replace it in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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