The english

ExECUTIvE SUmmARy

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Emerging from a colourful history, 
thanks to its Darwinian capacity to
evolve and adapt – and changing
almost beyond recognition along
the way – English has come of age
as the ‘global common language’.
Its seemingly irresistible spread,
begun in past centuries but accelerating 
intensely in the past few decades, 
means that different varieties have 
emerged. It is constantly moulded
and altered by new communities of 
users, whether geographic or digital.
In this way it has come to belong to
all its speakers – it no longer has a
single centre such as the UK which 
influences its norms of usage, but 
instead has many centres and hubs 
around the world which individually
and collectively shape its character.
It is a global medium with local 
identities and messages, and this trend 
will continue as non-native speakers 
now far outnumber native speakers 
– already at an estimated ratio of 4:1, 
which can only grow. Our own forecast 
is for double digit growth in the 
demand for English in a swathe of large 
countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, 
Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria.
But as English advances to become
a key basic skill for millions around the 
world, the UK will need to invest in its 
own competitive advantage by sending 
more of its best and brightest young 
people out into the world to share
and teach the language, to learn the 
languages, cultures and customs of 
others, and to bring their learning back 
to enrich our own culture. 
For the UK, the English language is a 
critical component of trust building and, 
in turn, trade and prosperity. To maintain 
the ‘English Effect’ we must continue
to nurture and invest in English for the 
benefits, opportunities and value it brings 
to our trade, our creative industries,
our culture and our people. If we do not, 
we risk losing the economic, social
and cultural value derived from one
of the UK’s greatest assets. 
The UK must continue
to invest in English for
the benefits, opportunities 
and value it brings to
our trade, our culture
and our people.