←Back to List of Contents

Since 2004, when the first books about Globish were published, the talk about Globish has changed. In that year, in forums on the Internet, many English teachers looked at the idea – and then looked away, saying: “I cannot imagine anything important being said in Globish” and “They are going to destroy our beautiful English language” and “Why can’t they just learn how to speak decent English?” These forums are still on the Internet. You can Google them.

But many more people were still traveling from their countries, and still joining global businesses. Many more in this period were leaving their countries on work-permits for the first time to take jobs in more prosperous countries. They could not wait, they had to speak and be heard. And because they were speaking English across the world, more people began to see what these people with just “enough” English could really do. They built roads and houses, but many also made scientific discoveries and many more made lots of money in new worldwide businesses. All of this with just “enough” English.

Now, 5 years later, the tone toward Globish has changed. Most people now accept that native English speakers will not rule the world. Most people accept that there are important leaders who speak only “enough” English, but use it well to lead very well in the world.

So now there are very different questions, in the same forums. Some of the same people from 2004 are now asking:

“How many people now know enough English?”.

“Should the native English-speaking teachers, who said ‘you will never be good enough’ now still be the guards over the language?” and

“Who will own the language?” And some few are beginning to ask: “How much English is enough?”

We think Globish – as described in this book – carries many of the answers.

Globish developed from observations and recording of what seemed to be the usual limitations of the average non-native speakers of English. Perhaps only 10% of those have studied English more than a year, or lived for a year in an English-speaking country. But they may have enough, if they know what is enough.

Perhaps in the next 5 years, more people will run out of money for never-ending English classes. And more people will decide to follow careers and have families and … live…instead of always trying – year after year – for that goal of perfect English.

Globish may have their answer. And it may also have the answer for global companies who need enough English – but perhaps not perfect English – in their home offices and sales branches. Globish might work for these companies if their native speakers will – at the same time – learn how much English is too much.

Globish is what Toronto University linguist Jack Chambers called in 2009 "a new thing and very interesting…if (they are) formally codifying it, then Globish will gain status.”

This book has been written not only to describe and codify, but to demonstrate Globish as a natural language, yet one that is in a closed system that is predictable and dependable, and is very close to being used across the globe now.

Then with so many good reasons for Globish that so many people agree with, why hasn’t it happened? Why hasn’t it arrived?

There seem to be 3 main barriers to that arrival:

Physical: People think they do not have the time or the money or the nearness to English Speaking to learn enough as a tool. With new media and Internet courses, this will make Globish all the easier to learn.

Language: Many English speakers truly feel that you cannot have just part of a language and you must always try for all of it. Quite a few language professors say that Globish is “not studied enough” or “not structured enough” – as always, without saying how much IS enough.

Political: The questions of who will make Globish happen, and who will require it, and who will finally “own” it seem central here. The remaining people who speak against Globish will discover that the citizens of the world will require it, make it happen, and own it – likely within the next 10 years. The very name Globish establishes this new point of view – that of the Global citizen who does not need the English past. This citizen needs only a dependable, usable language for the future.

Although it may not be historically exact, one has the image of the poor, beaten Englishmen who brought forth the Magna Carta in 1215. They were ruled by the foreign Normans, and the Normans wrote all the English laws in French, which the poor people in England could not understand. Along with others, these common people stood up before their Kings, at great risk to their families and themselves. And they said: “Enough!” They were frightened but still brave. Carrying only knives and clubs, they demanded that the laws by which they lived be more fair, and be given out in their own language – English.

Globish could be the interesting next step for the world…when people use English to be freed from the English. Globish will arrive when these common people from every country in the world, stand up and say “Enough.” And Globish, as you see it here, will be there to give them…enough. When Globish arrives, you will talk to someone who just a few years ago could not understand you …and turned away. And you will write in Globish to someone who understands and answers – perhaps even with a job or a good school possibility…Then you will look at these few words of Globish and say…

“How rich I am…. Look at all of these words I have…So many words for so many opportunities and so many new friends…Look at all that I can do with them…. What valuable words they are…And I know them all!”

Back to the Beginning -->