English is not just a language, it's also a survival tool

THIRTY referees from 28 countries, including our very own Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, are officiating at the World Cup in South Africa.

Have you ever wondered what is the language they use to keep all the players, plus the coaches on the sidelines, in check when things get a bit fiery?

The lingua franca is English. Of course, this is not to say that everyone on the pitch speaks the language. In the heat of the moment, more colourful language, in all sorts of tongues, will invariably come out.

One big argument with the referee in this morning's match. The referee is Italian, the players are Argentinians and Mexicans. What language did they use? - English. For the record Argentina defeated Mexico 3-1 advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals. In this morning's picture Mexico's Guillermo Franco, front left, argues with referee Roberto Rosetti of Italy, third from right, as Argentina's Diego Milito, second from right, looks on, following the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

But the authoritative language is English.

The reason I bring this up is to illustrate the point on how widely English is used, and the consequences of not giving due attention to it.

At the English Language Teaching Association conference held in Kuala Lumpur recently, Raja Zarith Idris, consort of the Sultan of Johor, lamented on a problem we can no longer ignore – that most Malaysians cannot speak or write well in English, compared with the ability and ease with which older Malaysians speak and write it.

And while countries such as China and Indonesia are fast catching up on becoming more proficient in the English language, Malaysia is moving in the opposite direction.

“The English language has unmistakably achieved status as the world’s lingua franca through globalisation. English is now the official or dominant language for two billion people in at least 75 countries. According to the British Council, speakers of English as a second language probably outnumber those who speak it as a first language, and around 750 million people are believed to speak English as a foreign language,” said Raja Zarith.

English is used widely in science and technology, on the Internet, in commerce and industry, as a business language, as the language of air and sea control, as a language of social intercourse, as a diplomatic language... the list goes on.

Working in the English media, and having come from that dinosaur age when we were still fully schooled in English, it may not be fair to compare the standards then with the standards now.

However, one must still not ignore the fact that in many areas where English is predominant, Malaysia is now at the losing end.

I have a friend in China working with a small outfit that gives students an intensive course in English before they head to other countries for their studies.

Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos, left, and Mexico's Gerardo Torrado, right, argue with a linesman following the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa. Argentina defeated Mexico 3-1, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

This is in addition to them having already passed the various English proficiency tests. It is a lucrative business because they train the students to function socially in an English-speaking world, not just to cope with their studies.

I have interviewed quite a number of people who want to work in The Star and it is amazing how low their English proficiency can be, even if they have an A in the subject at the SPM level.

Raja Zarith is spot on in identifying the need to fix the problem at the school level, and to allow our young Malaysians more opportunities to openly use the language on a daily basis.

At Pulau Langkawi recently, I noticed how the locals struggled to communicate in English with the predominantly foreign visitors at the resort.

The guide who took us through the mangrove swamp had the right attitude and was able to share his knowledge in a very interesting way. It was a shame that his English, at times, was understandable only to my wife and I.

Imagine, if he had a good command of the language, he could make a fortune as a tour guide anywhere in the English-speaking world. Or maybe even referee in the World Cup.

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