Interrelations between the language of worldwide communication and other languages and preservation of ethnocultural identities

The present research into the interrelations between the language of worldwide communication and other languages is getting particularly relevant at present when globalization is blamed for a number of negative aspects of contemporary realities, namely - the loss of natural and linguistic diversity in various regions of the world, and particularly in former colonies that acquired independence in the course of the 20^th century. The author of this article put forward a goal to investigate the peculiarities of multilingualism functioning in the 21^st century, when in the course of globalization processes the world's hierarchy of languages has undergone profound changes in connection with the transformation of one of the most widespread languages into the language of global communication. In accordance with the set goal, the author sought answers to a number of questions connected with preservation of ethnocultural identities in the conditions of a wide spread of the English language in the world and its penetration into all spheres of contemporary life. The most important of these questions are as follows: 1) is the language of worldwide communication an independent language variety of ELF (English as a Lingua Franca), or does it manifest itself in the form of one of the national standards of the English language? 2) does the language of worldwide communication have a cultural component? 3) what is the difference of the global culture from ethnic culturies? 4) under what conditions does the language of global communication present a threat to the world's linguistic and cultural diversity? With the transformation of English, as the most widespread language in international relations, into the language of worldwide communication a rise of an ethnic group to the level of global interrelations demands expanding of the individual language repertoire by means of inclusion of not only regional languages, but the language of worldwide communication as well. According to the theory of linguistic and cultural imperialism the domination of the few major languages of the former colonial powers leads to linguicide, that is to the death of other languages. With this, an important factor in ousting languages is the fact that together with the language acquisition one also acquires the new language's cultural component. As a result, ethnic groups lose their languages and cultures. In the course of globalization language skills in the language of worldwide communication become essential for full participation in the life and activities of the contemporary world. However, as the present research shows the language of worldwide communication does not appear as any of national varieties of the English language with its intrinsic cultural component, which leads to imposing alien ethnocultural values on a target ethnic group, but as an independent ELF variety, free from a national cultural component. The research also shows that the language of worldwide communication includes a cultural component, namely the emerging global culture. The global culture is based on values and moral principles common for all mankind. Acquiring the cultural component of the language of worldwide communication presents no threat to national and ethnic cultures. In the course of globalization processes there also takes place the emergence of multiple identities, which include not only their own ethnic cultures and languages, but other languages, including the language of worldwide communication. The present research has revealed that the language of worldwide communication at present develops as an independent language variety, free from the cultural components of the national varieties of the English language. However, the language of worldwide communication is not deprived of the cultural component, which is represented by global culture. The universal values of the global culture and the values of the national and ethnic cultures of the world are not mutually exclusive. Thus, the language of worldwide communication, as a carrier of global and not any ethnic culture, presents no threat to the linguistic and cultural heritage of the world.

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