English as an international language

The most rapid urbanization today is taking place in the developing world where in Asia alone bw 1994 and 2025 there is likely to be an increase of more tha 20% in the urban population.

Urban areas are typically the focus for linguistic change.

They are also important points for language contact and diversity, and they encourage the growth of a middle class who become consumers of the global material culture.

URBANISATION has importan effects on language demography. New languages emerge, others change, some are lost; new patterns of English uses will arise among second-language speakers.