Should English remain the dominant global language, or should we push for multilingual equity?

English is currently the dominant global language, serving as the primary medium in international business, science, aviation, diplomacy, and the internet. Its global rise is tied to centuries of British colonial expansion and the post-World War II influence of the United States in global politics, media, and economics. As a result, English has become a lingua franca—a bridge language used between speakers of different native tongues. To fully understand this debate, it’s important to distinguish between “dominant language” and “lingua franca.” A dominant language often comes with power, status, and access to resources, while multilingual equity refers to a global framework where multiple languages are valued, preserved, and used in important domains like education, governance, and technology. There are around 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, but many are endangered. The dominance of English has been linked to the erosion of linguistic diversity, as local and Indigenous languages face declining use in favor of English proficiency. At the same time, English proficiency is often seen as essential for economic mobility, participation in global conversations, and access to higher education and science.