The Future of English?
A guide to forecasting the popularity of the
English language in the 21st century
David Graddol

First published 1997
© The British Council 1997, 2000
All Rights Reserved
This digital edition created by
The English Company (UK) Ltd
David Graddol hereby asserts and gives notice of his right under section 77 of the UK Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

What is this book about?
This book is about the English language in

of the English language and concludes that

forecasting, identifies the patterns which

the 21st century: about who will speak it and for what purposes. It is a practical

the future is more complex and less predictable than has usually been assumed.

underlie typical linguistic change and describes the way large corporations have

briefing document, written for educationists, politicians, managers – indeed any decision maker or planning team with a professional interest in the development of English worldwide.

The book has been commissioned by the
British Council to complement the many texts already available about the teaching and learning of English, the history and

used ‘scenario planning’ as a strategy for coping with unpredictable futures. Section three outlines significant global trends which will shape the social and economic world in the 21st century. Section four discusses the impacts these trends are

The Future of English? takes stock of the

development of English and the diversity of forms of English worldwide. It is

present, apparently unassailable, position of
English in the world and asks whether we

intended to stimulate constructive debate about the future status of English which

can expect its status to remain unchanged during the coming decades of

can inform policy developments both in
the