By Roy

The number of surfers on the Internet is enormous. The possibilities to express one`s opinions are also enormous - guestbooks, message-boards, chat-rooms, free homepages, e-mails and so on. For obvious reasons English has become the language of the INTER-net. However, many people living in countries with languages other than English consider their English not good enough. Due to that they do not participate in the great global communications channel which the Internet is. These people express themselves only in their own languages on the Internet within the borders of their own countries. Because of that we never learn about them (we do not understand their languages) and the INTER-Net becomes a communications channel for English speaking people, which are only about 10% of all people on earth.

Is this isolation necessary? IS your English really not good enough to be used on the global part of the INTER-Net?

First of all - what is English? Does English mean standard modern British English? Does it mean American English? Or does it mean Australian English? Each English speaking country uses words which are not being used in other English speaking countries. Many of the same words are also written in different ways, for example "cheque" in Britain and "check" in the USA. There are even grammatical differences between British and American English. Some examples:

British English: I've just seen her. - American English: I just saw her.
British English: Have you seen the programme? - American English: Did you see the program?
British English: Have you got a new car? - American English: Do you have a new car?
British English: He isn't at home. - American English: He ain't home.

Some people in England claim the Americans have destroyed "their" language. In the USA, however, they think the British are funny - also when they speak English *smile*. The Australians do not seem to care at all - probably because the Australians are fully aware that they are far away "down under", and when they begin to talk the rest of the world fall asleep..... :-)

If you were born and grew up in a country with another language than English then it is almost impossible to learn English like they use it in the USA, Britain, Australia or Canada. You have to move there and live in one of those countries for many years to be able to speak/write (almost) like they do. Therefore, stop comparing yourself with people living in one of the above mentioned countries.

In guestbooks, message boards, chat-rooms et cetera we often see people apologizing for their English. There is no need to do that. Keep in mind that most native speakers are impressed when foreigners try to speak their language. Everyone having tried to learn a new language knows how difficult it can be. If people correct you then appreciate their help. If people criticize or laugh at you, then they are only showing their lack of understanding that the English language is full of variations. Besides, even though the root is the same, our branches are different: Never apologize for your English to the Americans, the British, the Australians or the Canadians because we do not use "their" English. We use "our" English - the WORLD-English! The only purpose of the World-English is to communicate and be understood! We do not need to care about grammar or spelling because our only concern is to put our ideas across to others.

So go on - talk and write. Communicate with other people and leave the concept of grammatical correctness to the native speakers of British and American English!