IELTS Writing Task 2: One Global Language (Band 9 Sample)

It is sometimes suggested that a single, universal language would make the world a better place. While I accept that such a language would bring real practical benefits, I believe that, on balance, it would be a negative development, because of what humanity would stand to lose.

1. The appeal of a common language

The advantages are easy to see. If everyone spoke the same language, international business, travel and diplomacy would all become far smoother, since misunderstandings caused by translation would largely disappear. Scientific and cultural knowledge could be shared instantly across borders, and the huge amount of time and money currently spent on language learning and translation could be redirected elsewhere. In a globalised world, the efficiency of a shared tongue is undeniably attractive.

2. Why the losses would outweigh the gains

Nevertheless, the cost would be enormous. A language is not merely a tool for communication; it carries a people's history, humour and way of seeing the world. If minority languages were abandoned in favour of one dominant tongue, thousands of them would die out, and with them a vast store of cultural identity and knowledge. The world would become more uniform and, I would argue, considerably poorer for it. Diversity of language is part of what makes human culture rich.

In conclusion, although a single global language would make communication more efficient, I regard it as a negative prospect overall, since the disappearance of the world's linguistic diversity would represent an irreplaceable cultural loss.