The world's only language...

In business and economics we often hear the word "globalization" passed around. And with the inevitable advancements of technology the world is becoming a smaller place. Never before has access to distant parts of the world being more accessible, as it is now in the twenty first century. The United States and Great Britain, specifically referring to England, have spread their culture and language around the world. With the United States being the only world super power right now, and a place full economic opportunity, many individuals from all over the world have fought and struggled to get into America.
Although, English may not have been their first language, they come to America with the knowledge that to survive and compete, and take advantage of all that America has to offer, that they have to be able to comprehend and speak English. By no means am I saying that English is the "best" language in the world, but it is currently the most important. We can see this idea by simply looking at the United Nations, where the official language was once French, but now has changed to English.
It is very rare to go anywhere in the world and not meet someone who does not speak English. English is becoming the world's language. The Guardian stated that there are about 750,000 English words, while only 200,000 German words and relatively speaking only 100,000 French words. I feel this attributes to the sponge like nature of the English language. The ability of the language to adapt 'foreign' words into it like: egg, horse, window and etc, which are not traditional Anglo-Saxon words, but old Norse words. As well as street words and cliches, such as "less is more" and "cool." With the sponge like nature of the English language compelled by the irreversibly trend of globalization the English language is soon going to be the only language spoken in the world. Now, that last statement might be a bit over the top, but there is some truth to it.
We can see this unfolding in the languages spoken in the workplace. The BBC wrote an article about a firm in the United Kingdom, which had banned Welsh being spoken at the work place. Such things are not rare, but quite common. And is indeed, the fact that the English language and culture - the attire of the suit, jeans etc, is no longer going to solely be an Englishman's 'thing,' but that of the world.

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Why I'm doing this...what is there for me to gain?

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I have always wanted to belong to a place, a people, a culture; but so far, I have been alienated. I was born in Ghana and at the very tender age of two, sat on a plane and flew south, to South Africa. I spent the first few years of my life in the Transkei, where the predominant language was Xhosa - a language renowned for the "click" sound in its language. I took to this language, as well as to English, the language my mother spoke to me at home.
But something was amiss, my mother spoke a different language to me and that to our "helper" from Ghana. I did not understand it. It was the language of secrets, enthusiasm, joy and solitude. However, in this language she was a different person. It was as if she had two spirits, one which was ecstatic and genial, and the other serious and cautious. And these two spirits seemed to interchange with the language she spoke. As the years passed, I began to learn the language of my mothers' genial and happy nature - Twi.
Later on, we moved to Pretoria, where English and Afrikaans become the dominate languages. I lost my ability to speak Xhosa. But I had always spoken English and naturally gravitated towards it, and those who spoke the language.
Unfortunately, I left everything that was familiar and comfortable and moved to America, where I had to learn a new language, since apparently mine wasn't "English." Every time I opened my mouth, the voice which exited betrayed me.
I could not claim to be from anywhere, because I could neither speak the language, or speak it with the "correct" accent. I was lost, and still am. When I claim to be from my birth country, I am disowned, and ridiculed, simply because I cannot speak the language, Twi, though I can understand it fluently. I was born there. My parents are from there - yet, because I cannot speak the language I have been isolated - almost exiled.
In South Africa, I could never claim to be from there, although I grew up there - I knew I was a foreigner, and would always be such. And such is my life - a wonderer forever wondering. Yet, perhaps by taking Psych 17N(Language & Society) I might cease to be a wonderer wondering, but a being with a home.