The Function of Literary and Cultural Communication of English

Abstract

As we live in an age of globalization, we should recognize that the impact of globalization on culture is largely achieved through language as a medium. Thus, in the age of globalization, English functions as a lingua franca not only for interpersonal communication but rather for literary and cultural communication and exchange. The enormous influence of globalization on the mass media exerts great pressure on people outside the English-speaking world: in the present and in the future, it would be extremely difficult for survival and work efficiency not to master English, the lingua franca of the global age. In this chapter, I will mainly focus on the translation and dissemination of Chinese literature and culture in the English-speaking world after looking at the function of English in global communication. To my mind, English is indeed the only means by which they can communicate with the outside world. In this regard, China’s scientists as well as quite a few humanities scholars have realized that they need to write their most important academic works in English in order to publish them in leading international journals or with prestigious publishers so that they can gain recognition in the international academic community and dialogues with their Western and international counterparts in an equal manner.