学了十几年英语，到底为了什么？

为了考试？为了出国？为了找工作？

都对。但更重要的原因是——英语已经成为世界的“默认语言”。

当越来越多的人用英语交流与表达，这种趋势对全球文化来说，是好事还是坏事？

2025–26 WSDA春季PF辩题，正面讨论这一问题：英语在全球范围的主导地位，对全球文化发展利大于弊。10年金牌辩论教练Terence老师，将带我们拆解这场辩论的核心逻辑。

「Terence」

玛拉理工大学 法学(荣誉)学士学位。拥有近十年辩论教练经验的辩论教练，曾在大学里担任辩论教练、研发并教授大学生“辩论入门课程”,并曾在中国北京针对10-18岁学生进行辩论课程研发与教授。

他擅长通过“游戏”进行启发式引导教学,在辩论赛事有丰富的指导经验,曾带领学生取得了诸多荣誉。他认为“奖杯”只是快乐学习后的额外嘉奖。

【大湾区限定】WSDA春季活动开启，大湾区专项奖金机制上线！

2025-26春季PF辩题

Resolved：The worldwide dominance of English is more beneficial than harmful to global cultural development.

英语在全球范围的主导地位对全球文化发展利大于弊。

「Key Terms」

To understand this debate, we have to define several key terms/phrases:

1) Dominance of English - This could be seen as English being the most present and most used language across many fields, from education, business, diplomacy, mass media, and so on. Things are expected to be translated into the language. Ideas and concepts only become truly international and accepted worldwide once it is adopted, recognised, and normalised by English speakers first.

2) More beneficial than harmful - This is where the comparative happens, that there are more positive things over negative. That there are more benefits than there are harms. This does not mean the harms does not exists, it just means the benefits are largely better than any possible harm.

3) Global cultural development - This refers to the growth and rate of change of different cultures across the world, and what kind of trajectory they could take. This also refers to the ability of different cultures to gain influence across the world and impact global events.

Pro Side

1

Improves Accessibility for Everyone

When English becomes the default language across institutions, information becomes easier to access globally. Scientific papers, international conferences, and global services often use English as a shared reference point.

This reduces the need for constant translation and allows ideas to spread more quickly across cultures. It also creates a common platform for collaboration, where different cultures can build on shared knowledge rather than starting from scratch.

Large-scale projects such as global knowledge-sharing platforms further illustrate how a common language can accelerate information exchange and cross-cultural cooperation.

2

Helps Less Dominant Cultures Spread Their Culture

The dominance of English can paradoxically benefit cultures that do not primarily use English. By using a widely understood language, these cultures are able to introduce their traditions and perspectives to a much broader audience, rather than relying solely on organic or localized spread.

This also lowers the barrier for people to explore unfamiliar cultures. English can serve as an entry point, allowing individuals to access basic information and develop interest before engaging more deeply with the original language or cultural context.

For cultural products, using English as an initial medium of communication can make international distribution more feasible. A shared reference language enables ideas and cultural content to circulate more efficiently, rather than remaining isolated within separate linguistic communities.

3

It reduces isolation

The dominance of English can act as a bridge between people from different cultural backgrounds. When a shared language is used in international spaces, individuals are able to communicate directly and exchange ideas without relying heavily on translation.

This facilitates cross-cultural dialogue and allows diverse perspectives to be introduced into the same conversation. A common language also helps individuals engage with viewpoints beyond their own cultural environment, reducing informational isolation and encouraging broader understanding.

As a result, English can support more inclusive global discussions and make cross-cultural interaction more accessible.

4

It is a Neutral Language

Despite its historical roots, English can function as a relatively neutral language in multilingual societies and international settings. When no single local language is universally shared, adopting English as a common medium can help create a more level playing field.

Using a shared language in institutions, diplomacy, or cross-border collaboration may reduce tensions that arise when one local language is prioritized over others. It can also provide a consistent reference point for communication across linguistically diverse groups.

In this sense, English can serve as a practical platform that facilitates cooperation while minimizing perceptions of cultural dominance.

Con Side

1

Cultural Hierarchy and Insecurities

The dominance of English may create an implicit cultural hierarchy in which English-language content is perceived as more global, while non-English content is viewed as local or secondary. Cultural products often gain wider recognition only after being translated into English, reinforcing the idea that English versions are the primary reference point.

This dynamic can pressure creators, researchers, and institutions to prioritize English in order to gain legitimacy and visibility. Over time, cultural expression may shift toward what is more accessible to English-speaking audiences, rather than reflecting local linguistic and cultural nuances.

As a result, the global dominance of English may influence how cultural value is perceived, potentially positioning non-English cultures as less prominent in international discourse.

2

It Creates an Unhealthy Power Dynamic

The widespread use of English can also produce structural advantages for native speakers and English-speaking regions. When global communication, research, and media are primarily conducted in English, those who are more fluent in the language may gain easier access to opportunities and credibility.

This linguistic advantage can extend beyond communication, shaping whose perspectives are more visible in international conversations. When information is produced and circulated mainly in English, certain viewpoints may be amplified while others require translation or adaptation to reach broader audiences.

Over time, this dynamic may influence global narratives, allowing English-speaking environments to play a larger role in shaping cultural and social discussions.

3

It Leads to Cultural Erasure

When English becomes increasingly important for education, employment, and global participation, individuals may prioritize English over their native languages. This shift can gradually reduce the everyday use of local languages, especially among younger generations.

As language use declines, cultural traditions, expressions, and identities connected to those languages may also weaken. In multilingual societies or minority communities, this effect may be more pronounced.

In the long term, the dominance of a single global language may contribute to cultural homogenization, where diverse linguistic and cultural identities are gradually replaced by more standardized forms of communication.

学英语，或许从来不只是为了考试。

当一种语言成为世界的共同工具，它既可能连接不同文化，也可能让文化逐渐趋同。

这道辩题没有标准答案，但思考，本身就是辩论的起点。