IB HL

• Over 6000 languages in the world.
• By 2100 this figure may drop to 3000.
• 60% of these languages have less than 10,000 and 25% have less than
1000.
• Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world with English second.
• English is the main medium of communication in air travel, finance, and the internet.
• Two thirds of all scientists write in English.
• 80% of the information stored in electronic retrieval is in English.
• 120 countries receive radio programmes in English.
• At any given time, 200 million students are studying English as an additional language.
• It is an official language in most of Africa, The Pacific, and S.E Asia.

• The world’s largest industry.
• British people to the Costa Del Sol practise cultural traits such as drinking beer and eating fish and chips while lying on crowded beaches.
• This stereotype captures standardisation.

• McDonalds operates in over 31,000 outlets in
119 countries.
• In 1997, it opened one outlet every 4 hours.
• Coca Cola is sold in almost every country.
• It is a trans-cultural item but linked to US culture.

• 20-30 large TNC’s dominate the global entertainment and media industry.
• All are from the West and most from the USA.
• These include Time-Warner, Disney, News
Corporation, Universal Studios and the BBC.

• Using Geography Course Companion P374-
375, answer the following…
1. What is Cultural Imperialism?
2. What are its criticisms?
3. How has it changed over time and why?
4. How can Cultural Imperialism be seen as both good and bad for nations receiving it?