Estimate -  - , .
as -  - , , .
considerably -  - , .
figure -  - , , .
range -  - .
from ... up -  ... .
is fraught with difficulties -   w  -  .
If so, -  ,.
reconing -  - .
Whatever - w -   .
settle on -   - .
reasonable -  - .
approximation -  - .
certain -  - , .
passport -  - .
ever expanding -   -  .
anglophone world -  w -  . 

 33
  ߻
ENGLISH TODAY
  
  
Estimates as to
  
  
the number OF English users
   
  
in the world
 w
 . 
vary considerably.
 
   
The figures range from
  
 800  
a conservative 800 million
  800  (  )
  2   
up to as many as 2 billion,
      
    
almost two-fifths
  
 . 
OF the worlds population.
 w 
  
The problem OF calculation
  
 . 
is fraught with difficulties.
  w 
,  () , 
for example, are those
   
   
who HAVE learned English
   
   
as a second or
  
()  , 
a foreign language
  w
 ? (= ?). 
to BE counted ?
 
 , ()   
If so, how fluent
   
  , 
MUST they be
  
  
before

  ( ) 
THEY ARE included
  
  ? 
in the reconing?
 
    , 
Whatever the figure
w 
 ()   
we settle on,
 w  
 () 1   
and 1 billion plus
 w  
   
WOULD BE a reasonable
 w  
  
approximation,

   . 
one thing is certain.
w   
   
English today IS
  
 , 
the international language,
  w
    
and fluency in English
   
  
provides a passport
 
   
to the ever expanding
   
 . 
anglophone world.
 w


