A few languages are increasingly spoken in different countries, while the use of others is rapidly declining. Is it a positive or negative development?
Sample Response
These days, there is a tendency that a small number of languages have gained widespread popularity in the world, while many others are being less spoken. In my opinion, this trend could bring both positive and negative consequences.
To begin with, there are substantial benefits to society when many countries share common languages. The first benefit is that cross-cultural communication can become easier nowadays, which helps boost multilateral trade and cultural exchange. It is true that ones who are bilingual or multilingual find it easier to do business or work in international companies as their issues at work can be addressed and discussed thoroughly. Furthermore, by acquiring languages which are commonly used in business, science and technology, people from less developed countries can accelerate the process of learning from more developed countries. For example, India achieves such incredible growth partly by using English as their official language.
Despite the great convenience of sharing common languages, the fact that other languages are less spoken can bring several drawbacks. The first disadvantage is that communities would lose parts of their cultural traditions such as songs, myths and poetry which are not easily translated into another language. This may in turn affect their cultural identity, producing a weakened social cohesion as their values and traditions are replaced with new ones. Moreover, this trend affects not only the local culture within one nation but also the civilization of mankind. If all countries no longer use their own language but use the same one, this could gradually destroy the cultural diversity of the world.
In conclusion, although I believe the trend is inevitable in the era of globalisation, people need to have measures to protect their less spoken languages as a way to preserve their cultural identity.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use consistent tense Original: can become easier nowadays Suggested revision: becomes easier Why it matters: The present simple fits the general relationship introduced by “when” and removes a redundant time marker.
- 2. Use concise wording Original: accelerate the process of learning from Suggested revision: learn more quickly from Why it matters: The revision expresses the same idea more directly and naturally.
- 3. Use suitable tense Original: achieves such incredible growth Suggested revision: has achieved such remarkable growth Why it matters: The present perfect connects past development with the country’s current growth more naturally.
- 4. Fix pronoun agreement Original: their Suggested revision: its Why it matters: The possessive pronoun must agree with singular “India.”
- 5. Natural frequency phrase Original: other languages are less spoken Suggested revision: other languages are spoken less frequently Why it matters: “Spoken less frequently” is the idiomatic way to describe declining use.
- 6. Clarify cultural loss Original: would lose parts of their cultural traditions Suggested revision: may lose elements of their cultural heritage Why it matters: This wording describes songs, myths, and poetry more precisely while retaining the intended possibility.
- 7. Remove incorrect article Original: a weakened social cohesion Suggested revision: weaker social cohesion Why it matters: “Social cohesion” is uncountable here and does not take the article “a.”
- 8. Use concise wording Original: the civilization of mankind Suggested revision: human civilisation Why it matters: The revision is more concise and natural in formal writing.
- 9. Correct verb collocation Original: have Suggested revision: take Why it matters: English conventionally uses “take measures” when describing protective action.
- 10. Natural frequency phrase Original: their less spoken languages Suggested revision: their less widely spoken languages Why it matters: The added adverb makes the description of language use idiomatic.
- 11. Use concise wording Original: substantial benefits to society Suggested revision: substantial societal benefits Why it matters: The revision conveys the same meaning more concisely.
- 12. Name the speakers Original: when many countries share common languages Suggested revision: when people in many countries share common languages Why it matters: Languages are shared by people, so naming them makes the claim more precise.
Suggested Rewrites
- can become easier nowadays becomes easier
- accelerate the process of learning from learn more quickly from
- achieves such incredible growth has achieved such remarkable growth
- their its
- other languages are less spoken other languages are spoken less frequently
- would lose parts of their cultural traditions may lose elements of their cultural heritage
Why this response received Band 7.5
The essay is well organised and develops both the practical benefits of shared languages and the cultural costs of language decline with relevant explanation. Its main limitation is that the stated position remains insufficiently decisive for a question asking whether the development is positive or negative, despite the protective recommendation in the conclusion. The highest-priority improvement is to state and justify a clear overall evaluation while preserving the strong logical development.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both sides are relevant and well developed, but the response does not clearly decide whether the development is positive or negative overall.
State a definite overall judgment in the introduction and conclusion, then explain why one side carries greater weight.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced logically in well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used effectively and progression easy to follow.
Refine transitions so the final recommendation follows even more explicitly from the preceding evaluation of drawbacks.
Lexical Resource
A wide range of topic-appropriate vocabulary conveys nuanced ideas, with only occasional awkward or imprecise choices.
Replace unnatural expressions such as references to people as 'ones' and use more precise wording for declining language use.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are used with strong control, and the few grammatical slips do not impede meaning.
Polish isolated tense, agreement, and article choices to make the otherwise accurate sentences consistently natural.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
A few languages are increasingly spoken in different countries, while the use of others is rapidly declining. Is it a positive or negative development?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.