The Future of English? was commissioned by the British Council and written by researcher David Graddol.

First published in 1997 for educationists, politicians, managers – indeed any decision maker or planning team with a professional interest in the development of English worldwide; the book explores the possible long-term impact on English language of developments in communications technology, growing economic globalisation and major demographic shifts at the end of the twentieth century and beyond. It uses existing linguistic research as a basis for examining new trends in globalisation, popular culture and economic development to see how these affect the future use of English.