Too Many Languages!

[Alkarin]

@terribleterrytate

well thats what im looking forward to(in my case). i think culture is a bit barbaric and our 'culture' and being proud of where we came from should be that as 'i am proud of being human, and proud of being from earth' not 'I am proud of being Italian and am proud of being from Italy'

but im sure almost everyone disagrees with me on this.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

I'd say that we should have a common language learned throughout the world, but allow people to keep their current languages as well. That way better communications can be established, and we still get to keep our distinct cultures.

 

[TerribleTerryTate]

@terribleterrytate

well thats what im looking forward to(in my case). i think culture is a bit barbaric and our 'culture' and being proud of where we came from should be that as 'i am proud of being human, and proud of being from earth' not 'I am proud of being Italian and am proud of being from Italy'

but im sure almost everyone disagrees with me on this.

I see where you're coming from here. I think some people/nations are a bit too caught up on: 'We are *insert nation here* and we kick your ass.'
However, unfortunately as far as I can see, this will always be the case. There are too many divisions worldwide to make this, or a single global language truly possible.

 

[AntiAntagonist]

[quote="Alkarin" post="18.82058.1109259well i believe they want english speakers more due to the fact that mostly westernized countries buy goods (well all countries do but you get my point) and they see more money out of dealing with capitalist countries then say communist china which speaks mandarin[/quote]

It's still a bit of a mix depending on region. English is most popular world-wide, German & French taking second in the Western Hemisphere, Japanese & Chinese taking second in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Communist China officially speaks Cantonese and Taiwan officially speaks Mandarin. Both are pretty important trading partners, so studying gets to be a pain.

 

[Alkarin]

yes antiant but i think you get my point

 

[AntiAntagonist]

I think the best we can hope for is for one language to be used as an international language, while everyone learns their native tongue for local communication.......

yes i would assume so. but eventually have local languages deteriorate imo. and if anything to avoid further violence and arguments we should have scholars create a new language.

People tried and failed.

The problem is that there are no native speakers and few had interest in learning a new language that didn't already have an "install base".

 

[AntiAntagonist]

yes antiant but i think you get my point

Wheee! I studied Int'l Trade & Finance, Labor Econ and have a job that deals with Int'l Trade. It gets hectic.

The point I read was 'economic interests pre-disposed english as the current lingua franca'. I don't dispute that; was just bored and felt like clarifying/fleshing out some extraneous points.

EDITED

 

[thatotherguy2]

I think it should be binary code just to mess up people who dont understand computers or to make the people who understand it feel better

 

[AntiAntagonist]

Please forgive my skimming; caffeine and outside influences are raking away my attention.

 

[Hevoo]

Most people in the world speak English already, as at least a 1st or 2nd language. Use English its the best out there

The most spoken languages are

1.English
2.Mandarin Chinese
3.Spanish

 

[Apocalypse Tank]

The last time I checked, English was becoming your idea of this official language. People all over the world recognize it as becoming more common. This official language should only be optional, just imagine how much culture would be damaged if it was mandatory.

 

[Dubiousduke]

I, for one, love learning new languages. Where's the fun if everyone spoke the same language? I'd miss the conversations I had in languages other than english. And I know many things just can't translate from personal experience. No puedo encontrar las palabras.


You should be happy and eager to learn other languages. Learn to do everything you possibly can.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

I'd rather keep multiple languages. With only one universal language, how would interpreters make money?

 

[Azeban]

Thanks for the cookie. However, after re-reading your initial post I still stand by what I said. Plus, how would a single global language be attainable? Centuries of history, and to a certain extent culture would need to be overlooked and completely ignored for this to be a possibility.

All right then, allow me to spell it out for you. In my original post I said "I wouldn't even care if it wasn't English, because I recognize that many more people speak Mandarin." How does this translate to "I'm going to guess you mean switch to English too?"

I guess you were a bit too busy assuming that I'm ignorant to read my opinion before posting your opinion of my opinion.

Well, how about a second language then? Instead of teaching Americans Spanish and Europeans English, just teach the whole world the single global language.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Ig-pay atin-lay. I'm so ool-cay.

 

[sp0rk]

@terribleterrytate

well thats what im looking forward to(in my case). i think culture is a bit barbaric and our 'culture' and being proud of where we came from should be that as 'i am proud of being human, and proud of being from earth' not 'I am proud of being Italian and am proud of being from Italy'

but im sure almost everyone disagrees with me on this.

Actually, I'm not sure I disagree, I just don't see how being proud of being human and being from Earth is substantially different/less attached to barbarous culture than being proud of a specific nationality and being from a specific subsection of Earth.

Anyway: Esperanto ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto ) was designed over 100 years ago with the goal of creating an international language that is easy to learn for speakers of as many languages as possible - i.e., very regular and based on Latin.

English is supposedly one of the most difficult languages to learn as a non-native speaker; that's my biggest qualm with going along with what seems to be the de facto progression to "English as the international language".

So I guess I'd mostly be on board with Esperanto or something like it. I think a requirement of being as easy as possible to learn regardless of native tongue would be important to consider regardless of choice, though.

 

[Beetlejooce]

I'm English and live in France and speak the language quite well. But the thing i have found that the French can't stand is the English attitude of 'If you want to talk to me, you learn MY language'

If you picked one language it would be like asking every other country to renounce their identities.

And the French wouldn't like you

 

[Limos]

I have a question for some of the people on this thread.

Why is losing culture such a bad thing? What makes culture so great?

 

[Standby]

Surely a better idea would be to promote a universal language alongside countries native tongues?
I've been told that in Nordic countries (please corrent me if i'm wrong), people learn a multitude of languages throughout their school life, so for sake of example, couldn't latin be taught in British schools alongside English (i.e from when children begin school at 5) and the equivelent for other countries?

 

[Death Magnetic]

I reckon it should stay as it is. I doubt I along with many others could get to grips with a new language and it's just ignorant and arrogant to tell other countries to speak English.

-Ricky