Different languages - do we need them?

[Romeo]

Wouldn't it be simpler if the whole world spoke one language? And it might as well be English - it's the language of the Americans, who call the shots around the world. And many Brits, Aussies and Canadians make their presence felt. Go anywhere in the world and you'll eventually meet an English speaker (not a Manx speaker or a Croatian speaker). Even in China there are public advertisements partly in English.

By the way, I am not saying there SHOULDN'T be different languages, I'm just trying to stir up a debate.

[jackthehat]

English is the most widely spoken language in the world.
Manadrin Chinese is spoken bythe greatest number of people.
There is already a movement for mandarin to be learnt in schools as the opening up of China for trade and industry means that it would be prudent if we could deal with them directly..........

[jojojojoanne]

If indigenous languages become obsolete or are eroded what about cultural identity?(the global village?)

[andrea81]

No way - appreciate the debate, but still.

I'm a Welsh speaker and part of my nationality is having a language that is old and traditional and stands for who us Welsh are!

If you get rid of languages, you'll get rid of the culture! Very sad if that happens!

[jojojojoanne]

Although is it inevitable at 'this' point in time?(homogenisation of society in a sense?) Can this be reversed?(by 'saving/protecting' languages?) and also what about the idea of a growing cultural diversity and awareness?(immigration? etc)and also the opposing factors of the argument:for and against?

[andrea81]

Languages are on the increase, Welsh for example is increasing my 3% a year.

Others more!

We should start thinking about becoming multi-lingual!

[B00]

There is an international auxilery language, but it's never really taken off.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

[Octavius]

de futuro, I say we should bring back Latin.

ab uno disce omnes

[Romeo]

I agree that identity is important, but remember that the Scots and Irish (apart from a minority of rural Gaelic speakers) have a strong national identity and yet speak English.

I have travelled around Europe and have tried learning different languages (French, Spanish and now German) and the thought occurs: why don't we have a universal language, and might it not just as well be English as that is the lingua franca of business, commerce and politics? But I could be wrong. I welcome any arguments on this, for or against.

Please keep the debate going.

[cambus]

We were here first. English should be the common language throughout the world. If other countries do not understand us, we should not trade with them, no loss to us. Why should incomprehensible languages, like French and Spanish, be foisted upon us. Before we know it, they will be trying to teach them in our schools, this should be resisted at all costs, as children will only become more inquisitive about foreigners and their culture.

[andrea81]

Well i'm not English, and Celts were here first. So you should all be speaking Welsh and Gaelic! - If thats the attitude you're gonna take!

[Oneeyedvic]

cambus - I really hope that your post was ironic

[Octavius]

Yes that as may be Andrea, but then the Romans came and tried to �encourage� everyone (in the Roman Empire at least) into speaking a common language: Latin! None of this regional nonsense!

[andrea81]

Well octavius, if one person is telling me that english was here first they are wrong. Celtic language was here before anyone invaded britain. And I bet you woouldn't be too happy with anyone telling you you shouldn't speak English!

[cambus]

There is no way I am going to learn Gallic, the French have too much influence on our way of life, as it is.

[Romeo]

We're wandering off the subject, people. I am trying to learn different languages (at the moment I find German a good one), but I have this niggling doubt: maybe we should all speak one language and have done with it. Convince me otherwise.

[andrea81]

Well maybe you should ask people who do speak more than one language how they feel about it!

I for one am proud to be able to flit from one language to another. imagine going to another country and opening your gob and taking to them in their language. you'll shock and pleasantly surprise them!

[jno]

c'mon guys, cambus is pulling your collective legs, rather successfully. But yes, it looks like English is all the go at the mo... but in another 100 years it may well be Chinese (remember, a sixth of all the people in the world are in China). If you plan to live another 50 years, which personally I don't, you should be starting Mandarin about now.

[Romeo]

Now we're getting somewhere. Keep 'em coming.

[pingping]

i think jno has a good point. china is actively marketing itself as a global force to be reckoned with, and it won't be long before schools will be teaching mandarin alongside french/spanish/german etc.

i speak basic conversational welsh, french and spanish in addition to english, and i love the fact that there are different languages in the world. there are some fantastic words which just don't have a good enough english translation and it would be such a shame to lose different languages for the sake of making life easier!

[dannyday5821]

well, i cant see it being a problem, personally. infact, i think it would be a good thing! i would feel happier and safer travelling anywhere in the world, just knowing that where ever i am, someone speaks the same language as me! not only that, you would be able to work anywhere in the world, there would be no reason why you couldnt buy a flat in tokyo, get a job, and live there!

on the other hand, as many people have already pointed out, identity is a main problem. which is why it has never happened. there are too many factors as to why this is the case, but thats just the way it is. language is as equally as important as culture, to destory one or the other, destroys a great deal of the culture (and many of things as well)

maybe we can only find a balance. i.e. learn english as a 2nd language making the local language priority.