With the proliferation of American english via the internet and satellite TV, and 'new' words being the same in every language e.g. texting, blogging etc will different languages ultimately give way to one, common one in say, 200 years time?
2006-07-31 05:22:24 · 26 answers · asked by Robert S 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's already pretty much decided to be English. Very common throughout the world in the language of international law, culture, relgion and science.
No scientific paper has a ghost of a chance to be accepted internationally until it is translated into English. The same with great literature. Most if not all international treaties have to be published in English in order to have standing in the world community.
There is no grand conspiracy involved either, despite what the French and Iranians may believe. English is simply a very effective language with a vast volcubuary and one that readily adopts new words from other languages to express new ideas or concepts, or which creates them from stratch.
English is already the global language and it is likely to be the vastly predominate one within 50 years to the exclusion of minor ones in small nations.
2006-07-31 05:31:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
I just hope the American rule will not last for two hundred more years!
Anyway, no. I don't think a natural language can substitute for all of the others. Languages are adapted to describe the social and cultural features of the communities where it's spoken. English cannot possibly accurately describe everything that happens, exists and matters everywhere else in the world. Only an artificial language can fulfil that task. That's why I'm a supporter of one of those languages, called Ido.
2006-07-31 12:44:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There might well be one official global language for official media transmissions, communication and public documents one day, and if things continue as they are now, it could well be English.
Hopefully the real English, and not a perverted and degenerate US version of it.
But there will always be many languages in use among people of certain cultures and areas, even if a global language come into use.
There are people who want to preserve as many languages as possible, even if they are no longer relevant or spoken by many people. I disagree. If things become obsolete, it is time to move on and let them go.
2006-07-31 12:37:24 · answer #3 · answered by Sean F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so, and I hope not. I think Amer-English is like a Lingua Franca (like a common language people can use if they don't speak the same languages naturally); but there have been lingua franca's ever since there were languages, Latin, French, Spanish, Portuguese...
Essentially, this is just a phase in history. A new language will rise - probably Chinese, as a Lingua Franca in 200 years time, but people will still use their own languages. It makes it all the more interesting...
2006-07-31 12:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by Bren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course NOT!
I don't know if you speak any other language, but there is more life outside the computer.And if you are in a non English speaking country, you will use the local language. But the ones confined all their life to English cannot understand the beauty and need of other languages.
2006-07-31 17:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by kamelåså 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would probably be english. Even in the most "primal" of villages visited on documentaries on Discovery and the travel channel have somene who speaks english as a translator. Spanish however, is coming in close as is mandarin chinese, so in 200 years, it may be a toss-up for a global languages
2006-07-31 12:40:00 · answer #6 · answered by LadySov 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would take more than 200 years, but it is always possible.
And no, English is not the global language as I saw posted, considering that large majority of the planet speaks Spanish.
2006-07-31 12:27:43 · answer #7 · answered by KD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sure hope not! That's just one more step to globalization; i.e. diluting everyone's cultures into one big uber-culture. If people think there is prejudice now, imagine how bad it would be then?! Each individual language is so fascinating as it is; imagine how dull things would be if we never had to hear a different language.
2006-07-31 12:58:45 · answer #8 · answered by mpfc_fan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The different languages make the world so interesting and it is what makes us so special. I think it would be impossible to have only one language.
2006-08-01 03:35:55 · answer #9 · answered by Rick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we will have 1 ruler in the world, we'll probably also use 1 language.
Untill then, all the countries will keep their native language I guess
2006-07-31 12:28:46 · answer #10 · answered by WiseDragonGirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋