Do you think it is a good thing that English is becoming the world's #1 language?

Question

Of course there are advantages for us English speakers, everywhere we go we can communicate with somebody. But it means that we never make the effort to learn about other cultures the way that people in other countries make the effort to learn about ours, and our societies become increasingly isolated and ego-centric. The awful spectacle of our governments is only the most glaring example of the bad effects this can have.

Answer 1

We do need an international language for business. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to be multilingual and be able to communicate with all their business contacts in their native language. It's understandable that that language is English because Americans speak English and however you feel about America, they are an important world player.

I'm English and I love learning languages and cultures of other countries. I speak good Russian but often when I'm in Russia, they don't let me speak it because they can all speak English. It's frustrating. We should make an effort to learn about other cultures and learn languages though simply because it's interesting and fulfilling to do so.

Answer 2

I dont care about it... English is not my mother lang, and i'm very proud of my own (spanish).
I only learnt english , french and arabic as a way to complement my education. If i need any of them....i use it, but that doesnt mean that i'll change my own language for using the other ones.
I think almost all the pple that know more than 1 lang studied them as a complement.
have you ever thought that USA pple is one of the worse educated all over the world? I agree about what you say in the last part of your Q. "But it means that we never make the effort to learn about other cultures the way that people in other countries make the effort to learn about ours, and our societies become increasingly isolated and ego-centric. The awful spectacle of our governments is only the most glaring example of the bad effects this can have." YOU ARE RIGHT

Answer 3

Yeah, right, you have nth to do now:)
But remember about French, for example - they hate english. ANd not much of them speak it, really... So - our cultures will survive and also - some other language will take the plac eof english in some time. Remember - latin, long time ago? French, by some time? Esperanto? STh new WILL appear..

Answer 4

A common language is a nice idea but I am afraid the cultural boundries and barriers that make each country unique and independant from one another will eventually be lost.

Answer 5

yeah but like with other cultures they're kinda forced to learn other languages at a young age, where as us americans are not, unless we are enrolled in a language immersion school. so it's apart of our culture to not learn other languages, and it's apart of other cultures to learn other languages, so since they, for the most part, have to learn a language, why not make it english cause they are definately going to be using it, and it's also easy for us cause now every where we go someone, if not everyone, will know english.

Answer 6

Well, I must say that you presented the scenario very clearly. My respect.
After you made your point I agree with you and I don't think I could add anything important

Answer 7

that's great but some AMERICAN speak a second Lang. My husband 4 Lang's. I speak 2

Answer 8

It"s no 1 language in use....

Just like we use shoes,

Answer 9

All languages should be considered equally important and valuable.

Answer 10

i think its good