I am not advocating superiority or anything, but the facts are that english has emerged as the universal language . I mean people , let us say, in France can continue to speak French for as long as they want but in say 100 years, will it be remembered much?
especially since E.U. has caused more of a "melting pot" in Europe and U.K.?
2007-01-18 15:11:59 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Yes, the trend has already started. I work in Taiwan and now there are fewer French, German and Spanish classes available. On the other hand the TEFL industry continues to grow. Even in Japan, a high ranking politician denounced French as a dead language and urged his citizens not to learn it. Yes English is growing; however, so is Chinese (Mandarin) as the Chinese grow in number and power so does the value of their language.
2007-01-18 15:22:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 3⤋
The French have, during the past several years, had a deliberate policy of "abolishing" many "English" words from their vocabulary, which has not prevented those words from being adopted fom common usage.
English, though a very difficult language, is seen, internationally, as an essential to international levels of communication.
It may be that, many years from now, it becomes the one common language, but, in the meantime, I try to learn at least a few useful sentences from whichever culture I would visit (patronising?) - as a matter of manners if nothing else, and out of a sense of my own arrogance at expecting people in a foreign country to understand my language.
2007-01-18 15:25:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I do not think that will happen, if you see the table/chart in the 1st url I provided, while there is such a huge group that speaks english, the Mandarin is more spoken than english, beats english almost 2 to 1...
Hindi & Spanish are rather close to English... yeah 100 million people can be born or start speaking another language that is not English in no time.
The second reference url shows a more updated data... Hmmmm Spanish is no. 3 here while Hindi is 6th.
2007-01-18 15:22:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mar Yam 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I believe that yes hundreds of other languages will remain to exist as english is simply a trade language in many countries.
2007-01-18 15:16:11 · answer #4 · answered by cmkinsac 1 · 6⤊ 2⤋
It could be possible to happen in 1000 years,I would say..but still they will be people who will remember their native language...they still teach Latin and ancient Greek,don't they?
2007-01-18 23:03:07 · answer #5 · answered by Erina♣Liszt's Girl 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Listening to todays English youth, I think it is English language that's disappearing.
2007-01-18 15:18:31 · answer #6 · answered by Chris S 2 · 12⤊ 2⤋
english will slowly gain more and more prevalence but will not actually "erase" other languages. rather, it will adapt to "absorb" them, taking words, phrases,and grammar from other languages
2007-01-18 15:14:51 · answer #7 · answered by f0876and1_2 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋