Why is it that people in other countries are usualy fluent in their national language, but also speak english?

Question

is this just so they can comunicate with us dumb americans because we usualy only speak english (unless you live in cali,....... there are a lot of imigrants there........)

Answer 1

English is the universal language for business, travel etc. but mainly coz yanks are too lazy to learn about other people's way of life.

Answer 2

It's just become so because English has become a sort of de facto international language for business, international matters, etc. etc.

The biggest factor in English becoming so widespread is for the most part a result of the United States' massive economic power that has arisen since the Second World War.

And so now, in countless nations around the world who are not natively English, English is a mandatory subject for students to learn. It is without a doubt the most useful language for any speaker of another language to learn as a second language for general circumstances.

It's sad that second language learning is relatively rare in America. People think it is so difficult to do but this isn't true. In some European countries such as say Belgium or Switzerland, you could be hard pressed to find a younger person who doesn't speak three languages.

In short, it has become the international language. It could have been any but because of circumstances it was English. A majority of the internet is in English, Hollywood films, popular culture, etc. etc. It's the langauge to learn.

Answer 3

English is the current "prestige language," meaning that it's the one you speak to do business and most educational stuff.

Pilots speak english.

Scientists speak English.

Corporations speak English.

So wouldn't it make sense to speak English?

Like ancient Greek and Latin before it, English is the current international language that is the most useful and people want to learn. For every native English speaker, there are about two people who learn English as a second/foreign language.

Like it or not, it's a prestige language.

Edit: and as far as WHY it's a prestige language, you'll have to look back past the US. Try...England. Back in the empire days. England exported English around the world, including to the US.

So if you don't like English, don't blame the US. We're just a former colony.

Blame the English.

Answer 4

I'd guess that other countries are much more pro active in teaching English as a second language than America is in teaching second languages, primarily because English remains the language of business, and until that changes, many educated people the world over will continue to speak English BETTER than many Americans!

Answer 5

I come from a different country and I did speak both my native language and english. Its because english is the #1 language spoken around the world. There are rumers that spanish soon will replace english as the #1 language spoken.

Answer 6

English has become the international language of commerce and has been adopted as the official language in many industries such aviation, and it is one of the most popular "foreign" languages spoken, schools in countries around the world offer English as a second language (some are compulsory).

Part of it is also the legacy of UK and US extending their influence around the world and the export of English-speaking cultures. The British Commemonwealth has large and wide footprint around the world. The US also has bases and strong influences in Asia post WWII.

Answer 7

I'm fluent in both Filipino (my native tongue) and English. English was first introduced to our country when Americans came to the Philippines late 19th century. English became the main medium of instruction, and this holds even up to now.

Isn't it great that we are able to communicate well not only within our country but also with other countries? English is pretty much the universal language... in business, science and technology, websites, literature, you name it.

Knowledge of English eliminates the need for interpreters and translators. Communication becomes convenient.

Answer 8

Schools in many countries teach English from a very early age. They have recognized the need to speak many languages. Americans don't have get the opportunity to take a different language until they are in around the sixth grade. By then it's too late to really grasp it.

Answer 9

Because English is the language of business.

By some fluke on nature, it just turned out that way. So now the world learns English to communicate with its business partners.

Answer 10

At this moment, English is the Universal Language (this is determined by scientists and mathematicians); one language needs to be agreed upon for communication and academic purposes. It used to be German up until the 1800's, if memory serves.

however, Spanish is quickly gaining way, and I believe that it will overtake English as the Universal language, and if that one doesn't, Chinese will.

Answer 11

In Europe, for example, would it be easier to learn your native language (if other than English) and just English, or your native language and French, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Romansh, etc.?

A standard medium for communication is needed for business and travel. That language is English.