Would humans get along more easily if we all spoke the same language?

Question

I've always believed that Britain has long remained our strongest ally due to our command of English. Even if English wasn't the standard, If there was one official, dominant language that every country on earth mastered and used on a daily basis, wouldn't trade, communication, diplomacy, foreign affairs, etc. between nations be improved?

Answer 1

From Douglas Adam's classic Hitchiker's guide to the Galaxy:

`Meanwhile, the poor Babel fish, by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation.'

Answer 2

I think it would help on a social scale, but when it comes to things like diplomacy and trade, these are industries (for want of a better word) which are fairly wealthy, so they can afford things like translators. It is only at the social level, like going to the supermarket or a restaurant, where a different language is actually a barrier. Things like a restaurant menu could be all in an unknown script, so unless it has pictures then the foreigner has no idea what something is.

Answer 3

Well, there is - English - It is the Lingua Franca of the global economy. However, you've probably heard of Esperanto?? It was a "manufactured" language designed by linguists in the late 19th cen. It was supposed to have been the easiest "language" to learn it's vocabulary (written/spelled as heard) gramatically and phonologically. Unfortunately, human beings, being what they are - emphatically stated that THEIR language is superior and thus nobody wanted to concede to this "universal" language. Irony of ironies - since everyone was too proud to concede to the use of Esperanto - English, one of the more linguistically challenging languages has now become the global "Esperanto" of politics and commerce.

Would people get along better with 1 common language - NO!!! The main reason being that language and culture are inextricably tied together. A language develops within a culture to satisfy the needs of that culture. Therefore a universal language would theoretically be cultureless and would not survive. The other main reason is that every culture is xenophobic to varying degrees and would feel diminished, threatened and devalued to give up their language.

Answer 4

No. The UK has a lot more in common with the UK
then just their native tongue. They're culture is also
not too different from ours. (They can be a stuffed
shirts, but their culture is virtually the same, when it
is compared with the cultures of the Middle East...
or the outrageous corruption of Mexico and Cuba.)
The reason why the US doesn't get along with so
many other countries is because of their cultures,
religious beliefs and political policies.
It hasn't Thing One to do with their language.

Answer 5

well as in Islam you have got lots of differant interpretations of that and thay all say thay are right...and kill each other over that...i think we are lucky that we can talk the same and believe in other things in peace....some people want power over others and to be the top man...or women.....so no matter what you speak.....the humans will never get along...as we got differant feelings..

Answer 6

We would just develp more accents and more dialects and slang terms, but it might be easier! THe US & UK is coming pretty close in establishing english as the international language. You pretty well have to speak english in movies and music!

WS

Answer 7

Hola, If we don't get a grip in the US and then we will all be speaking Spanish!

Taco, burrito, enchilada,, that's all I know

BR

Answer 8

No, I don't think it would matter. I think if you took greed out of the equation then you would see a difference.

Answer 9

tahw eht kcuf era uoy gniklat tuoba

Answer 10

No. Everyone has different IDEAS and OPINIONS and that is why people don't get along.