Should English be made the official language of the world? (Is it already?)
What would it be like if everyone in the world could speak the same language - say, English or Chinese or Spanish?
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17 comments:
It is already. Quite unofficially, but if you were to ask anyone they would straight away answer English. But as for this whole "Official Language of the World".. I don't think we should have that.
Basically conforming the world to try and speak just one language is preposterous.
I don't think there would be a huge difference in the world if we could all speak a single language. A unified language wouldn't highlight our different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs, I think it would be a very bland and boring world where we don't really have much to discover in the way of cultures and linguistic skills.
I disagree with Duwane in that, although English may now be unofficially the world's official language, it probably won't be for long. Latin, French, Spanish have all had their turns as the world's primary business/political language, among many others, and English is just the current one in a whole series.
I remember, a week ago, when Sabrina was over, we were talking to my father who mentioned how the next world language will most likely be Arabic, Urdu and Farsi. His logic? Paraphrasing, "All world politics are focused in that area. In a few years, it will be the prime destination for international relations, diplomacy, politics and most likely business as well."
And that makes total sense. The world will juggle languages by the century (it may take more than just one century) and that's the way it's always been.
That said, to declare one language in the world as the official language for the nearly seven billion people that reside on our planet would be nothing short of a travesty, seconding Duwane's reasoning.
So Neiha, are you saying that in a 100-200 years from now, if a Ugandan meets a Korean in Estonia they will speak to each other in Urdu, Farsi, or Arabic?
(Because right now, without a doubt they'd speak to each other in English).
They probably will. People used to speak to each other in French, and they would all come from different corners of the world. It does seem silly right now but it could very much be a reality a century from now.
I mean, a few hundred years prior, you wouldn't have expected Russians and Chinese people to go about their business speaking English but that is true now, isn't it?
^ Neiha.
English will undoubtedly evolve and change as all languages will. But what we're seeing is that speakers of Urdu, Farsi, and Arabic are learning English and not the other way round.
English has a lot going for it - it's the language of the U.S. and U.K. - 2 permanent members of the UN security council, it's the language of the E.U. and the Commonwealth, it's the language of the internet and international commerce. And most importantly, it's the language of Hollywood, MTV and showbiz.
What do you see in favour of Farsi, Arabic, and Urdu besides that it is spoken in geopolitically sensitive areas? Once oil runs out in a few decades, will this region still be important?
(French was never an international language in the way English is - not even close)
I think English already is the official language of the world:language is always evolving, and I'm not sure what it will be in the next hundred years, but I'm certain that right now, most of the world speaks english.
I'd also like to point out that just because English is the official language of the world, doesn't mean that the whole world has to conform to speaking only english.
It simply means that english is a way for someone who speaks urdu to someone who speaks chinese : a way of communicating.
Yes, english as teresa says is the way the world currently communicates and I agree that everyone should not have to speak it.
As a bahamian my only language is english and i feel that because this my I have a suppressed cultural dialect.
English isn't apart of my culture it's apart of the united kingdom who had overuled the bahamas as apart of its common wealth.
Countries like India or Iran I'm sure feel a sense of patriotism and belonging when they speak in their language. Because not many other places in the world speak the way they do as a first language, it makes them unique.
In addition to that many people enjoy learning the numbers of different languages its a way of getting to know different places plus it opens the mind to so many things.
Something like this would take ages to debate upon before a conclusion is made. But this is why I believe that there should not be just one main language.
Well English is not really the official language of the world, but it is the most commonly used language to communicate.
Hmm, I’m on two heads about this one. On one hand, having the same language could allow us to interact and communicate with different people easier and that could sort of bring society together, I guess. But on the other hand, having one sole language eliminates the uniqueness different cultures have and that special feeling we get when we talk to a fellow countryman in our own language and like Shaday mentioned, it gives us a sense of patriotism and belonging.
Plus, who wouldn’t want to learn a whole new language?! :)
English seems to becoming the official language of the world...but not quite yet.
However, i don't feel that it HAS to be the official language of the world. Just because we can speak english, It doesn't seem to be fair that we force the entire world to speak it along with us. There are many other native tongues world wide that could become the official language instead.
However, The thought of all 7 billion people speaking the same language seems compelling and displeasing at the same time. It would be very captivating to be able to communicate with everyone effectively.
But at the same time, I feel the culture and language are linked to each other. Thus if we all speak the same language, im afraid the world might loose all of its different diversities of ethnics and cultures.
English is already widespread. In fact, in most European countries English is more common then the actual national language of that country.
I dont think it would be such a great idea if everybody only spoke English, because languages help differ different cultures from each other.
I find it rather absurd if the whole wide world with its population of about 7 billion is compelled to speak no other language but English. The idea is quite intimidating, in a way.
Language is one factor that distinguishes countries and different cultures from each other and so I find it more appropriate if different societies have different languages just as they have different beliefs, backgrounds, etc. This is just to highlights the differences between cultures but yet show the similarities.
Er, I think everyone should know to speak the language English as it is the language valued the most nowadays. But I don't think it should be made the official language of the world as every country or what so ever has a right to choose their own language. Some people might speak Chinese and some might speak Spanish, its their wish. But, what if a person went to Paris for a visit and they got lost and they gradually go up to someone for directions (many people in Paris don't know English and they speak only French), how would you communicate with the people living there if they don't know the most common language 'English'. So, yes each person should know the language English.
In my opinion, English is sort of already the official language of the world, just quite unofficially, like Duwane said.
I don't, however,think its fair to force everyone in the world, comprising of 7 billion people, to speak the same language. Obliging everyone to speak one language takes culture and ethnicity out of the equation and enforces conformity, which I believe would make the world rather boring.
Like Duwane said, it is already,just quite unofficially.
I don't think it should be made the official language of the world but instead i believe that English should be a language which everyone is expected to know in order to communicate with when they travel abroad.
English is a very versatile language, in my opinion, as it is widespread and expressive, but I wouldn't like to see a world where people from thousands of regions and heritages around the world conform to speak one language,'English'. When travelling a language barrier has always been a obstacle in our way, but I also see it as part of the fun, to interact with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, a world of a difference from yours.
If english was made the official language of the world we would see a rapid decrease in the languages spoken worldwide. Beautiful languages and musical dialects would forever be lost to the actively spoken tongues, going in the way of Latin, to become dead languages.
The click-rich speech of Africa would be ancient history, and French too, the language of love, a forgotten fairytale.
I actually completely agree with Duwane.
I think English already is the official language of the world, just not formally announced.
I feel like it's a good thing that we have an international language, one that most of us can speak. And I do think that it makes it easier for us to all communicate globally, but like Duwane said, I don't think it SHOULD be made official or necessary for us ALL to speak he language. It does seem too insipid and feels almost like it would suck all our cultural values.
So, I think it should remain as it is. Official, but not official. ..If that makes sense. :)
Well like most of us said above english is sort of already the official language of the world, it's just nobody has really declared it.
English is a language spoken nearly everywhere on the face of this planet, however demolishing or declining other languages is absolutely unjust! Yes we may speak english most of the time but not to forget that majority of us have a different mother tongue. Meaning we also speak various languages other than english, we cannot give away or simply ignore these beautiful languages as this also throws away culture and history!
Therefore I personally think the world is perfectly fine how it is an there is no need for any dramatic change!
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