Victims of our own success
The British have spread far and wide. Our language has become the global language. As there are two sides to every coin there is a disadvantage to this. We have become lazy learning new languages. We don't need to so we don't. Consequently most of our European neighbours can come to Britain to work without too much trouble as they speak English, sadly most British people would have enormous trouble attempting the same undertaking. We are victims of our own success.
Sent by: Bob
Comments
Well, let me see... If The Netherlands didn't trade New York (Nieuw Amsterdam, at that time) for another colony, does that mean America would now speak Dutch instead of English? And Dutch would've been the 'lingua franca'? I guess it's more by accident, like America became so powerful, that English has become so well known and spoken. Certainly not due to it's simple grammatic. And also not because of the big infuence the UK has in Europe. Maybe I'm right, maybe not. But it would've been much easier for me to write this down in my native language instead of translating this. I know for sure that, if I'm not able to speak any other languages, I'll have a big problem. It's just a matter of time till the influence of English will fade away, just as it happened with French a hundred year ago.
Richard, English is NOT the global language at all. It's popular, yes, it's a lingua franca, yes but by no means is a "global language".
Well, I can see what you mean by this, but Europeans would probably have big problems trying to express themselves in any language in Europe. English is only one of the European languages. So if you learned to express yourselves in one other language in Europe, it would be a tie :P
You're right, Richard. What you call laziness I call ignorance. And of course you do need to learn other languages at least to develop a respect for other cultures, which some British lack due to Europeans tolerant behaviour towards English.
Richard, was it not English settlers who settled in America and were under the British rule not so long ago. Without England the English-speaking America would not exist. Also America was quite isolated for a long time, not until recently has this changed, so with that fact it couldn't possibly have been America's business success that made English a global language. That was done a long time ago. About the same time America was founded I think.
Please remember, Richard, that English has become the global language not because of America which has only become a world power since the end of the world wars but because of the British Empire, which ruled a third of the world one time. Idon't think it was Disney that did this, nor even America yet!
Please remember, Richard, that America exists because of Britain. (I am a proud native of the U.S.)
Please remember that English is the global language because of American, not British, influence.
Wouldn't it just be marvelous if there was one language which everyone understands? How can this be dangerous for all the other languages? I think the opposite is true: If there is one language understood by everyone, there can be innumerable languages in addition. Whereas, if many languages are in kind of a competition - well, i think the "survival rate" would be much lower...
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