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 Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:33 pm
I heard (somewhere) that by something like 2050, 50% of the world will be speaking English as a second/first language.
This brings about the question. Why? Why do you think English is spreading?
I've had several thoughts on the matter, myself. I'll elaborate.
1. The British Empire: covered approximately 25% of the globe. Could this have laid the foundations down? Now most of it is the Commonwealth, the links between these countries and the UK are still strong. Strong enough to spread a language?
2. The USA: The USA export their television and films all over the world. However, they are sometimes dubbed into (insert a language). However, maybe people have been purposely looking for the undubbed version and/or subtitled. Like some people do with anime.
3. Tourism: When English speakers go abroad, it is common for them to still actually speak English (which is ******** rude imho). In tourist spots they take an eager interest in learning so that they can communicate fully with tourists. Purely because you don't sell much by being a b***h who can't lern/2/english.
So now I turn to you! Why is English spreading? Which is the biggest influence?
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:13 pm
It's the language of commerce, where people speak English, there is money to be made.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:24 pm
Exactly. Diplomats, merchants, politicians, army officers, everyone of importance speaks english. Even if China should rise to dominate the world economy, it will never become commonplace to speak mandarin. English is here to stay.
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 6:26 pm
Kino D Exactly. Diplomats, merchants, politicians, army officers, everyone of importance speaks english. Even if China should rise to dominate the world economy, it will never become commonplace to speak mandarin. English is here to stay. Although if you watch shows from the late-80's early-90's everything is written in mandarin. The old concept was China would rise to an economic power-house and it would esstentially replace the US and English. Even shows like Firefly (The Serenity Movie) had the language panels in Mandarin.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:24 am
I don't know, maybe because United States is the strongest nation with it's military power. Apparently it's known across the world anyways. United States have no clue on soft power, kind of stupid to fight in Iraq for 1 trillion dollars for not much practical reasons.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:39 am
The U.S.-a predominantly English speaking country, is considered one of the most powerful and wealthiest countries in the world-along with places like the British Empire.
With power and wealth come influence. The English speaking community simply has more influence over a lot of places. Japanese is also expanding it's influence as well as they become yet more powerful.
In short, I think all of your mentioned reasons point to wealth and power, so I think they all contribute to the spread of the English Language.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 9:19 am
USA = Biggest a** Hole In The Play-Ground
Biggest a** Hole In The Play-Ground = Other Kids Don't Want To Get Bullied
Other Kids Don't Want To Get Bullied = Be Nice To Bully And You Don't Get A Nuke-To-The-Face
Be Nice To Bully And You Don't Get A Nuke-To-The-Face = Speak His Language
Speak His Language = So You Can Say "Uncle"
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:22 pm
Cripe, all this theorizing. Does anyone here speak a language besides English?
Does anyone else see how incessantly versatile the english language is?
I have been slowly learning several languages, after what I feel to be a close mastery of my own, which is English sosueme, and no matter how many avenues I go through, there just seem to be so few other languages that present the ability to convey a single thought in so many variances of inflection as to infer a completely different meaning, and without the added impact of vocal tone. Simply written, English covers twice the ground some languages do. Spanish, for instance...
Now, I may be pelted with large, heavy rocks for this, because I do seem to come off as having superiority, but from a purely objective standpoint, leaving all humanity and culture out of it, I believe English is just a good language to know, for the sake of learning.
Blaming the USA isn't fair- I know that in Sweden at the very least, the English they are taught is an English English, not an American English, and it is a required class in school. It's a sort of reverse conceit to think we're to blame for the spread of the language. It was Great Britain that tried to take over the world, after all. Things have happened, and we can't reverse ******** rude imho"? Do you know how many schools in the USA actually offer foreign language classes? I swear you can count them on a hand. That program has been systematically trimmed down to nothing by the federal government, which apparently hates funding public school. If we had the opportunity to learn, we would. Trust me.
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