One spoken language on Earth?

bitslice · 16 Jul 2012 at 07:49

majnu said:
The lazy English attitude needs to change and people need to learn other languages themselves. I find it a disgrace that English people only speak English and then they don't even speak that well.

Not sure it is laziness, I can learn most subjects but languages elude me, I just can't understand how to make it work. I have to make do with learning a few phrases, parrot fashion.

Ahleckz · 16 Jul 2012 at 13:51

Re. BRITISH (why are people defaulting to 'English'?) people not speaking other languages whereas those on the continent do. The fact is that they learn English in school from a much younger age whereas we only really get going in our 8th year of education. By that point, it's far too late for many people and they'll never 'get' it. Also, I found that my language education (German) was entirely pointless as it had no context whatsoever which I imagine is something many people find. However, English is seen as a necessary (or at least very useful) skill - hence why ESL/EFL is such a large field.

I'd love to learn another language, and when I'm abroad I try and communicate in their language where possible. However, I have no interest in learning 4, 5, 6, or more languages just 'because'. It's entirely pointless for me, as it probably is for a lot of those who can speak that many languages.

It's a very British thing, instead of being proud of having the global language we seem to want to put ourselves down and pity ourselves for it.

Joshct · 16 Jul 2012 at 13:57

I'm happy to speak another language, provided i'm taught it matrix style and it's downloaded instantly to my brain

...

Aod · 16 Jul 2012 at 18:51

Efour2 said:
Ever seen the SciFi series Firefly? They speak a mix of Chinese(Cantonese?) and English, mixing the 2 all the time its actually quite funny, swapping mid sentence.

Just to clarify, the Chinese Dialect spoken in Firefly is Mandarin, not Cantonese.

She-she is the mandarin way of saying thank you, whereas in Cantonese it's m'goi

Source; Trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong about a month ago

estebanrey · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:00

Aod said:
Source; Trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong about a month ago

KNiVES · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:30

bitslice said:
Not sure it is laziness, I can learn most subjects but languages elude me, I just can't understand how to make it work. I have to make do with learning a few phrases, parrot fashion.

It doesn't help that French and German classes in the UK are absolutely abysmal. I tried my best in French classes, attaining an A in GCSE French and I still wouldn't be able to hold my own in France.

Redz · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:34

KNiVES said:
It doesn't help that French and German classes in the UK are absolutely abysmal. I tried my best in French classes, attaining an A in GCSE French and I still wouldn't be able to hold my own in France.

It's a cunning plot.

theleg · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:39

Hudzy said:
This, but I do think that's a shame.

Couldn't disagree more. The diversity of peoples in the world is a great thing. To become all the same would be incredibly boring imo.

theleg · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:42

Silent UK said:
Some great responses and counter arguments made so far.

One of the main reasons behind my initial question though, is do people think that until the world can be united under one main (L1/L2) language (however long this takes). We as a species are getting held back?, as some of the main barriers of gaining knowledge from someone else is caused by where those two people live, and what language they understand.

Competition is the primary motivator for innovation and advancement. Being all set up in our separate little tribes has done a lot for the advancement of the species.

theleg · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:43

Castiel said:
Sweeping judgement much!!.........I know plenty of English people who speak multiple languages. I also know plenty of Europeans who only speak their own native tongue and very little else.....

The majority of brits are monolingual. The majority of europeans are bi. Its understandable because we do use the lingua franca natively. Very little importance is attached to other languages in the UK.

Castiel · 16 Jul 2012 at 19:51

Balddog said:
The majority of brits are monolingual. The majority of europeans are bi. Its understandable because we do use the lingua franca natively. Very little importance is attached to other languages in the UK.

Yes, you are absolutely right.

olivier renault · 16 Jul 2012 at 20:28

There are advantages to speaking a language not everyone understands. As there is to speaking a language everyone understands.

English is the most widespread among polite society. Bi-lingual status quo really, but more of it.

Aod · 16 Jul 2012 at 20:46

estebanrey said:
http://i50.tinypic.com/iqly4w.png

Ahahaha, awesome! Thanks for that!

It was actually a business trip, not a holiday, but we did get awfully close to the Hong Kong Red-Light-District by accident! :eek:

This Side Up · 16 Jul 2012 at 20:50

If everyone were capable of speaking one common language then that would make some aspects a little easier i.e. travelling to foreign lands etc.

However, if everyone spoke, say, English and nothing else, then it'd become boring.

I quite like the rich and diverse cultures in the world, and the interesting languages and dialects that this brings. It'd be a shame if this wasn't the case.

needforspeed · 16 Jul 2012 at 20:50

Aod said:
Ahahaha, awesome! Thanks for that!

It was actually a business trip, not a holiday, but we did get awfully close to the Hong Kong Red-Light-District by accident!

Have you been to the Ladies' Market?

Aod · 16 Jul 2012 at 21:57

We didn't no, we spent most of the time in meetings, if I'm honest.
We did spend a lot of time in Kwong Wa St.