English is being learned all over the world and has become the universal language. And yet, some people still say that all the immigrants here will make this country lose English. It is not going to happen. - - Donna Poisl
DELAWARE VOICE • BY E.E. JAFFE
Once again, the question about English as the only official language in the U.S. was discussed. Some people in Delaware are interested in Spanish as another official language, protesting the "English Only" bill passed some time ago by the state House of Representatives. Demands by disparate groups for the institution of languages other than English are beyond comprehension when one considers the impact of English in the U.S. and worldwide.
English, the language of Shakespeare and Yogi Berra, has become the universal language of the world. No matter what corner of the world one visits, and I have visited quite a few, the language one can use most effectively on the street or government offices is English. In the boardrooms and on the Internet, English has no equal. English has truly become an international language.
Great Britain was the predominant colonial power in the 19th century, and the U.S. is now the major superpower on the face of the Earth. America is still the major driving force in international commerce and has an enormous cultural influence through American movies, music and books.
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1 comment:
Where on earth did you get the information that English is already the World's universal language!
I live in London and if anyone says to me “everyone speaks English” my answer is “Listen and look around you”. If people in London do not speak English then the whole question of a global language is completely open.
The promulgation of English as the world’s “lingua franca” is impractical and linguistically undemocratic. I say this as a native English speaker!
Impractical because communication should be for all and not only for an educational or political elite. That is how English is used internationally at the moment.
Undemocratic because minority languages are under attack worldwide due to the encroachment of majority ethnic languages. Even Mandarin Chinese is attempting to dominate as well. The long-term solution must be found and a non-national language, which places all ethnic languages on an equal footing is essential.
An interesting video can be seen at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_YHALnLV9XU Professor Piron was a former translator with the United Nations
A glimpse of the global language,Esperanto, can be seen at http://www.lernu.net
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