English as a universal language

[ambera]

Yep, that's what I meant by classic imperial guilt, in case it wasn't clear (thanks for articulating it Shark). Cultural hegemony as a concept makes me very uncomfortable.

The Romantic & Germanic languages are pretty distinct & the thought processes (ooppss generalisation time) of those distinct groups tends to be subtly different.

It's even more particular than that though innit? I mean, English is a hybrid language, but I find myself thinking noticeably differently when speaking a lot of French or Italian. Going deeper, there's an interaction between thought & use of language even within one's native language-use; like the difference in your perceptions depending on whether you're holding a hammer or a screwdriver - we could not have had this conversation in 1337 speak.

[Elrandhir]

For me it's all about respect toward others ingame tbh, I do speak Swedish now and again, but only when I know all with me can understand it.

Ofcourse I might forget myself at occasions though ;D

[Sharkith]

[quote="ambera"]Going deeper, there's an interaction between thought & use of language even within one's native language-use]

indeed but I am trying to avoid getting into work stuff I am on me holidays!!

[Sharkith]

[quote="Elrandhir"]For me it's all about respect toward others ingame tbh, I do speak Swedish now and again, but only when I know all with me can undrerstand it.

Ofcourse I might forget myself at occasions though ]

Yes and it is very ironic that a non-native English speaker would say what your saying and many of us are uneasy about it. Like Paul and Ambs are saying. It is better to respect the differences first and then hopefully people will know when to get over their differences when necessary.

Anyway - I still think the idea of another cluster sucks!

[Maeloch]

Bring back Shatner & his Esperanto (or whatever it was).

On thought processes, the question is what throught processes where going on when he recorded Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds...

[HappyG]

It's logical to me that if most European countries have adopted one currency and one system of measurement, that they should adopt one language. English is the obvious choice. It's already the main language of business and the Internet on a global scale.

So I think Europe should abolish the teaching of any language other than English. They ought to allow 10 years for every European to learn English as a native tongue, then make it illegal to speak any other language, like Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek etc. etc.

Then we won't have to worry about language barriers at all on servers.


]

I suggest we cut the anchor and let England sail to her mother on the west

No-one is saying that we are trying to turn Europeans into "little Frenchies" by forcing Europe down the road of Metrication. Likewise, we are not trying to turn everyone into little Englanders. It just makes sense that the dominant language should be adopted above all others.

Tbh you can easily convert all metric units using only 7 basic units, multiplication, division and power of 10. It takes way more than that only to convert feet in yards and yards in miles So I doubt frenchies have much to do with it's popularity (except the fact they had the guts to cut off the old system and officialise the more logic one).
If you believe dominant language should be adopted above all others, start to learn Mandarin and Spanish, and I hope your grandpa had German dictionary back than in '35 If you pick (as it was done in metric system) the simpliest one, than English with all the tenses ain't the right choice at all. I'd rather speak spanish jejejeje xDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

One other thing, having multiple languages divides the world. There potentially would be less wars if everyone could understand each other. OTOH, people would still find ways to create a them and us situation.

Don't agree really... Turn on BBC and you have Israelis yelling "god damn arabic terrorists" and Palestinians yelling "burn them, infidels!". When war is raging, people take care other side will understand them.

Language difference is more of a consequence than a reason for war. For instance, pre 1990 there was one language spoken in Croatia and Serbia and it was called Serbo-Croatian. After the war, people on both sides quickly started to make up their own words, simply to differ from the other side, and nowadays official grammar of both languages is different in many words.

[Lieva]

imo

just depressing that most of the european countries can speak two languages fluently and in england we have difficulty speaking the one..

[Ovi]

The point of Chinese is valid. Currently more people speak Mandarin than any other language / dialect. Count first, second, any number of languages people speak Mandarin has more speakers.

Whether a people are mobile is certainly a good point, China will soon become the largest economy in the world, most of that is based on their cheaply produced exports. Exports don't get sold without people moving around selling stuff.

There are Ex-pat Chinese in many parts of the world, how many major towns and cites have a China-town?

Times are changing, as they always are, and we are coming to a junction on language where there will soon be 1 main language, the decision will be made largely by the Asian (mainly China, but also Japan, Korea etc.) business community. Whether they decide it's easier to teach the world Chinese, or for them to learn English. No I really don't think French or Spanish will be serious contenders, although neither are out of the running.

The company I work for have just started providing Chinese lessons to one business sector, because a significant proportion of their work is for Chinese companies. I just happened to blag an extra place on the course, so Chinese is now officially my third language (although that doesn't say much really!)

As an Englishman I am far from ashamed or embarrased by our colonialisation, but I also don't feel England was robbed of the Empire. I guess I fit into a third category Paul?

When you look at what "the Empire" did in the context of today's values then sure the actions seem shameful. If you consider them in terms of the values around at the time then I think most of the actions were much less shameful, and were done with the best of intentions, and I think our actions were much more honourable than almost any other empire in history.

At the time, one thing that the British Empire did well was to run countries and manage their economies. It wasn't just the British that benefited either, most of the local populations had better conditions then they they currently do today. Considering the size, geographic diversity & cultural diversity I would say I am actually quite proud of what the empire achieved, certainly not ashamed!

As for the being robbed part, I certainly don't feel that way. I think our time had been served. We did our best for the countries, and tried to leave them in good shape. Some have prospered; Australia, India, etc while others have been less fortunate, Zimbabwe comes to mind here. Whatever the result it was time to move on, the world changed and it was time to return the countries to their own control.

My biggest regret, is that America broke away too soon. It's recent actions are those of a bully that was let lose from it's parents at too early an age, and I can't help but feel if it had remaind part of the Empire for longer then it would have been a better behaved adult now! Maybe then I would be less ashamed of my Country's actions now in supporting it's eldest child

[Genedril]

Too many vowels? Ynfydi?

Oki so they veer from too many to hang on I've forgotten to put one in. Well obviously becuase you just used them all in the last word /slaps head.

(I'd like to point out I've nothing against the Welsh actually).

On thought processes, the question is what throught processes where going on when he recorded Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds...

Shatner... Thought process... Oxymoron??

It's even more particular than that though innit? I mean, English is a hybrid language, but I find myself thinking noticeably differently when speaking a lot of French or Italian. Going deeper, there's an interaction between thought & use of language even within one's native language-use]

Well I did say I was being general, but can't argue with that. Neither could we have had this conversation on Freddies House. Someone would have pointed out that no one pays their subs & that I'm 'in fact' an adding t**t!!!111!!! who should do something in real life. It's not just language, but community & both can bridge each other.

[Sharkith]

[quote="Ovi"]At the time, one thing that the English Empire did well was to run countries and manage their economies. It wasn't just the English that benefitted either, most of the local populations had better conditions then they they currently do today. Considering the size, geographic diversity & cultural diversity I would say I am actually quite proud of what the empire achieved, certainly not ashamed!

As for the being robbed part, I certainly don't feel that way. I think our time had been served. We did our best for the countries, and tried to leave them in good shape. Some have prospered]

I am afraid the kind of picture you paint is very rose tinted.