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"Language of the Future" | ||
Tags: Lingua franca | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| frenkeld Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 6946 days ago 2042 posts - 2719 votes  Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: German | Message 41 of 47 16 August 2012 at 4:53pm | IP Logged | ||
One factor to consider is that many countries have a large middle class, something that wasn't true in the past. In some of those countries it is no longer just "the elites" that know some English or are studying it. In that sense, English is in a different position than French ever was, although this is still no guarantee of permanence. Edited by frenkeld on 16 August 2012 at 4:55pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Medulin Tetraglot Senior Member Croatia Joined 4671 days ago 1199 posts - 2192 votes Speaks: Croatian*, English, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Norwegian, Hindi, Nepali | Message 42 of 47 16 August 2012 at 7:24pm | IP Logged | ||
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English is already a lingua franca in Asia (except in China and Japan), from Korea to India, Malaysia, and Philippines, people learn English, and many are fluent.
The same is true of Southern parts of Africa, even in Mozambique people learn English (to communicate with neighbors). Edited by Medulin on 16 August 2012 at 7:25pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| aodhanc Diglot Groupie Iceland Joined 6263 days ago 92 posts - 130 votes Speaks: English*, FrenchB2 Studies: Spanish | Message 43 of 47 16 August 2012 at 8:12pm | IP Logged | ||
I agree in relation to Asia. But I'm not sure where you get your information about Mozambique, where only about half the population manage to speak the official language Portuguese. Apart from that, there are numerous Bantu languages spoken in the more rural areas. However, despite being surrounded by anglophone countries, English is barely spoken in Mozambique, even amongst the educated. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Volte Tetraglot Senior Member Switzerland Joined 6442 days ago 4474 posts - 6726 votes Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese | Message 44 of 47 16 August 2012 at 9:24pm | IP Logged | ||
People learn English everywhere in the world, but you can't get by on it well even in a tourist in most countries. Wikipedia suggests English knowledge in Korea isn't so good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_South_Korea#Englis h_education : "According to a 2003 survey conducted by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, despite being one of the countries in Asia that spends the most money on English-language education, South Korea ranks the lowest among 12 Asian countries in English ability." Wikipedia's list of countries by English-speaking population might also be of interest... 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Medulin Tetraglot Senior Member Croatia Joined 4671 days ago 1199 posts - 2192 votes Speaks: Croatian*, English, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Norwegian, Hindi, Nepali | Message 45 of 47 16 August 2012 at 9:34pm | IP Logged | ||
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Well, Mozambique entered the Commonwealth in order to promote learning of English. ;)
In Maputo, pupils study Portuguese and English (and not Bantu languages, since unlike in South Africa, no Bantu language is official in MZ). ''All members except Mozambique and Rwanda were part of the British Empire, out of which the Commonwealth developed. '' (Wikipedia) In India, tourists can manage with English just fine, since English is understood and spoken by people who should be familiar with English (public officials, police, tourism workers). ;) Edited by Medulin on 16 August 2012 at 9:38pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| beano Diglot Senior Member United KingdomRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4625 days ago 1049 posts - 2152 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Russian, Serbian, Hungarian | Message 46 of 47 16 August 2012 at 11:04pm | IP Logged | ||
A huge chunk of Russia lies in Asia. Very little English will be understood there. Mongolia won't have many English speakers either. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Gabriel Anton Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4606 days ago 10 posts - 26 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Persian, Pashto | Message 47 of 47 17 August 2012 at 4:02pm | IP Logged | ||
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I have to disagree with the people talking about economics and population, and agree with
the people talking about inertia and culture. China could have an economy twice the size of the U.S, but at what point will a Dane - Kenyan, and Indian all be learning Mandarin so that they may speak to each other? Edited by Gabriel Anton on 17 August 2012 at 4:04pm 3 persons have voted this message useful |
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