[QUOTE="dark_orb"]I think I see what your getting at but I'm not sure where I stand. One one side have one global standard language (ie English) would make a lot of things easier for business, travel, and general human interaction. Being an English speaking individual I find it comforting that I can go to any major country and it's only a matter of time till I find someone that speaks my language if I need help. If your in Europe chances are somebody working where you are shopping knows at least enough English to help you find something. It's great and I can't imagine how life is for people that don't have that going for them. On the other hand the loss of all the other beautiful world languages would be a blow to the diversity and wonder of the human race. I speak a bit of German because I think the language is beautiful. I have a nice assortment of foreign music because I like the sound of French, Russian, and Japanese. If these cultures were forced to adopt English as their primary language I think that some part of their unique culture would be lost.
So I don't really know which is really the better deal; one language or many?
7guns
This is a very de-evolutionary line of thinking, I must say!
To be able to freely communicate with others is very important thing and if it is harmful to the culture, it is an acceptable price to pay.
I wouldn't say it's de-evolutionary to think like that at all. I recognized the pros and the genuine need for a global standard language in this day and age in the post you quoted. Unfortunately, like so many things, it's just not that simple. As someone that has spent time immersed in other cultures, married someone from another culture, and keeps in contact with several people from various cultures. I do think that the loss of a language would be a loss for the diversity of the human species. In places like Germany English is seen as "cool", everybody wants to speak it. Little shops and bars with English names are "in" in most places around the world. I believe that there is a fine line between establishing one global standard language and one global culture, if people are not careful they risk losing what makes them unique in favor of being like the English speaking countries. Look at Native populations throughout North America that are fighting to retain their language and their culture alive instead of being swallowed. I believe that this is part of why so many people in Islamic countries hate the western world so much. They see their traditional values being replaced by those of a foregin culture. To resist and/or resent change is natural for people. For reasons beyond me what we call western society has a quality that people just slip into. One could argue that immigrants that become like us also influence our culture but from what I can tell all were interested in is their food.
Anyway, I wasn't saying that there shouldn't be a global language, I think it's the way forward for the human race. I just think it's something to be thought about carefully, realizing and taking into account the potential risks and sacrifices the rest of the worlds cultures would have to make and are making. It's easy to say it's an acceptable price to pay when nothing is changing for you. Imagine if it were your language and your traditions that were dieing in favor of globalization. Imagine a world where people didn't bother celebrating x-mas in favor of some Chinese holiday, imagine seeing your grandchildren not experiencing or being interested in cultural traditions that you hold dear. Imagine if radical Islam was the norm and you weren't allowed to treat your girlfriend as an equal, or if you had to accept an arranged marrage for your thirteen year old daughter. Would you still say that the world is a better place because we all speak the same language?
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