DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - do you think future generations will learn chinese rather than english as a lingua fr

**IamRobot** · 08-25-2010, 05:16 AM

I think it's going to be the other way around: Chinese will start learning english or any other language. Chinese is too hard to learn and un-practical.

A very large number of Asians already can speak English in-addition to Chinese or Japanese or Korean.

But having dual-languages necessarily does not mean that one of them (Chinese for example) is going to go extinct or even drop from common usage.

I think we will all end up speaking Spanish.

Look at in the U.S where spanish language is assimilating us instead of us assimilasting them to English.

Spanish is really one of the most simple languages to learn in the world. So therefor it makes it likely to spread.

I think Chinese is so hard & outdated that overtime they will likely adopt more & more European languages.
Especially as they do more business with us.

But, the U.S seems to be assimilating to Spanish. China is doing business with the U.S.

Good point, I hadn't thought about that.

A "simple" language would be easiest and most-accessible to the largest amount of people. So Spanish could spread as a language through this route. English and Spanish are both Latin-derived, though very separate now.

If your point is true, which it seems so, then the "simple" languages should spread amongst people who need an "easy" language to communicate to each-other. I do think different languages reflect advanced or non-advanced variables which coincide with technological, social, cultural progress, etc.

I was told a fact that 'English' and 'German' had the most words of all languages in the world. Anyone confirm/deny?? If true then there is a definite correlation between word-amount within a given language and physical-conceptual structures of the brain…

1. That has nothing to do with language structure, but an easy quick way to type characters in your mobile phone.

(Poor) Grammar has nothing to do with language structure? ~ really??

1337-speak does affect (Amerikanized-English) language…?

I disagree.

2. All languages (all speakers) can adapt to new circumstances.

I agree.

3. I wonder how the European Union, which is an economic superpower too, will solve its language diversity.

I guess the EU probably will remain multi-lingual and its adherents prominently will speak anywhere between 3-5 different languages, especially including: English, French, and German. Any other languages will compete for cultural (and economic) superiority.

Europa has been infighting since forever. I doubt it will stop anytime soon. For a good example, I just cite how Finns hate Russians and take every opportunity to argue about their roots everyday. They are not going to stop anytime soon. In fact, Europeans killed each-other all the time during the Middle Ages over more mundane & trivial issues.

Europeans are clan-dominated, and still very nationalistic (despite Globalism)…

4. There are other languages/regions to take into account, I think. South America and Spanish/Portuguese. Africa and English/French/Arabic, all of them official in most of African countries. Bear in mind that English is an official language in India. Russian and Russia/Slavic Europe.

I do not think these languages will spread on the world-stage without major shifts in empirical power. Unless there were any type of "Brazilian Empire" within the next three centuries… nobody cares about South Amerika, or Australia. They are "just there, doing their thing".

5. Language mixing (creolization, pidgins) are rare and only occur when at last two extremely different linguistic communities share a place. I can't imagine how such a thing would take place in the xxi century between English and Chinese.

Very easy between English and Chinese: economic trade wars.

This already has begun a decade ago, between Japan, US, and China…

Many Hispanics can't speak Spanish. They're basically third or fourth generation Americans. Many just speak Spanglish, Spanish with lots of English words and expressions. The next stage for the latter and their children is full assimilation into the dominant linguistic community: English speakers.

I think you are right about "Spanglish".

I grew up with a lot of Hispanic immigrants and they did/do speak "Spanglish".

This is a fine example of languages mixing together.

08-25-2010, 05:16 AM	#28
IamRobot Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 411 Senior Member	I think it's going to be the other way around: Chinese will start learning english or any other language. Chinese is too hard to learn and un-practical. A very large number of Asians already can speak English in-addition to Chinese or Japanese or Korean. But having dual-languages necessarily does not mean that one of them (Chinese for example) is going to go extinct or even drop from common usage. I think we will all end up speaking Spanish. Look at in the U.S where spanish language is assimilating us instead of us assimilasting them to English. Spanish is really one of the most simple languages to learn in the world. So therefor it makes it likely to spread. I think Chinese is so hard & outdated that overtime they will likely adopt more & more European languages. Especially as they do more business with us. But, the U.S seems to be assimilating to Spanish. China is doing business with the U.S. Good point, I hadn't thought about that. A "simple" language would be easiest and most-accessible to the largest amount of people. So Spanish could spread as a language through this route. English and Spanish are both Latin-derived, though very separate now. If your point is true, which it seems so, then the "simple" languages should spread amongst people who need an "easy" language to communicate to each-other. I do think different languages reflect advanced or non-advanced variables which coincide with technological, social, cultural progress, etc. I was told a fact that 'English' and 'German' had the most words of all languages in the world. Anyone confirm/deny?? If true then there is a definite correlation between word-amount within a given language and physical-conceptual structures of the brain… 1. That has nothing to do with language structure, but an easy quick way to type characters in your mobile phone. (Poor) Grammar has nothing to do with language structure? ~ really?? 1337-speak does affect (Amerikanized-English) language…? I disagree. 2. All languages (all speakers) can adapt to new circumstances. I agree. 3. I wonder how the European Union, which is an economic superpower too, will solve its language diversity. I guess the EU probably will remain multi-lingual and its adherents prominently will speak anywhere between 3-5 different languages, especially including: English, French, and German. Any other languages will compete for cultural (and economic) superiority. Europa has been infighting since forever. I doubt it will stop anytime soon. For a good example, I just cite how Finns hate Russians and take every opportunity to argue about their roots everyday. They are not going to stop anytime soon. In fact, Europeans killed each-other all the time during the Middle Ages over more mundane & trivial issues. Europeans are clan-dominated, and still very nationalistic (despite Globalism)… 4. There are other languages/regions to take into account, I think. South America and Spanish/Portuguese. Africa and English/French/Arabic, all of them official in most of African countries. Bear in mind that English is an official language in India. Russian and Russia/Slavic Europe. I do not think these languages will spread on the world-stage without major shifts in empirical power. Unless there were any type of "Brazilian Empire" within the next three centuries… nobody cares about South Amerika, or Australia. They are "just there, doing their thing". 5. Language mixing (creolization, pidgins) are rare and only occur when at last two extremely different linguistic communities share a place. I can't imagine how such a thing would take place in the xxi century between English and Chinese. Very easy between English and Chinese: economic trade wars. This already has begun a decade ago, between Japan, US, and China… Many Hispanics can't speak Spanish. They're basically third or fourth generation Americans. Many just speak Spanglish, Spanish with lots of English words and expressions. The next stage for the latter and their children is full assimilation into the dominant linguistic community: English speakers. I think you are right about "Spanglish". I grew up with a lot of Hispanic immigrants and they did/do speak "Spanglish". This is a fine example of languages mixing together.
	Quote