English-Only EU?

[Unkotare]

Language diversity: Johnson: Just speak English? | The Economist


It would be simpler if the EU just conducted all its business in English, but...

 

[longknife]

He;s got to be kidding. There's no way the French would EVER go for that!!!

 

[Unkotare]

They aren't the only ones who wouldn't. It's a thought though.

 

[Politico]

What an idiot.

 

[Bleipriester]

It would be easier if the few English speaking natives would learn German.
German as most used language in Europe is predestinated to be Europe´s major language. Furthermore, Europe does not need to become a bad copy of the US, but should have its own soul.
And by the way: The US don´t have an official language.

 

[Unkotare]

And by the way: The US don´t [sic] have an official language.

...........................

 

[Bleipriester]

And by the way: The US don´t [sic] have an official language.

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

 

[Unkotare]

And by the way: The US don´t [sic] have an official language.

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

I can see why you are scared of English!

 

[Bleipriester]

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

I can see why you are scared of English!

I´m not. States (yes, plural) always do and never does. You maybe should daunce a while.

 

[Unkotare]

Take it up with your English teacher. He or she has a lot of work to do.

 

[Bleipriester]

Take it up with your English teacher. He or she has a lot of work to do.

Daunce, Frankyboy, daunce.

 

[MHunterB]

And by the way: The US don´t [sic] have an official language.

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

Well, yes and no: it's a single political entity at the national level, like the old USSR. In 'British' English, that's still a plural - but not here in the US : ))

 

[MHunterB]

Heading back in the general direction of the topic for a minute......

While Germany is the pre-eminent economic power in Europe and the German language is used in parts of Switzerland, in Austria, and is closely related to Dutch, less so to English and the Scandinavian languages - it is also unfortunately the case that many smaller nations will resent German 'dominance' based entirely on past history. And I mean going all the way back to the 'Holy Roman Empire'!

While I attempt to eschew even linguistic chauvinism, English remains the 'standard' language for airport traffic control, for computers, and is the 'second language' of choice in many places around the world. (Only it's actually 'American').

For decades, English functioned as the 'official' language of India - even though it was a 'Colonial' tongue and hated for that reason, at least it wasn't one of the 'other 20-odd regional languages of that sub-continent. The Indian intellectuals got into a fairly recent bout of 'ethnic pride' and have been pushing for the return to culturally authentic language - but can't agree on which one to use.

I'm not mocking them for that situation: which language we use does indeed shape how we view the world, and no two languages are exact 'equivalents'.

 

[Unkotare]

German as most used language in Europe .

No, Europe has more native German speakers. It is not "the most used language in Europe."

 

[Bleipriester]

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

Well, yes and no: it's a single political entity at the national level, like the old USSR. In 'British' English, that's still a plural - but not here in the US : ))

Thank you for that useful information.

 

[Bleipriester]

While Germany is the pre-eminent economic power in Europe and the German language is used in parts of Switzerland, in Austria, and is closely related to Dutch, less so to English and the Scandinavian languages - it is also unfortunately the case that many smaller nations will resent German 'dominance' based entirely on past history. And I mean going all the way back to the 'Holy Roman Empire'!

Yes, but it is a wrong view. The Netherlands e.g. simply were (was?) a part of the Holy Roman Empire and left it some time. But the Holy Roman Empire was a loose bound anyway. Many currencies, armies and laws.

While I attempt to eschew even linguistic chauvinism, English remains the 'standard' language for airport traffic control, for computers, and is the 'second language' of choice in many places around the world. (Only it's actually 'American').

They can eat our money, so they can speak our language.

 

[Bleipriester]

No, Europe has more native German speakers. It is not "the most used language in Europe."

Yes, it is. We don´t use English in the everyday life, most of us don´t speak English anyway (40% in France and Germany do). Foreign movies and series are translated in sync and software is localized. So German is the most used language in Europe.

 

[Unkotare]

No, Europe has more native German speakers. It is not "the most used language in Europe."

Yes, it is. We don´t use English in the everyday life, most of us don´t speak English anyway (40% in France and Germany do). Foreign movies and series are translated in sync and software is localized. So German is the most used language in Europe.

No, it is not. Try reading this carefully: German is the most common native language in Europe, but not the most commonly used. English is the most commonly used language in the EU, followed by French and then German, whether you like it or not. More people in all EU countries are likely to have learned English as a second language than any other and to use it in international commerce, diplomacy, cultural exchange, etc. Germans study English as a second language first and more commonly than any other as well.

That's just how it is, regardless of how you feel about it.

 

[PrometheusBound]

And by the way: The US don´t [sic] have an official language.

...........................

"However, no official language exists at the federal level."
Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By the way: United States is a plural.

No, it's not. That was changed after the Civil War, taking e pluribus unum into grammar. The New York Times is also a singular with a plural form. The times are changing, but the Times is not changing.

 

[Bleipriester]

No, Europe has more native German speakers. It is not "the most used language in Europe."

Yes, it is. We don´t use English in the everyday life, most of us don´t speak English anyway (40% in France and Germany do). Foreign movies and series are translated in sync and software is localized. So German is the most used language in Europe.

No, it is not. Try reading this carefully: German is the most common native language in Europe, but not the most commonly used. English is the most commonly used language in the EU, followed by French and then German, whether you like it or not. More people in all EU countries are likely to have learned English as a second language than any other and to use it in international commerce, diplomacy, cultural exchange, etc. Germans study English as a second language first and more commonly than any other as well.

That's just how it is, regardless of how you feel about it.

I don´t feel anyhow about it. And I wonder how great the share of people involved in "international commerce, diplomacy, cultural exchange, etc." must be...