What If The World Spoke One Language

[husker 0]

Could you imagine the world just speaking one language? I have no clue what it would be, but do you like the idea or not? I think it would be helpful in some ways. It would save us all the time that we spend on studying languages and end some controversy. But I can also see some downsides. This would be a nearly impossible feat to achieve and would also get rid of the values the language had on the people. But, I still believe it is a good idea. There are many other things that make people diverse. Although it would be hard to do, I think we should have only one language.

[Albus Dumbledore 0]

thats the best ideal i have ever heard right next to ummm nothing! loli absoloutly hate that there are other languages in the world..well not hate that there are other languages, but i just hate that everyone is forced to learn another language just because there are so many languages in the world.... and because america has a mixture of all of themi think that is a great ideal, and i wish that was the way the world starte out and i wish that was the way it is now, that would save the time in the pointless class a foreign language and actually get some education time. and we just wouldn't have to worry about a native speaker wanting to order somthing at mcdonalds and only speaking their home language when the cahhier only speaks english :)excelent ideal, too bad this will probably never happen -sighs-

[icemarle 0]

The world may be extremely united or the exact opposite... Well for one, we wouldn't need translators which is kinda sad since I want to be one. XD Hmm... since there's only one language, there wouldn't be cultural diversion. No cultural diversion makes the world boring cause the language is the culture. It says a lot about the country. :/ I'd think of it as a nightmare because the world would be bland and boring speaking only one language... Being a person interested in different cultures and languages... yes... a nightmare indeed.It might be the exact opposite since people can speak one language, the people could express their feelings more freely that can fight with each other more. (Of course misunderstandings are inevitable)Though I think the world would become more unified under one culture and language. The reason for misunderstandings are because of the diversity and uniqueness of every person.Still, I don't want that to happen.

[sylenzednuke 0]

Well, on this one I agree with Icemarle, although the idea was quite good but first the downsides are more important as they can ruin this world although the upsides might only increase the smoothrunning.This world would go crazy as because of many more misunderstanding because at times when I speak in normal English to my friends, they think that I am being sarcastic and stuff and really, I have seen that talking in English is a major problem as atleast I cannot express myself properly and yeah I am not stating that the language would be English but I am giving it for an example as it is the most widely known language and an international standard.And I love cultures, okay I find it a pain in the *bottom* to learn the language of my current residing place that is Marathi but yeah I am interested in learning French, Bengali, Punjabi so it's like you can say that I love the diversity in cultures and so I won't like this to happen.But even if it does, I don't mind!

[Kubi 0]

No culture man!Just think about how many french words we use, how many other languages we use in every day speak. There are a lot of words that we used that originated from other places.Food wouldn't be as good. Food will lose it's taste just because it doesn't have a fancy name! :]. I think the world wouldn't be as good as it is today if we all spoke one language. Even if it'd make things easier.

[arnz 0]

While they are benefits to using the one language world-wide, we would lose our diversity and even the meaning of everyday things such as food and so forth. For example french food such as croissant, or pizza originating from Italy and so forth.Personally I wont mind it if it eventuates, but it may even have a reverse impact to what may be predicted (ie unite the world if one language is used, YET.. it may even divide nations more) and also it would lessen the culture and diversity of many countries as said earlier. I'd say keep as is for now

[Plenoptic 0]

We were just talking about this in history class today. About how lower classes spoke their own dialect in Europe in the 18th century and there was a different language every few miles. That was a time when they also thought about national languages. Of course now if we were to try and start a national language it would be impossible. There would be rebellions because of pride in someone's own language and not wanting to have to change now. Of course people would say theirs is better than the other but really there is no "better language". They all allow communication and whatever there isn't a word for they can add words.The idea itself I think would be a great idea. It would end a lot of controversy and the need for translations and what not. People can communicate with ease and reduce misunderstandings. The only problem would be though that people would still start to make their own languages to secretly communicate each other and what not and then sometimes it might spread and then the problem would start again but who knows. If it were possible I'd be all for it. I might not be all for learning the language though lol :)Maybe even a universal currency? No need to make calculations for translating money just pay with smaller bills in smaller economies.

[elevenmil 0]

Yes I could imagine the world only speaking one language. And I think it would definitely be an advantage. First of all, there would be less confusion. Many times we misunderstand or take things out of context. One language equals less confusion. I don't see many disadvantages even as I look at the previous posts made in this thread. No, we wouldn't have fancy names, but imagine how much bigger our vocabulary would be. We have over 6 billion people, I'm sure our vocabulary would be much more advanced and many more words would be used, like strategery.

[rvalkass 5]

If everyone was speaking one language it would probably be one of three: English, as a lot of people already speak it, Chinese, as the Chinese population grows it will become the most spoken language on the planet, or Esperanto, being a neutral language.

 

Having one language would make worldwide communications easier and tourists would find asking for directions, buying things etc, a lot easier. But isn't part of the fun of going on holiday trying to speak the language? Also, you would get people who simply don't want to lose their traditional language, or they just never get taught it. Changing the language of an entire nation takes some time.

 

It's like going metric here in the UK. All the school teachers know feet and inches better than millimetres and metres. All the parents know imperial better too. Therefore kids come out of school still speaking in feet and inches, which they pass on to their kids. The same would happen with a language change, but on a bigger scale. Parents and teachers can't change their language overnight, and some people just find it very difficult to learn a second language, so a language change would take hundreds of years in a country with a substantial education system, what about those without good schooling?

 

The idea and concept is a good one, but I think that it will simply never happen. Then again, it would avoid problems like this sign:

(The Welsh reads: bladder inflammation upset. That's what signwriters get for using Babelfish!)

Edited September 28, 2006 by rvalkass (see edit history)

[wacky_stu 0]

Eventually with the rate that technology is increasing (and ease nations and people are communicating) there will only be one universal language. Because people are becoming so bilingual and internationally aware that all languages will just merge into one universal language with different dialects.Different laguages were inititally formed by isolation of different peoples. We can already see the breakdown of language with the dilution of accents. It is merely a matter of time before this happens to different languages.

[Nani Cheri 0]

If everyone spoke the same language in the world I would be very sad...this idea is very sad... variety in this world is the only beautiful thing we got I think.

[husker 0]

I do agree that it talks away variety, but it's there other things that make us distinct, like our culture, clothing, and religion. I think it would be nice if everyone actually agreed on something throughtout the whole world. It would bring us together in a way. There could be like a universal law to only speak this one language. Heck, it would probably end wars because people couldn't come up with a secret language. I understand it would hurt us a little and make us more "boring", but I still think it would serve more positive than negative.

[brandice 0]

Which language would we all have to learn, then? Would it be English, because that's what most of the people here can speak and understand? Or would it be Chinese, because that's the world's most spoken language? Sure, it does make me feel a little insecure when I am in a place where everyone is speaking a language that I can't understand, but I like diversity in the world.

Edited September 29, 2006 by brandice (see edit history)

[Jon Jon 0]

If the world only had one language, it'll be a boring world. To me at least. Why? Then that particular ethnic or group of people, won't have uniqueness. Everybody will be the same.

[NigaiAmaiYume 0]

I have to touch on one thing Pleno brought up... human nature makes it next to impossible to have one universal language.

I think this page both points out what I mean, as well as demonstrating it nicely: Slang of the Fifties

Basically, people want to express themselves. On the other hand, there is a incredible need to define themselves, both as individuals and as a group. Language, being a tool of expression and definition, is easily used for both needs.

What this tends to lead to is the creative use of words, creating works, and literally creating sub-languages in order to exclude other outgroup people while further defining meaning for ingroup members.

This is continued in the internet, with 133t speak, acronyms in chats, and a plethora of misunderstandings.

I agree that a common language needs to be found and decided upon, as the Global Village becomes a greater part of everyone's life. English has some benefits, being a grab-bag to start with, but that very fact makes it down right evil to learn. My bet's on Chinese or Japanese, given current trends in Asia.

When a native language is forsaken for a dominant language, however, there is almost always a loss of the native culture. Language not only conveys meaning, but creates and defines that meaning. "C'est la vie" carries with it French implications of lightness that may be missing in a more bitter English "That's life" .

We need to find a way to maintain the culture and meanings of the old languages, however, without making them "dead".

Catch 22. *sighs* Perhaps the common langauge will be programming code, with everyone speaking their own native tongue and communicating via computer...