Why is the idea of a global lingua franca so offensive?

[Deathknightish]

A while ago I made a thread about Tokyo, and their skills in English.
Most were very helpful, but some people were honestly offended by the idea about asking such a thing.

Not directly quoted, the the meaning was more or les "How dare you assume people know English?!? Learn the language instead, shitlord!", "ENGLISH ISN'T EVEN THE BIGGEST LANGUAGE!", "Your English isn't perfect so don't be a hypocrite!" (No shit, I'm not from a country where English is the native language...) etc., which I can't understand at all.

Of course I learn some basic phrases in their own native tongue, but it would be silly to expect to learn every single language of every single country people visit, especially for people who travel much, like me.

Why is the idea of a language everyone can communicate with so triggering for some people? To me, it's one of the best things ever as it allows me to talk to people from all around the globe, without having to stand and stare at them like an idiot because I have no idea what they're saying.

So, all in all, why is it so offensive, to some, in simply asking "How well can you get by with English?"? Why are some people against a global lingua franca that binds us together?

[ldev]

Here's why - because it's logical to take the most popular one - https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/t...-in-the-world/ that would be chinese, but you want english, which is only 3rd. You're not willing to learn chinese, why would more people will be willing to learn english?

[XDurionX]

It's not offensive. Demanding of others to learn your language, however, is.

There is no such thing as a "best" language, and english isn't the most spoken one, especially in asia. It's not even a very precise language, it's just one of the most simpler ones.

[Erwarth]

Esperanto

/10char

[Deathknightish]

It's not offensive. Demanding of others to learn your language, however, is.

There is no such thing as a "best" language, and english isn't the most spoken one, especially in asia. It's not even a very precise language, it's just one of the most simpler ones.

Here's why - because it's logical to take the most popular one - https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/t...-in-the-world/ that would be chinese, but you want english, which is only 3rd. You're not willing to learn chinese, why would more people will be willing to learn english?

You're both right that it's not the biggest at a native level. It is however, by far, the biggest at an international, non-native level, which makes it ideal. At least until another language becomes bigger non-natively.

I'm all for learning Chinese, since it's interesting. However as a lingua franca it would be stupid as it's only spoken by Chinese people, and a select few neighbours. Very geographically limited. English, on the other hand, is at least in theory taught in every country, which makes it more ideal as a lingua franca.

[Super Kami Dende]

I find people that say Chinese is the biggest disregard the fact that whilst Chinese may be the biggest it is only spoken in a few Countries as it's main dialect, whereas English has much higher numbers of Countries that speak it as a First or very highly used second.

[Viconia]

I think the worth of language is not by how many people speak it, but how wide-spread it is. Chinese is number one in the statistics, but quite narrowed to its country of origin, where as English is the lingua franca of most first world countries. If you want to think globally, speaking the most spread out language is practical.

[Deathknightish]

I find people that say Chinese is the biggest disregard the fact that whilst Chinese may be the biggest it is only spoken in a few Countries as it's main dialect, whereas English has much higher numbers of Countries that speak it as a First or very highly used second.

Not to mention people who have it as a second language, while it still not being used within said country. If you just don't count language spoken at a native level, English is by far the biggest language across the globe, followed by Spanish.

- - - Updated - - -

I think the worth of language is not by how many people speak it, but how wide-spread it is. Chinese is number one in the statistics, but quite narrowed to its country of origin, where as English is the lingua franca of most first world countries. If you want to think globally, speaking the most spread out language is practical.

Exactly.

10charerino

[Noradin]

It's not offensive. Demanding of others to learn your language, however, is.

This.
What is offensive is the claim that you personally can demand of others to accept your language as the lingua franca.

Also, while English is fine as a bandaid to communicate it is really not a good choice for everyone to switch to. (Neither is Chinese.)
Their grammar is lacklustre as are their pronouns. English is so useful for science because English is the second language of so many people, not because it is the first language. For research you want diversity in mother languages.

[Deleted]

re at them like an idiot because I have no idea what they're saying.

So, all in all, why is it so offensive, to some, in simply asking "How well can you get by with English?"? Why are some people against a global lingua franca that binds us together?

The reason some find it offensive is that in the US far right groups tend to use English as a means of oppressing and marginalizing foreigners. This is ironic given how badly most Americans speak English.
It is also offensive to many people because of the legacy of British imperialism.

Additionally, people like to preserver their own cultures and are generally at best tolerant of globalism.

Finally, if you are going to have a global language it probably shouldn't be English because it isn't particulary easy to learn. Its a weird collection of languages with inconsistent rules. You need a clear set of rules and formulaic assignation of words based on latin or greek. That way you'd remove a lot of the redundancy of English and allow people to communicate more efficiently-which is worth trillions in productivity.

[Deldavala]

English is kinda a western Lingua Franca, and is also prominent in huge parts of Asia. In most developed nations it is the language that most people know in addition to their mother tounge. But actually forcing people all around the globe to learn English so westerners have an easier time talking to them is something that must come at a later date. There is currently many countries and cultures around the world that struggles with literacy in their own mother tounge which is something that should be fixed before we push a new language on these nations.

[d00mGuArD]

well in the EU, the official common language must be one of the member-states
I'd say go for French or Spanish!

edit: Whichever will be chosen, will probably be the most important language to know worldwide

[Noomz]

Here's why - because it's logical to take the most popular one - https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/t...-in-the-world/ that would be chinese, but you want english, which is only 3rd. You're not willing to learn chinese, why would more people will be willing to learn english?

It’s not about who’s got the most numbers, but who’s in power. That’d be the US.

[Deleted]

If it wasn't for the damn French, we already would've had English as the main language in the EU.

[XDurionX]

It’s not about who’s got the most numbers, but who’s in power. That’d be the US.

Power over what? Trade? Culture? Religion? Territory? Neither of that are the US.

[Tackhisis]

English ... is really not a good choice for everyone to switch to.

Seriously? And which is the good one?

are their pronouns

What's wrong with 'their' pronoun? Your own language has the same, albeit with the original root.

[Independent voter]

The American Culture Bomb is responsible for a lot of non-English speakers learning English. The American Culture Bomb meaning US movies, tv shows, games, etc.

The American Culture Bomb was helped along by the internet.

[PL-Cibo]

Finally, if you are going to have a global language it probably shouldn't be English because it isn't particulary easy to learn. Its a weird collection of languages with inconsistent rules. You need a clear set of rules and formulaic assignation of words based on latin or greek. That way you'd remove a lot of the redundancy of English and allow people to communicate more efficiently-which is worth trillions in productivity.

Well, English is one of the easiest languages to learn actually. if not the easiest ever. We are not talking about using it grammatically correct, but as a baseline for communication in every field. A set of clear rules? renewed semantic and a planned syntax? nice idea! I just won't work
The language you are searching for doesn't exist yet, and will probably never exist. The best language humans have ever designed need natural constants to get as clear at it is today(yeah talking about math).

[Deleted]

Well, English is one of the easiest languages to learn actually. if not the easiest ever. We are not talking about using it grammatically correct, but as a baseline for communication in every field. A set of clear rules? renewed semantic and a planned syntax? nice idea! I just won't work
The language that you are search for doesn't exist yet, and will probably never exist. The best language humans have ever designed need natural constants to get as clear at it is today(yeah talking about math).

You are right that it doesn't exist. It needs to be created.

It is interesting that you bring up math. In China kids learn math faster because their system of expressing numbers is much easier to understand, which gives Chinese kids a huge time advantage over their western counterparts.

That is why you need to design a purpose-built language. Saves a lot of time and effort for everyone and that really adds up. Learning the exceptions to the i before e except after c rule in English, for example, is so unnecessary and wasteful and its one of thousands of examples.

[Deleted]

It's weakness really. Some people just cba to learn something.

But i agree, my life would be a lot easier if everyone talked english, instead of having to learn multiple languages. It's a real pain.