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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
English revolution sweeping the world
"Half the world's population will be speaking or learning English by 2015, researchers say."
znark
znark
Top answer
" [/nq] As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now speak, and according to that article, will speak English as their second language in the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English? )) This kind of standardization would, of course, require founding an internationally recognized authoritative linguistic entity - akin to the French Academy - that would look after this "international" version of English. Since various English-speaking countries (and the English-speakers in those countries) have agreed not to agree about things like spelling or pronunciation, this kind of organization would have to work independently of any similar national bodies.
- " [/nq] As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now speak, and according to that article, will speak English as their second language in the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?
- )) This kind of standardization would, of course, require founding an internationally recognized authoritative linguistic entity - akin to the French Academy - that would look after this "international" version of English.
- Since various English-speaking countries (and the English-speakers in those countries) have agreed not to agree about things like spelling or pronunciation, this kind of organization would have to work independently of any similar national bodies.
- Naturally all this would be a massive undertaking, and not easily achievable.
- However, keeping in mind what the above-linked article suggests, the number of people who would possibly be using the services of such an organization in the future is quite massive, too.
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130 Answers
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[nq:1]"Half the world's population will be speaking or learning English by 2015, researchers say." [/nq]
As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself:
Given the high number of people who now speak, and according to that article, will speak English as their second language in the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardiz
As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself:
Given the high number of people who now speak, and according to that article, will speak English as their second language in the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardiz
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[nq:2]"Half the world's population will be speaking or learning English by 2015, researchers say." [/nq]
[nq:1]As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now ... the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?[/nq]
No.
[nq:1]As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now ... the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?[/nq]
No.
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[nq:2]As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do ... for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?[/nq]
[nq:1]No.[/nq]
Why not? As of now, those who want to learn to speak English as their second language - as a communication tool, not necessarily as anything they would use for emotionally or culturally bonding themselves to any particular English-speakin
[nq:1]No.[/nq]
Why not? As of now, those who want to learn to speak English as their second language - as a communication tool, not necessarily as anything they would use for emotionally or culturally bonding themselves to any particular English-speakin
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[nq:1]I can never be too sure about whether I should stick to the American spelling and vocabulary or the British ... native forms of English on the list as well but these two are the ones I am most familiar with.)[/nq]
It doesn't matter in the least whether you use a consistent spelling, pronunciation, or vocabulary in using English "as a communication tool, not necessarily ... for emotionall
It doesn't matter in the least whether you use a consistent spelling, pronunciation, or vocabulary in using English "as a communication tool, not necessarily ... for emotionall
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[nq:2]"Half the world's population will be speaking or learning English by 2015, researchers say." [/nq]
[nq:1]As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now ... the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?[/nq]
snip
[nq:1]This kind of
[nq:1]As no-one has commented on this yet, I will do it myself: Given the high number of people who now ... the future, would this surge of new speakers finally call for establishing some sort of "standardized", international form of English?[/nq]
[nq:1]This kind of
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[nq:1]If you want guidelines, just use whatever version of spelling and pronunciation you were taught in school.[/nq]
Well, that doesn't work for long, does it? Language changes over time and new words and usages keep creeping in. My old schoolbooks stay the same. If I did what you suggest, I would have to start following the practices of only a single country. I am not sure if I would like to
Well, that doesn't work for long, does it? Language changes over time and new words and usages keep creeping in. My old schoolbooks stay the same. If I did what you suggest, I would have to start following the practices of only a single country. I am not sure if I would like to
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[nq:1]Well, that doesn't work for long, does it? Language changes over time and new words and usages keep creeping in.[/nq]
Sure, but that doesn't affect spelling and pronunciation. If you want constant information about what vocabulary to use, there isn't any to be had, no matter what variety of English we are talking about.
[nq:1]I'd rather speak and write English that does not directly
Sure, but that doesn't affect spelling and pronunciation. If you want constant information about what vocabulary to use, there isn't any to be had, no matter what variety of English we are talking about.
[nq:1]I'd rather speak and write English that does not directly
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[nq:2]No.[/nq]
[nq:1]Why not? As of now, those who want to learn to speak English as their second language - as a ... on the audience, but on international forums such as this newsgroup it is hard to make your mind about it.[/nq]
I can see how you might puzzle over this. However, I suspect none of the rest of us keep track of whether you are mixing American and British style choices. We're
[nq:1]Why not? As of now, those who want to learn to speak English as their second language - as a ... on the audience, but on international forums such as this newsgroup it is hard to make your mind about it.[/nq]
I can see how you might puzzle over this. However, I suspect none of the rest of us keep track of whether you are mixing American and British style choices. We're
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[nq:1]this (standardized normative form of "international English") would make your own life easier?[/nq]
Not only mine, but the lives of all of us who speak and write English as a second(or third, or whatever) language. The whole point was to relate this all to the ever-growing number of non-native speakers, as suggested by the article to which I linked in my original post.
[nq:1]B
Not only mine, but the lives of all of us who speak and write English as a second(or third, or whatever) language. The whole point was to relate this all to the ever-growing number of non-native speakers, as suggested by the article to which I linked in my original post.
[nq:1]B
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As Donna said or implied, it's happening already, without the need for regulation (we just don't do regulation; though we certainly do argument). And in any case, formal US English and formal BrEtc English don't differ very much: often not even an expert could tell which was which. If you don't know our nationalities already, it might be fun to try placing the next few neutral-topic AUE messages y
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