In our last blog we discussed technology’s affect on the future of languages [1]. While technology will undoubtedly have an impact on the use of languages, there is another option, “complete Lingua Franca”; one language spoken by everyone throughout the world.
Since the times of the Romans there have been notable Lingua franca’s used around the world, however none have managed to stop people speaking their own native languages. Latin, French and Spanish all took their turns to make an impact on world culture and be the leading language in commerce; then came along today’s Lingua Franca, English. The use of English in science, business and computing around the world is notable; 27% of the internet’s current users speak English as a first language and a 2002 survey found that 56% of the internets content was written in English. But with the emergence of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) along with other developing nations, will English stay the dominant language of the developed world?
With over 6500 languages spoken in the world today by over 7 billion people we are unlikely to see any one language make the 6499 languages irrelevant or extinct any time soon. [2].But could one language be spoken by every one in the distant future? What language would it be? In our recent poll on Facebook we asked you what you thought the language of the future would be: 44% thought it would be Mandarin, 29% Spanish, only 21% thought English would continue as the predominant language and 6% thought Portuguese would lead the way [3].
With globalisation set to increase in the coming years and the BRICs hitting the developed world, how long will these endangered languages last with people increasingly learning relevant second languages and maybe not regional ones? Will we continue to speak languages that may have very little relevance to our daily lives?
Here at Euro London we do all we can to encourage learning languages; we believe it not only enhances your career, but life opportunities as well [4]. A world with only one language would be a less colourful place. Do you see a future where we all speak the same language? If not will English stay the Lingua Franca or will another language take its place?
[1] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/is-technology-the-future-of-language/
[2] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/15-amazing-language-facts/
[3] https://www.facebook.com/333683589864/posts/10150624395169865
[4] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/12-reasons-to-be-proud-of-knowing-a-second-language/