Global English

Although Chinese may be spoken by more people, English is the language spoken in the highest number of different countries. As it becomes more dominant, the advantages to learning English increase, as there are more and more people who can use it and speak it with you. For business, a lingua franca is very useful for communication and saves the need for several different translators. In terms of literature, books or papers that get published in English have access to a greater audience across the world, and so can increase publicity and sales. The idea of one language that everyone can understand is appealing, as it would allow an incredible amount of knowledge and information to be shared, and allow links to be created regardless of geographical location or ethnicity. However, it also results in a loss of hundreds of minority languages, whose speakers are too low in number and the applications too limited to ensure the survival of their mother tongues. The myriad of nuances that are lost to translation also lead to an overall loss of meaning. English cannot describe the entire range of experiences avaialble to the world, as it is a language native to a small island. Yet a world where everyone speaks exactly the same language is still improbable. As fast as English is spreading, new dialects are breaking off, creating variations of the language which can be mutually incomprehensible in some instances. I feel that this wealth of differences is something to be protected and encouraged, although I also understand that language can be unpredictable and difficult to control, whichever way that control is aimed.

Do you think books should all be printed in English, regardless of their original language?