European democracy
#TheFutureIsYours Strengthening European democracy
Europeans need a shared language ... but which one? This is the question we will discuss in a series of debates, in various languages of the Union.
Our next event/debate:
Sunday, 26 September 2021, 19:30 (Brussels time): "Languages and language learning in the EU" on the occasion of the European Day of Languages
Go to the event's website
Contains the link to the various debates from May 2021 through to March 2022
Contains the link to the various debates from May 2021 through to March 2022
09
May 2021
31
March 2022
Starting at
00:00 AM
Reference: cofe-MEET-2021-06-17062
Version number 12 (of 12) see other versions
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To Henk:
For one thing, English is taught to Europeans (I did and do so myself), although many are not happy about that, particularly in the fields you named.
English is indeed used widely. It is a l s o widely m i s u s e d - to suppress competition.
The best - and most ethical - way to communicate with other Europeans is to learn their language, and not use one from a nation who has fled the union. Or are we to become "colonial", like so many Africans? The British are gone, their language remains.
As to Esperanto, it is used in some 120 countries - mainly to c o m m u n i c a t e .
You are right about some things, but your inability to take Esperanto seriously impairs your argumentation.
Gerald Tucker
To Gerald.
In the EU we have 23 different languages.
The EU is also doing business all over the entire world.
It has a competing economy, so it needs to keep up to date on developments in science and industry, which is mostly published in english.
For all these reasons English is currently the best choice,
I have worked for many years in business in the EU and beyond.
However I cannot remember once that I received a document, a report, an e-mail or book in Esperanto.
One of the best investments the EU could do is teach their young people the English language.
For most people a language is just a tool, and that use what is practical in the World.
Henk,
As a native speaker of English (although American), I could be flattered about your attitude. As a European (since 1975) and due to Brexit, I resent it. English has many merits, but it has disrupted too many cultures around the world to be the language of a multiculture it no longer belongs to.
Gerald Tucker
“El colonialismo lingüístico inglés y el multilingüismo.
En el año 1961 se redacta «The Anglo-American Conference Report 1961», un documento confidencial destinado al British Council, «El inglés debe convertirse en el idioma dominante. […] La lengua materna se estudiará cronológicamente primero, pero, luego, el inglés, en virtud de su uso y funciones, se convertirá en el idioma principal». El informe también especifica que el inglés debe tender al monopolio en los campos culturales y volverse esencial en las especializaciones científicas y técnicas y que, en un entorno internacional, los angloparlantes deben ser completamente intolerantes con el uso de otros idiomas en el ejercicio de su participación.
«Por el predominio actual de la lengua inglesa, Gran Bretaña gana cada año de 17.000 a 18.000 millones de euros».
«¡Lo que no está escrito en inglés no vale la pena leerlo!».”
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