Comments on: English is the new Esperanto http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76 a blog by Aaron Hillegass Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:32:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: tyh http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-207 tyh Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:28:24 +0000 http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-207 While it's sure it's nice that English is spoken almost everywhere since that makes it possible for me to get around easier (English is the only language beside my native language I kind of speak), it also has a huge disadvantage. All native English speakers will have a huge advantage in a discussion/negotiation, all others will be at an disadvantage. So people are not meeting on equal terms ... which is sad. While it’s sure it’s nice that English is spoken almost everywhere since that makes it possible for me to get around easier (English is the only language beside my native language I kind of speak), it also has a huge disadvantage.
All native English speakers will have a huge advantage in a discussion/negotiation, all others will be at an disadvantage. So people are not meeting on equal terms … which is sad.

]]> By: grant http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-203 grant Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:03:40 +0000 http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-203 You might be interested in one of the things <a href="http://www.johnreilly.info/alt20.htm" rel="nofollow">Teddy Roosevelt</a> had in common with <a href="http://www.sacu.org/pinyinissues.html" rel="nofollow">Chairman Mao</a>. They both tried to standardize their home languages. Mao succeeded, more or less. You might be interested in one of the things Teddy Roosevelt had in common with Chairman Mao. They both tried to standardize their home languages. Mao succeeded, more or less.

]]> By: Wes http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-187 Wes Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:03:06 +0000 http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-187 I think all programmers have some desire to make things more efficient and elegant. English as a language is not very elegant, but its popularity and ubiquity is. One beautiful scheme for simplifying our spelling at least is called Nuspelynh, for "Newspelling" (http://crockford.com/wrrrld/nuspelynh.html), invented by renaissance man Douglas Crockford. I think all programmers have some desire to make things more efficient and elegant. English as a language is not very elegant, but its popularity and ubiquity is. One beautiful scheme for simplifying our spelling at least is called Nuspelynh, for “Newspelling” (http://crockford.com/wrrrld/nuspelynh.html), invented by renaissance man Douglas Crockford.

]]> By: mankso http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-185 mankso Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:04:28 +0000 http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-185 Well, good for you that your English-speaking conscience does not trouble you because: - you enjoy a linguistically privileged position in this world, while (by your own estimate) a billion other people are condemned to spend years of their lives in school studying English, whether they want to or not, and rarely being able to reach your level, while you yourself have absolutely no need to spend time learning any other language. - your language has destroyed, and is destroying, many minor languages and cultures (two examples: Celtic languages in the British Isles, N. American indigenous languages) whether through outright cultural colonization, or through slightly more subtle economic pressures. - world info flow is becoming increasing unidirectional, where most news items now originate in English-speaking countries and are controlled largely by English-language news agencies. - the present position of World English is an enormous cash-cow for all Engish-speaking countries, and creates economic clients (victims?) in other countries. Fair? Democratic? Equal language rights (as per UN Declaration of Human Rights)? I don't think so! The most rational solution is a planned non-ethnic language, not making "I seen ya", "he don't know", "between he and I", "I'm laying on the grass", "off of" generally acceptable. Well, good for you that your English-speaking conscience does not trouble you because:
- you enjoy a linguistically privileged position in this world, while (by your own estimate) a billion other people are condemned to spend years of their lives in school studying English, whether they want to or not, and rarely being able to reach your level, while you yourself have absolutely no need to spend time learning any other language.
- your language has destroyed, and is destroying, many minor languages and cultures (two examples: Celtic languages in the British Isles, N. American indigenous languages) whether through outright cultural colonization, or through slightly more subtle economic pressures.
- world info flow is becoming increasing unidirectional, where most news items now originate in English-speaking countries and are controlled largely by English-language news agencies.
- the present position of World English is an enormous cash-cow for all Engish-speaking countries, and creates economic clients (victims?) in other countries.
Fair? Democratic? Equal language rights (as per UN Declaration of Human Rights)? I don’t think so! The most rational solution is a planned non-ethnic language, not making “I seen ya”, “he don’t know”, “between he and I”, “I’m laying on the grass”, “off of” generally acceptable.

]]> By: Ylan http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-184 Ylan Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:25:32 +0000 http://www.possibleprobable.com/?p=76#comment-184 "Perhaps we should make sure that new nouns are pluralized with the addition of an “s”. Perhaps all new verbs should be regular." Well, aren't they? Humbly, Ylan “Perhaps we should make sure that new nouns are pluralized with the addition of an “s”. Perhaps all new verbs should be regular.”

Well, aren’t they?
Humbly, Ylan

]]>