http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7038031/site/newsweek/

in a word: oui.

Seriously, this was almost bound to happen because of the advent of the comupter and the internet. My guess is that a person who cannot speak English will be considered illiterate by the end of this century. By the middle of this century perhaps all Europeans will have become predominantly English-speaking, because it's really the only languge that makes sense in the context of the information age.

Now if we could only do something to help the Zilds and the Strines.

>Now if we could only do something to help the Zilds and the Strines.

Speaking as a Zilder, the easiest way for citizens of the USA to help us would be for them to learn English. As for the ockers, nothing can help them, except perhaps the evolution of sentience.

some good discussion of this here {before my time on AWAD, but I remembered being referred to it once before]:

http://wordsmith.org/board/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=miscellany&Number=7527

(I think there may have been one or two Certifiably Yartified© and intriguingly worthwhile discussions about this on this board later as well)

> By the middle of this century perhaps all Europeans will have become predominantly English-speaking

Très optimistique et très absurde, Bärchen:-)

> the only language that makes sense in the context of the information age.

The percentage of the internet which is in English has been dropping steadily for quite some time now. Should digital translation even nearly meet HGTTG-expectations then the 'information age' will be a native lingo affair.

There seems to be an increased interest in multi-lingual speakers in Europe (e.g. mushy English and at least two side-languages, please). Seems to me English is being spread ever thinner amongst more and more people who know just a little. Thus English forfeits some of its international standing as a language, despite its extraordinary dominance. It's the Windows of languages; a generous and nebulous bastardisation of imported works blanketed upon unwitting populations through economic and political tactics.

Me gusta viel il Europanto [/steering away from politics].

And then belligerentyouth said...

"It's the Windows of languages; a generous and nebulous bastardisation of imported works blanketed upon unwitting populations through economic and political tactics."

...which could not have been said so concisely in bastardized English or Chinese or Hindu or Cherokee or Eskimo or...well, you get the picture.

In reply to:

---

which could not have beed said so concisely in bastardized English or Chinese or Hindu or Cherokee or Eskimo

---

One of the above is, of course, a belief system, not a language. There is no such language as Chinese, nor Eskimo. Apparently, English is quite capable of being used with impressive imprecision.

It is in Brazil:

http:// http://makeashorterlink.com/?J618235AA

Thanks, Fr Steve!

Whilst English marches ever outwards, the margins are (as ever) creatives spaces. In some parts of the world the fusions blur like sotong...

http://www.talkingcock.com/html/lexec.php?op=LexView&lexicon=lexicon&alpha=B&page=1

There was a time when anyone pretending to literacy, culture or class spoke French, or at least tried to. I have heard that since the largest "emerging market" is in South America that many European and Asian companies and schools are pushing Spanish as the second language of choice. But that was several years ago so who knows where we'll go next.
Most young Europeans I have talked to consider polylingualism as reasonable if not expected for anyone in business.

> expected for anyone in business

Certainly helps in the pet trade.

There was a time when anyone interested in a career in diplomacy was advised to learn French. I wonder how long it has been since that was good advice.

Voulez-vous un craquelin?

Voulez-vous un craquelin?

No, thanks. I gave up craquelins for Lent.

Ok--but did your Polly?

but did your Polly?

No, she just crackered up.

Speaking of which: