Someone may have already picked up on this, but after a long Hallowe'en day, and some 100 posts to catch up on, I can't be bothered to check before committing the unhallowed YART-in-public. I urge all to read the cover story in November's Atlantic Monthly (a U.S. magazine): "What Global Language?"
There's a forum there for comments, also a thread here, which I have just created.

(BTW, Barbara Wallraff is their esteemed back-page 'Agony Aunt' on usage, and if you're cool you can join her Grammar Police Squad *proudly displaying my badge*)

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/11/wallraff.htm

I apologize, I tried to insert a question mark in the title after I'd already sent the first post. Let it sink to rest in peace.