If everyone spoke the same language in the world I would be very sad...this idea is very sad... variety in this world is the only beautiful thing we got I think.

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I do agree that it talks away variety, but it's there other things that make us distinct, like our culture, clothing, and religion. I think it would be nice if everyone actually agreed on something throughtout the whole world. It would bring us together in a way. There could be like a universal law to only speak this one language. Heck, it would probably end wars because people couldn't come up with a secret language. I understand it would hurt us a little and make us more "boring", but I still think it would serve more positive than negative.

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Which language would we all have to learn, then? Would it be English, because that's what most of the people here can speak and understand? Or would it be Chinese, because that's the world's most spoken language?

Sure, it does make me feel a little insecure when I am in a place where everyone is speaking a language that I can't understand, but I like diversity in the world.

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If the world only had one language, it'll be a boring world. To me at least. Why? Then that particular ethnic or group of people, won't have uniqueness. Everybody will be the same.

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I have to touch on one thing Pleno brought up... human nature makes it next to impossible to have one universal language.

I think this page both points out what I mean, as well as demonstrating it nicely: Slang of the Fifties

Basically, people want to express themselves. On the other hand, there is a incredible need to define themselves, both as individuals and as a group. Language, being a tool of expression and definition, is easily used for both needs.

What this tends to lead to is the creative use of words, creating works, and literally creating sub-languages in order to exclude other outgroup people while further defining meaning for ingroup members.

This is continued in the internet, with 133t speak, acronyms in chats, and a plethora of misunderstandings.

I agree that a common language needs to be found and decided upon, as the Global Village becomes a greater part of everyone's life. English has some benefits, being a grab-bag to start with, but that very fact makes it down right evil to learn. My bet's on Chinese or Japanese, given current trends in Asia.

When a native language is forsaken for a dominant language, however, there is almost always a loss of the native culture. Language not only conveys meaning, but creates and defines that meaning. "C'est la vie" carries with it French implications of lightness that may be missing in a more bitter English "That's life" .

We need to find a way to maintain the culture and meanings of the old languages, however, without making them "dead".

Catch 22. *sighs* Perhaps the common langauge will be programming code, with everyone speaking their own native tongue and communicating via computer...

 

 

 

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My apologies for dragging religious into this, but according to a few of em... they were speaking the same language before it was changed to different languages to prevent them from building a "great pyramid" of some sort.

Ok, out of that, I'd have to say variety is one of the functions that keep the earth functioning.. if its the same language, they may be many benefits from doing so, but would increase boredom out of speaking the same language (Another example is if accents were changed from many to the one and the same, it'll also yield out the same result, boring.. as many different accents can be interesting).

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well,many people have jobs as translators and they would be out of luck if everyone in the world spoke the same language,however it also has benefits,no confusion and also there would no longer be a need for a translator however, some languages are harder to learn than others,yes it would be beneficial but also non beneficial,however unless they make a machine that teaches you a language really fast in the distant future i dont think it will ever happen lol

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It would be easy talk to other people because we would all know one language. So if your on a vacation you do not have to learn a new language. This will never happen because there are so many languages in the world and the only different language you can speak other than the chosen language is secret code. Instead of making a secret code you can use the language you known before the one language was chosen. If the chosen language is a language you don't know yet then it might be hard to learn it or it might not depending on who you are and this is what i think if the world only spoke a chosen language.

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The diversity, and the challenge of learning new things such as languages would also pretty much be lost had the world adopted the one language! But still, I have to agree while it may be easier if it was one, it'll be boring and in some cases maybe repetitive.

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I think it would be cool to be able to speak to someone living in, like, China and not have a huge barrier like different languages... but I also think it would be horrible since, as others have said, having so many differences is very beautiful. I love the beauty of other cultures and languages so to lose any of that would be horrible.

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