If the world talks about science, culture, economy or politics, she speaks English. English speakers do not need a second language at all. What is the use of a second language if the first is enough? Enrichment cultures and languages: English can search for luxury goods. In this article I'm going to major world languages for their usefulness for the English language to evaluate different according to three criteria:
Demography: The ability to useLanguage actively: use as a lingua franca: the number of mother tongue and second, and the ability to communicate with them in that language. It is not simply a matter of numbers. Mandarin is by far the most widely spoken language, but in a country, China is concentrated, and that reduces the effects. In the case of Hindi, very likely that educated speakers also speak English, so the opportunity to talk with people in Hindi will be significantly reduced. Personal Impact: This subjectiveCriterion concerns the impact on the learner. How does this language study increase the sophistication of the student's language, either English or another, the third language? How does this language learners with a culturally literate person to do? Business factors: how will this language open new business and market opportunities?
Criterion I. Demographics: I begin with demographics because this is the first criterion that comes to mind in this discussion. Thoughthis factor weighs only 40 percent in the assessments and some items here, such as Italian, Swahili and turkish, only be understood when you see the following tables.
Spanish: approx. 350 million native speakers, with many second language in North and South America, North Africa and elsewhere. And 'the official language of about 20 countries. (6 points). This is an important lingua franca in the Western Hemisphere and the Mediterranean Sea, (3 points). (Total: 9Points). French: Despite a relatively small 130 million native speakers, French has a major presence internationally, with a large population of second language around the world and the official status in over 25 countries. And 'the working language of many international organizations (4 points). It 'also known as lingua franca, after English. (4 points). (Total: 8 points). Arabic: Arabic language are difficult to quantify. Standard Arabic is a secondDialect for 250 million people around the world, but it is quite different from the Arabic spoken in each of the 20 countries where it is official. There is an official language of the United Nations and numerous international organizations. And 'the language of Islam. (4.5 points). Arabic is an important lingua franca. (2 points). (Total: 6.5 points). Russian: The estimates are as high as 185 million for the local population, and is the second language in all countries of the formerSoviet Union (3 points). Russia has spent most of the twentieth century certainly the position of the tongue as a lingua franca in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and it remains to serve in this capacity, in a greatly diminished. (2 points). (Total: 5 points). Mandarin is the mother tongue of 875 million people, but are concentrated in one country, China. This is a second language for the rest of China, Taiwan and around the world for the Chinese community. There is littleCurrency beyond its ethnic boundaries and serves as a lingua franca in this context only. (Total: 3 points). German: It has about. 120 million native speakers and many second language in Europe. (2 points). He has had moderate success re-established itself as the lingua franca of Central Europe, after the disastrous history of the last century, but this role was in the meantime by Russian and English (1 point) taken. (Total: 3 points). Hindustani:It consists of urdu and Hindi at one end to another, with approx. 185 million native speakers in India and 50 million in Pakistan. This is a second language for an additional 180 million people in these countries. It was not as successful as the lingua franca outside of this context, as it is served for this purpose by the British. It 'was also taken against the reluctance of the Dravidian-speaking people in southern India. (Total: 2.5 points). Swahili: it is natively spoken by 5 million people andadditional 50 million as a second language along the coast of East Africa. And 'the official language in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (1 point). Swahili is the lingua franca accepted in this field, having almost reached the status neutral "tribal" in a continent where the language of politics, but to face life after death, usually in the shadow of Arabic, English and French (1.5 points). (Total: 2.5 points). Portuguese: Spoken by approx. 190 million people, which is the official languageof Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola and other countries. We have not been possible so far to establish itself as a widespread lingua franca. (Total: 2 points). Turkish: It is spoken by 70 million people in Turkey and Cyprus (1 point). It provides an alternative lingua franca in Central Asian Turkic language, rather than more alien Russian (1 point). (Total: 2 points). Japan: It is spoken by 125 million people in Japan, but has less than a second currencyLanguage or a lingua franca. (Total: 1 point). Italian: it is spoken by 60 million people in Italy, is also the official language of the Vatican. There is little or no importance as a second language or a lingua franca. (1 point).
Criterion II: Personal Impact: This is the main consideration for English speakers. It weighs 40 percent in my ratings. What will help the learning of this language, the understanding of the English language? How is the knowledge of this language openPortal to other related languages? For the first question, Latin languages hold a distinct advantage because the prestige of scholars, the forms of English are all constructed from a Latin dictionary. The second question favors languages, as the leading language in specific language families, wherever they are in the world can be seen.
French: There is a special place among the Romance languages, as there is a water pipe most of the Latin vocabulary in English for thelast 1000 years. 30 percent of English words come from French (6 points). From the cultural point of view, the centrality of France should not be overestimated for European civilization by six points. (Total: 12 points) Spanish: The Latin language has enormous influence on English in the Americas. And 'in turn influenced by Arabic and the languages of the indigenous pre-Columbian, a vision in these languages. (4 points). Spanish culture continues to moveto the forefront of Western civilization, ironically, often because of the patronage of his greatest rival, the North American English (4 points). (Total: 8 points). Italian: it is the direct descendant of Latin. So there is a knowledge of Italian language learner's a very clear vision of the classical language. For the same reason, is the central romance language, and the study of a Romance language is much easier the second or third if you first've learned Italian. (4Points). Italian also opens a store of cultural knowledge than 2000 years, and is, with the Roman Empire, the Catholic tradition and the Italian Renaissance, some of the highest achievements of European civilization. (4 points). (Total: 8 points). German: The linguistic meaning for the English language is great. German provides a clear representation of the Germanic roots of English syntax and grammar and logic of basic skills in EnglishLanguage. How can the great Germanic language such as Dutch and Yiddish as a portal to other Germanic languages. (4 points). German culture is very popular in Western culture, and its philosophers and artists are key figures. (2 points). (Total: 6 points). Arabic, although the immediate impact of the study of Arabic language can be difficult to detect for the English language, the use of Arabic in the study of other languages is high. Arabic is highlyinfluenced other languages of the Middle East and the Muslim world of religion, politics and social life. Even the study of the Arabic alphabet opens the way for many other languages such as Persian, Urdu, Kurdish, etc. (3 points). Arab culture has had great influence on Western civilization, but it remains largely unknown in English-speaking world. Knowing the language also leads to a better understanding of Islam. (2 points). (Total: 5 points). Hindustani, in its HindiForm there is a window on the genesis of the larger Indo-European language family with its Sanskrit vocabulary. How urdu, there is a significant introduction to many Persian and Arabic words. Urdu also uses the Persian form of Arabic script, the way for further studies. This is a starting point for the study of other languages of the subcontinent, an area rich in languages. (3 points). Rich Indian culture has become more familiar in English-speaking world mainly from IndiaAbility, its image by the English project. However, the Hindustani language and culture through the Hindi film industry Bollywood to spread. Pakistan is not yet clear, but the potential is there. (2 points). (Total: 5 points). Russian: It has great influence in the West was due to its geographical isolation. However, it is the great Slavic language, and as such, opens the door to many other Eastern European languages. The Cyrillic alphabet, is also atremendous resource for the reading of many of these languages. (2 points). Russian high culture flourished under both the tsarist and communist, and she has an important place in European civilization. (2 points). (Total: 4 points). Portuguese: The Latin language has a built-in importance Portuguese English, even without a direct relationship with English. (3 points). The cultural importance of Brazil, one of the greatest nations of North and South America is growing steadily. (1 point).(Total: 4 points). Mandarin: The official language of China has little influence on the English language. He influenced other national languages of the areas, such as Korean and Japanese, and other "dialects" of China. The Chinese characters are the same for all these dialects, and many of the characters used in Japanese. (2 points). Chinese culture, with more than 2000 years of history, is very significant, if not directly in EnglishCivilization. (1.5 points). (Total: 3.5 points). Swahili: As the only sub-Saharan language group, serves to introduce students to become one of the richest linguistic areas of the world. And 'the Bantu language family, but contains many words of Arabic, Persian, English and French. (1.5 points). And 'the language of commerce along the East African coast, and as such, is richly descriptive of the culture there. The West African diaspora in America is one of thethe great migration of the last 500 years, but because of its tragic social dynamics, has cut many millions of people from African culture. Swahili, though not in East and West Africa, can help fill this gap. (1.5 points). (Total: 3 points). Turkish: Though it has little direct relationship to English, is the main language of a family of languages that extend eastward into the interior of China. E 'state of Persian influences, Kurds and Arabs,and thus gives some introduction to the language. (1.5 points). It also represents the cultural traditions of the Ottoman and modern Turkish Turkistan and Central Asia. (1 point). (Total: 2.5 points). Japan: This language has had little influence on the English language allows us a glimpse into other languages shortly. It does, however, many words from Chinese, Chinese characters and many uses. (0.5 points). This island nation is one of the most successful exporters alreadyCulture of the Far East in the last century. (1.5 points). (Total: 2 points).
Criterion III. Economic impact. If this language is useful in business and commerce? Certainly English is by far the most useful language for business, but knowledge of other languages important to have a distinct advantage. Twenty percent of the vote:
French has a long history as a language for commerce and trade. It 'very important in developing countries, especially in Africa.France has the sixth largest economy in the world. (4 points). Spanish: the language of commerce and trade in Latin America. Spain is the ninth in the world economy and Mexico is its largest fourteenth. (4 points). German: often used for activities in Central Europe. Germany is the third largest economy in the world. (3 points). Japan can be very useful in dealing with Japanese companies. Japan is the second largest economy in the world. (3 points). Mandarin:China has recently become one of the world's fourth-largest economy, and continues to grow. (3 points). Russo: If a part of the world where English is not known. Russia is the eleventh largest economy and moves in the standings. (2 points). Portuguese: Brazil is the tenth largest economy, and continues to grow. (2 points). Arabic: the language of commerce and trade for the Middle East and Persian Gulf. (2 points). Hindustani: is used intwelfth largest economy in the world, English is often the language of business in this area. (2 points). Italian: the language of commerce in Italy, the seventh largest economic power in the world. (1.5 points). Swahili is the language of business along the east coast of Africa. (1 point). Turkish: used in the world's seventeenth largest economy, and partly in Central Asia. (1 point).
With these criteria, it is possible with a ranking of the 12 most usefulTo learn the languages for a native English speaker:
French: 24 points Spanish: 21 points Arabic: 13.5 points German: 12 points Russian: 11 points Italian: 10.5 points Hindustani 9.5 points Mandarin: 9.5 points Portuguese: 8 points Swahili: 6.5 points Japan: 5.5 points Turkish: 5.5 points
Some readers will be familiar with the piece titled George Weber, the top languages, first appeared in the language of 'Today magazine in 1997. His study rated languagesaccording to their influence in world politics and world culture. And 'interesting at this point to compare them. Here Weber's results:
English: 37 points French: 23 Spanish: 20 Russian: 16 Arabic: 14 China: 13 German: 12 Japan: 10 Portugal: 10 Hindi / Urdu: 9 points.
The rankings are similar, with some important differences. My criteria are tangible and intangible benefits for the English language, which are not strong in Weber's paradigm is based weighed.Sun spits this attention my subjective results in favor of European languages, the cultural affinity of English for the languages of Western civilization.
Heritage Languages: The most striking example of a difference is my ranking of Italian as number 6, while it is in the Top Ten Weber's character does. My justification for the Italian is the phenomenon of the "language house", ie a language that has usefulness in understanding and appreciation of the past, rather than inFuture. Italian is the vehicle for our understanding of ancient history, the development of the Latin language, the art of the Renaissance and classical music. It 'can also set the mother tongue of more than 100 million people strategically in both North and South America. For these reasons, is the language par excellence heritage. Other languages that benefit from this factor inheritance of my list are German and Swahili.
Point values for English? French, with 24 points, is number one in myQuotation. Where to English being in a relationship? When rating for usefulness for speakers of other languages, I would give him 10 points in each category, for a total of 50 points. I think the extraordinary position of English in today's world is undeniable, and is twice as good as its nearest competitor, the French, not a big stretch of the imagination.
It requires only the English point assignment that statement may, ten points for the linguistic value. The valuethe English language in this area for the world of language is much more extensive and significant. English is responsible for the spread of classical Latin vocabulary for abstract concepts, for greek-Roman notions of politics, science, philosophy, etc. It absorbs world vocabulary without major spelling changes, effectively spreading new terminology from a variety of sources. Since the official language of international organizations, serves as a place for every nation and organization to presentthe world. Like the other "empire" Western European languages, French and Spanish, is the world's native English speakers with no relation to ethnic, social or political initiatives at home. But English is a step further, English is able to adapt and develop independently their own language. English second language users forward with the introduction of new words such as "computer science" and "UFO", which gain currency first among these speakers.Foreign governments maintain tight control over their knowledge of English language and nomenclature changes made by the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. These changes are therefore necessary into English immediately, without consultation with native speakers. While some European languages call, (look for proof, to the contemporary reports on the events of Tiananmen Square in June 1989) the capital of China "Peking", English is passed to the "Beijing" at the end of 1980.Recently, the conversion of Bombay in Mumbai have happened before, most speak English even noticed.
Conclusions - The status of English in world affairs is his native language in a unique position. We have the opportunity to live in a provincial town in the English language in the world comes to us, or we can take advantage of this favorable position to take directly with other cultures in our language. Therefore, any truly useful second language for EnglishSpeakers? No study has ever really measure the personal significance of learning a second language. This is something we have to discover for ourselves. The fact is that every language is worth learning any language is a complete way of describing the universe of human achievement, and then the meaning is broader and deeper as we do in person.
Note on statistics: The statistics that I used (population, economic status, etc.) come from different sources:World almanacs, encyclopedias, the U.S. government studies. I make no claims about accuracy, because they are general estimates. Their importance is in relation to each other.
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