Breaking News: reformed English now only official EU language!

[aussieboy]

and foxmccloud, are you a member of the BNP by any chance?

No. He is a conservative American.

 

[Oruc]

they should be forced to learn English, I am certainly not learning another language

 

[Fox Mccloud]

No. He is a conservative American.

I still don't know what "BNP" means.

 

[Ciceronian]

I still don't know what "BNP" means.

BNP = British National Party, a right-wing (racist) UK Party.

On topic, I think the aim in all European countries should be to teach the native tongue as well as English to a high standard. A third language of choice should be taught, and encouraged to be studied to a high standard. A fourth language should also be offered. So English could become like an inofficial official language, but through the study of a third language interest in other European countries and their cultures would be promoted.

As a side note, I think people in the UK & Ireland who already know English should be made to study at least two other European languages.

At school I studied German and English (both are native tongues to me) and Spanish. I could also have taken up a fourth language (French or Italian probably) had I wished.

 

[Esox]

It seems that if you are going to put so many European countries on a single currency, then eventually they would go to a single language for official purposes (like aircraft pilots and controllers already do). It would just be more efficient, what with so many languages in the EU.
No one would ever give up their own language at home, anyway.

Which language? I think Pig Latin would be great: "ood-gay orning-may!"

 

[The Yankee]

I can see the value in promoting learning another European language other than your own (or at least EU language), but is there any encouragement to learn any non-European languages as a second or third?

Do wish the schools here when I was younger did a better job though. All that time with some kind of Spanish in it and now I hardly remember it.

 

[Winner]

Mother tonque + English + one other European language (German, French or Spanish, but it should be optional).

English should be obligatory, especially in the new EU member states, where the situation is terrible. I admire the Swedish approach to language training.

In the end, all Europeans should be able to communicate in English with each other as fluently as possible. I am sure this would be hugely unpopular in some countries (yes, I am talking about France ), but it is necessary if want to move forward in the European integration. We need to create truly transnational European civil society, transnational media, transnational discussion about serious topics.

 

[stormbind]

Ella makalas, ni qui, daar is geen reason why vi skulle not have more yori uno taalen. Fu gwai EU.

Being impossible to understand will give us an edge over the Indians, Chinese, and Americans

---

Before the EU, it was worth learning one North-European and one South-European language to improve trade and understanding.

Keeping with the same logic, if the EU were one block (with a common language), the languages most worth learning would be those of rival blocks such as; Arabic, Russian, Cantonese, Portugese, Japanese, etc.

Think upwards and outwards, not inwards and downwards.

 

[Ciceronian]

Mother tonque + English + one other European language (German, French or Spanish, but it should be optional).

English should be obligatory, especially in the new EU member states, where the situation is terrible. I admire the Swedish approach to language training.

In the end, all Europeans should be able to communicate in English with each other as fluently as possible. I am sure this would be hugely unpopular in some countries (yes, I am talking about France ), but it is necessary if want to move forward in the European integration. We need to create truly transnational European civil society, transnational media, transnational discussion about serious topics.

I agree. Since English is the most widely spoken language in the EU, it should become compulsory in all educational systems. Then, as you said, there could be a much easier communication on a Europe-wide level. But that would require all the states to think of the community first and leave behind completely their nationalism where it is a hindrance to integration.

Besides English as mandatory, I would advocate a third mandatory language of choice simply to further awaken interest and deepen understanding in European culture. I went to a so-called European school, and there two languages are mandatory from the beginning of primary school, and later on a third language of choice is mandatory for at least 4 years. A fourth and even fifth language are optional. I know someone whose main subjects were Italian, English, French, Spanish and German!

 

[Yeeek]

I think its safe to go ahead, English is already the unofficial European Language. Whenever i had to go in Italy, Spain or Germany i could find someone speaking english rather easily, either in the bus or in the streets to find my way.


Something that we in France are lacking, though its better now since a few years but it seems my compatriotes don't like to use other languages (note i said use not learn).

Edit- i was amazed that nearly everyone in Amsterdam know english.

 

[Zwelgje]

Edit- i was amazed that nearly everyone in Amsterdam know english.

Well, since abroad hardly anybody speaks dutch it's not that surprising that in dutch education there's quite an emphasis on learning foreign languages. English is an obligatory course in highschool, from the first untill the last year.
I was quite surprised that in Greece so many people spoke english, even older people in the inlands. I'd say that more greek speak english and speak it better than the dutch. In general It seems that people from big countries (Gemany, France, Spain, Italy) are less likely to speak english than people from small countries. Do others have that same observation and what do you think is the reason?

 

[Atropos]

Well, since abroad hardly anybody speaks dutch it's not that surprising that in dutch education there's quite an emphasis on learning foreign languages. English is an obligatory course in highschool, from the first untill the last year.
I was quite surprised that in Greece so many people spoke english, even older people in the inlands. I'd say that more greek speak english and speak it better than the dutch. In general It seems that people from big countries (Gemany, France, Spain, Italy) are less likely to speak english than people from small countries. Do others have that same observation and what do you think is the reason?

The smaller the country, the more likely that you will need a foreign language if you want to travel.

Virtually everyone in the Flemish areas of Belgium speaks fluent English. In large countries such as America, however, there is no need to learn English.

 

[Zwelgje]

In large countries such as America, however, there is no need to learn English.

I think you mean a foreign language.

 

[Atropos]

I think you mean a foreign language.

Yes, exactly, a foreign language such as English.

Not that the English speak English either, in my experience.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

Who does speak English?

 

[Atropos]

Who does speak English?

Don't get me started...

English in its correct form, demonstrating mastery of the subjunctive and predicate nominative? Maybe a few people in the Oxford English faculty.

But this has drifted way off topic - I just meant that as a throwaway line.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

What's subjunctive, predicate and nominative?

 

[Atropos]

What's subjunctive, predicate and nominative?

Look, we really need a different thread if we want to discuss this.

Briefly:

Subjunctive: Verb tense used for hypothetical scenarios. If I were (not was) a woman, I would have eighty-three children.

Predicate nominative: Used instead of an object after the verb "to be." Example: Bob is I (not me).

 

[Fox Mccloud]

BNP = British National Party, a right-wing (racist) UK Party.

I want to learn a bunch of languages so that means I must be racist? WTH gave him that idea?

 

[atreas]

I can see the value in promoting learning another European language other than your own (or at least EU language), but is there any encouragement to learn any non-European languages as a second or third?

Do wish the schools here when I was younger did a better job though. All that time with some kind of Spanish in it and now I hardly remember it.

My daughter (9,5 years old), apart from the obvious Greek, has been learning (everything in school) English for the 5 last years, German for the 3 last years and in the last year she also started learning Chinese. How I would wish to be in her shoes!