Because of the power and presence of English...

Shiv   Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:07 am GMT
<< In Europe Spanish is less importante than (in order):

1 English
2 French
3 German >>

Number 2 and 3 could change places depending on who you talk to.

<< In Europe Spanish has less presence than Dutch or Polish — despite the fact that Spain is the sole more or less advanced Hispanic society. >>

It is well known that Spanish is a 2nd tier language in Europe, because of it's location and moderate population (compared to Eng, Fr, Ger, Ital).

But Spanish is one of the major languages in the Americas: English/Spanish, Portuguese, French (in that order by the way). Not to mention it is among the most spoken and studied in the world, so it is stupid to say it is not important.

Back to the thread; I think English will remain the dominate world language for some time because it is so well established and its influence continues to grow and spread. It will be difficult to displace. Other strong languages like Spanish, Chinese, Russian and yes French will all be more or less important in their own regions, but English is the only "true" international langauge.

Not to sure about Arabic or Hindi. The Arab world has many problems and the prosperity of the region in the future is unknown. Plus English has a decent presence in business and education there. India will become more prosperous, but English has a stong enough presence in India so that Hindi will probably not become a very practical or popular language for foreigners.
Guest   Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:29 pm GMT
"English will remain the dominate world language for some time because it is so well established and its influence continues to grow and spread. It will be difficult to displace."

Just like Greek in the Roman Empire. Even though the political and military power was Roman, Greek remained the lingua franca in the Mediterranean area and survived Latin by a thousand years.
Even if the U.S. were to collapse English would remain for centuries #1 among global languages.


"The Arab world has many problems and the prosperity of the region in the future is unknown. Plus English has a decent presence in business and education there. India will become more prosperous, but English has a stong enough presence in India so that Hindi will probably not become a very practical or popular language for foreigners."

Business in the Arab world speaks English, French, or both (Lebanon, Syria, Egypt). For Arabic it's too late to catch up.
Guest   Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:37 pm GMT
<< In Europe Spanish is less importante than (in order):

1 English
2 French
3 German >>


Yes, but there is not a big difference between French and Spanish. Spanish is the most spoken language in 2 countries: Spain and Andorra. There are important minorities in Belgium, Portugal, France, Gibraltar, Sweden, etc

French, for instance is the most spoken language in 2 countries too: France and Monaco. There are minorities in Belgium (the most spoken language is Dutch), Switzerland (the most spoken language is German), Luxembourg (the most spoken languages are Luxemburgisch and German), etc.

The most studied languages in European Union (Eurostat, official data):

1. English
2. German
3. French
4. Spanish
5. Italian

So, French is 3rd and Spanish 4th in European Union. Both are the most spoken language in only 2 countries. The difference in European Union is not very big.

For instance, in Brussel, the capital of the European Union and NATO, the most spoken languages are:

French, English, Dutch and Spanish

So, the official languages (French and Dutch) and 2 World lingua franca (English and Spanish) are the most spoken. It is an important example of the power of English and Spanish.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Cervantes/pone/pica/Flandes/elpepusoc/20080607elpepisoc_1/Tes
Guest   Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:00 am GMT
<< For instance, in Brussel, the capital of the European Union and NATO, the most spoken languages are:

French, English, Dutch and Spanish

So, the official languages (French and Dutch) and 2 World lingua franca (English and Spanish) are the most spoken. It is an important example of the power of English and Spanish.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/Cervantes/pone/pica/Flandes/elpepusoc/20080607elpepisoc_1/Tes >>

For instance, in Brussel, the capital of the European Union and NATO, the native spoken languages are: French, and Dutch and the most widely used foreign languages are German, English, Italian, Portuguese but not Spanish.

2 World lingua franca (English and French) are the most spoken. It is an important example of the power of English and French.

In contradiction to what is written in Instituto Cerveza. Spanish is not a lingua franca and not widely spoken in Brussels.

<< Yes, but there is not a big difference between French and Spanish. Spanish is the most spoken language in 2 countries: Spain and Andorra. There are important minorities in Belgium, Portugal, France, Gibraltar, Sweden, etc >>

Those hispanic immigrants in those countries are now speak the host languages even to each other they afre now completely assimilated.

Spanish is a minority language even in Spain because Asturian, Aragonese, and Leonese are now separate language just as Catalan, Galician, and Basque. Same case in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Guatemala because speakers of Guarani, Quechua, Aymara, and Quiche outnumbers Spanish speakers.

French is not a minority languages in Belgium and in Switzerland because it is spoken by at least 20% of the people.
Guest   Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:02 am GMT
<< So, French is 3rd and Spanish 4th in European Union. Both are the most spoken language in only 2 countries. The difference in European Union is not very big. >>

Spanish comes next in importance European Union after English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, and Romanian.