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French, the second global lingua franca
Spanishh language is in vanishing. There are several factors to consider this language in regression.
For example, one of the most important is the non-native speaker. Spanish is acquired tongue of 330 million, and according to SIL is spoken by 350 million, total speakers. So, Spanish has the seize of a world language like Arabic, for instance.
Secondly, the most important enemy of Spanish is English, and not French. Spanish WAS/IS NOT and WILL NEVER BE a global language. English is just studied but spoken too in former Spanish colonies, like Philippines, Marianas, Guam, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, etc. Why to study the regional language if I can global languages?
English is the official language of ASEAN, and not Spanish. So, this language is not yet useful there.
Third, Amerindian languages like Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, Quiche, and Nahuatl are growing fast in prestige and number of speakers. Amerindian languages is now the official language of former Spanish America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Guatemala). Spanish is and will be less important in the near future in an area where people is aware of the prestige of Amerindian languages.
Fourth, in many parts of Hispanic America area we can see that in Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay etc people speak an evolving language very different. If a Spaniard goes to Venezuela, he doesn't understand the Bastardized Spanish. They are not mutual intelligible. So, Castilian Spanish is not yet spoken in many Hispanic American area.
Fifth, Spanish is losing its official status in countries of Black Africa, from Western Sahara, to Equatorial Guinea. But Spanish is no longer the sole official languagethere, it is studied. People speak their native languages. Besides, some people study Arabic (they are muslim), Fang, Bubi, Hausa, or French there. So, Spanish is one of the official languages in this little area of Africa.
Finally, Castilian/Standard Spanish is a minority language in Hispanic America where you can use Portuguese.
So, the enemies of Spanish language are English and in a lesser degree, Portuguese. So, this fight against French is not very useful for Spanish: Spanish is in erosiion because in a lot of countries people don't want to study the "number 1" regional language if they can study the global ones.
It is true that French is one of the languages that has wider geographic coverage and it has more importance than Spanish globally. But there is not real competence between them.
For example, Chinese, Arabic and Portuguese are also growing very fast, and probably will be more important than French. But in this Global World the REAL enemy of Spanish is really English.
And English always wins...
Spanish language is in vanishing. There are several factors to consider this language in erosion.
For example, one of the most important is the non-native speaker. Spanish is acquired tongue of 30 million, and according to SIL is spoken by 350 million, total speakers. So, Spanish has the seize of a world language like Arabic, for instance.
Secondly, the most important enemy of Spanish is English, and not French. Spanish WAS/IS NOT and WILL NEVER BE a global language. English is just studied but spoken too in former Spanish colonies, like Philippines, Marianas, Guam, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, etc. Why to study the regional language if I can global languages?
English is the official language of ASEAN, and not Spanish. So, this language is not yet useful there.
Third, Amerindian languages like Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, Quiche, and Nahuatl are growing fast in prestige and number of speakers. Amerindian languages is now the official language of former Spanish America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Guatemala). Spanish is and will be less important in the near future in an area where people is aware of the prestige of Amerindian languages.
Fourth, in many parts of Hispanic America area we can see that in Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay etc people speak an evolving language very different. If a Spaniard goes to Venezuela, he doesn't understand the Bastardized Spanish. They are not mutual intelligible. So, Castilian Spanish is not yet spoken in many Hispanic American area.
Fifth, Spanish is losing its official status in countries of Black Africa, from Western Sahara, to Equatorial Guinea. But Spanish is no longer the sole official languagethere, it is studied. People speak their native languages. Besides, some people study Arabic (they are muslim), Fang, Bubi, Hausa, or French there. So, Spanish is one of the official languages in this little area of Africa.
Finally, Castilian/Standard Spanish is a minority language in Hispanic America where you can use Portuguese.
So, the enemies of Spanish language are English and in a lesser degree, Portuguese. So, this fight against French is not very useful for Spanish: Spanish is in erosiion because in a lot of countries people don't want to study the "number 1" regional language if they can study the global ones.
It is true that French is one of the languages that has wider geographic coverage and it has more importance than Spanish globally. But there is not real competence between them.
For example, Chinese, Arabic and Portuguese are also growing very fast, and probably will be more important than French. But in this Global World the REAL enemy of Spanish is really English.
And English always wins...
You can copy very well, and you know to add a lof of people to French language.
French, according to Ethnologue is spoken by 130 million of speakers. French is NOT in the top ten languages, and it will NEVER be again.
The main problem of French is exactly that: this role of "second" global language is stupid. No one want to study the second if you can study the first one, English.
After English, there are several regional languages, spoken in a big area, with more than 100 million of native speakers: Chinese, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese and Russian. They are important regional lingua franca.
But, even French is not in this second and important group...
<<American user
Third, Amerindian languages like Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, Quiche, and Nahuatl are growing fast in prestige and number of speakers. Amerindian languages is now the official language of former Spanish America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Guatemala). Spanish is and will be less important in the near future in an area where people is aware of the prestige of Amerindian languages.>>
Yes, but as they said they are bilingual. Spanish will not desapear, even some French Trolls would like.
<<Fourth, in many parts of Hispanic America area we can see that in Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay etc people speak an evolving language very different. If a Spaniard goes to Venezuela, he doesn't understand the Bastardized Spanish. They are not mutual intelligible. So, Castilian Spanish is not yet spoken in many Hispanic American area>>
I can understand all of them. I was in Venezuela 2 years ago and I can tell you I did not have any problem to understand them.
<<Fifth, Spanish is losing its official status in countries of Black Africa, from Western Sahara, to Equatorial Guinea. But Spanish is no longer the sole official languagethere, it is studied. People speak their native languages. Besides, some people study Arabic (they are muslim), Fang, Bubi, Hausa, or French there. So, Spanish is one of the official languages in this little area of Africa. >>
Spanish is only official in one black country in Africa: Equatorial Guinea and Spanish is spoken widely. Also French co-offial.The official religion in Equatorial Guinea is "Roman Catholic Church". Also shaharauis know Spanish and in the North of Morroco.
<<For example, Chinese, Arabic and Portuguese are also growing very fast, and probably will be more important than French.>>
True. I think Spanish is and will be international language like Chinese, Arabic, Russian, etc... The problem is French, which is losing its status, because people use more English than French. French at most will be International lenguage like Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, etc... That is not bad. French was important and powerful but now is like another language like Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, etc... The real important language is English.
<< But in this Global World the REAL enemy of Spanish is really English.>>
No, I don't think English is the real enemy of Spanish because English is the lingua Franca. Spanish doesn't fear to lose the position of the International Global Lenguage like French. For example, French was and is a diplomatic Language but now people speak English instead of French in the diplomatic world.
In my opinion, in the future will be regional lenguage like Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Arabic. Only English will be the lingua Franca.
<< US user
Third, Modern Standard Arabic is growing fast in prestige and number of speakers. Arabic is now the official language of former French North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia and Tchad). French is and will be less important in the near future in an area where people is aware of the prestige of Arabic. >>
Yes, but as they said they are more functionalin French. French will not desapear, even some Hispanic Trolls would like.
<< Fourth, in Caribbean area we can see that in Haiti, Martinique, etc people speak a Creole very different. If a French go to Haiti, he doesn't understand the French Creole. They are not mutual intelligible. So, French is not yet spoken in Caribbean area. >>
They all speak standard French. To tell you honestly their French is much better than the Castellano of Hispanic Americans.
<< Fifth, French is official in several countries of Black Africa, from Senegal to Congo. But French is NOT the mother tongue there, it is studied. People speak their native languages. Besides, some people study Arabic (they are muslim), Wolof, Hausa, English or Swahili there. So, French is one of the lingua franca in this little area of Africa. >>
French is official in almost all black country in Africa: DR of Congo,Cote d'Ivoire,Senegal, Gabon, etc. and French is generally spoken. Also Spanish is co-official ony in Equatorial Guinea. The official religion in Equatorial Guinea is "Roman Catholic Church". Also shaharauis know French also and in the North of Morroco.
Finally, French is a minority language in Canada, Belgium and Switzerland, where you can use English.
So, the enemies of French language are English and in a lesser degree, Arabic. So, this fight agains Spanish is not very useful for French: French is in regression because in a lot of countries people don't want to study the "second" global language if they can study the first one.
It is true that Spanish is one of the languages that is growing fast and it has more importance than French globally. But there is not real competence between them.
<< For example, Chinese, Arabic and Portuguese are also growing very fast, and probably will be more important than Spanish. >>
True. I think French will remain more international language than Chinese, Arabic, Russian, etc... The problem is Spanish, which is not uplifiting its status, because people use more English and French than Spanish. Spanish at most will be a regional language like Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Bahasa etc... That is not bad. Spanish was somewhat important and powerful but now is like another language like Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, etc... The real important language is English and French.
<< But in this Global World the REAL enemy of French is really English. >>
No, I don't think English is the real enemy of French because English and French complement each other as the lingua Francae. French doesn't fear to lose the position of the International Global Language unlike Spanish. For example, Spanish was and is a telenovela Language but now people speak English and French instead of Spanish in the soap telenovela world.
In my opinion, in the future will be regional lenguage like Chinese, Spanish, German, Arabic,Hindi,and Bahasa. Only English and French and probably Russian will be the lingua Franca.
You can post non-sense messages very well, and you know to add a lot of people to Spanish language, US user.
Spanish, according to SIL-Ethnologue is spoken by 30 million of secondary speakers. Spanish is NOT in the top ten languages, and it will NEVER be again.
The main problem of Spanish is exactly that: this role of "second" regional language is stupid. No one want to study the second if you can study the first global ones, English and French.
After English and French, there are several regional languages, spoken in a big area, with more than 100 million of native speakers: Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese and Bahasa. They are important regional lingua franca.
But, even Spanish is not in this second and important group...
I am sorry but only one is a global and Lingua Franca and is English. French is not a ligua Franca.
I am sorry but only two are a global and Lingua Francae and are English and French. Spanish is not a ligua Franca.
French: 60 millions of native speakers.
Spanish: 500 millions.
French: 400 millions of non-native speakers.
Spanish: 20 millions.
Mon opinion personnelle:
La langue française sonne mieux que l'anglais, mais il est plus difficile à apprendre.
Why French?
French is spoken by more than 270 million people in the world: 80 million native speakers and another 190 million secondary speakers on five continents. French is the 2nd most commonly taught second language in the world (after English) and ranked the 2nd most influential language in the world.
It is the language of the fifty-six countries that form La Francophonie, the equivalent of a French commonwealth. Although more people speak Chinese, Hindi, and Spanish, French is spoken in more countries - over a greater geographical area - than any of these, making French second only to English as a global language. French is also one of the official languages for NATO, INTERPOL, and the United Nations and the 3rd most common language on the Internet.
More than a third of all English words are derived directly or indirectly from French, and it's estimated that English speakers who have never studied French already know 15,000 French words. French is the lingua franca of culture, including art, cuisine, dance, and fashion.
France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country in the world and is one of the top producers of international films.
… and one more thing - Spanish is not easier to learn than French!
http://www.famn.org/french.htm
Spoken by approximately 300 million people in more than 50 countries across the globe called “Francophone countriesâ€, French is one the most important language in the world. IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SECONDARY SPEAKERS, IT ACTUALLY BECOMES THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT ONE. BESIDES, IT IS ONE OF THE SIX OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE UNITED NATIONS. GENERALLY, IF WE CONSIDER OTHER FACTORS LIKE NUMBER OF PRIMARY SPEAKERS, NUMBER AND POPULATION OF COUNTRIES WHERE THE LANGUAGE IS USED, NUMBER OF MAJOR FIELDS USING THE LANGUAGE INTERNATIONALLY, ECONOMIC POWER OF COUNTRIES USING THE LANGUAGE OR SOCIO-LITERARY PRESTIGE, FRENCH BECOMES THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD AFTER ENGLISH.
It is generally difficult for an English speaking person to interact with French costumers, colleagues or populace since many French people, unlike German or Scandinavian, do not understand English. In fact, many foreign expatriates find it difficult to survive in France (or in any Francophone countries for that matter) without having some knowledge of the local language. Hence, LIFE developed the Department of French Language Education (DFLE) to help international professionals acquire French language skills. DFLE includes various personalised programs.
http://life-ccb.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=91
Take it easy, please!
French speakers: 77 million, mother tongue. 136 million, total speakers.
If you want to add partially Francophones, there are 195 million. You can't include more.
Countries: it is official in 29 countries, but it is a minority language in almost all of them. It is spoken by at least a 51% of the population in only 6 of them.
PD. I remember you that these data are officially published by the Francophonie.
http://20mars.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/FICHE_03_Nombre_de_francophones.pdf
Take it easy, please!
Spanish speakers: 300 million, mother tongue. 330 million, total speakers.
If you want to add those who can utter "Hasta la vista, baby", there are 350 million. You can't include more.
Countries: it is official in 18 countries, but Castellano is a minority language in almost all of them. It is spoken by at least a educated 15% of the population in only all of them.
PD. I remember you that these data are officially published by the SIL-Ethnologue.
http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm
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