There is an interesting discussion in Wikipedia about the World languages.
English, Spanish and French are considered by everybody as World languages. But what about the others?
If we consider that Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Hindi and German as supra-regional languages because they are very strong in their area of influence but not out of this one.
Portuguese is spoken in several Continents, but it is not official in the World organizations. Besides it is not studied as foreing language.
There are several points of view:
Fischer Verlag
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Supra-regional: Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Arabic, Russian, Bengali, Malay, German, Japanese
Baker & Jones
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Arabic, Russian, Chinese (all types)
Supra-regional: ignores this concept.
Ali Mazrui
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Supra-regional: Arabic, Chinese (?), Russian
Ulrich Ammon
World: English, French, Spanish, Russian
Supra-regional: ignores this concept.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:World_language
What do you think about?
English, Spanish and French are considered by everybody as World languages. But what about the others?
If we consider that Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Hindi and German as supra-regional languages because they are very strong in their area of influence but not out of this one.
Portuguese is spoken in several Continents, but it is not official in the World organizations. Besides it is not studied as foreing language.
There are several points of view:
Fischer Verlag
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Supra-regional: Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Arabic, Russian, Bengali, Malay, German, Japanese
Baker & Jones
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Arabic, Russian, Chinese (all types)
Supra-regional: ignores this concept.
Ali Mazrui
World: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Supra-regional: Arabic, Chinese (?), Russian
Ulrich Ammon
World: English, French, Spanish, Russian
Supra-regional: ignores this concept.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:World_language
What do you think about?