by Horatius Piscinus on Mon May 31, 2004 1:00 pm
Salvete
I agree with Mencius and think that in the end it will come to this, a natural evolution towards a common language in Europe. Attempts by some French to keep English out of their language is not going to work any more than all those classes in school on "proper" English has lent any of us Americans to speak it. In Germany I heard that there's a form spoken today with a mixture of English and German, and probably some other things too, that is being found spoken in news casts and among politicians. And why not if that is the language people in Germany are beginning to speak and understand. It is simply an evolution of German rather than an attempt at constructed language. Here in parts of the US if you do not speak Spanish you nonetheless include a few words and phrases, while on the Spanish station you will hear a phrase or two of English breaking in. Often it is easier to understand that mixture of Mexican Spanish and American English than is to understand English English. Just last night we were watching an English film and my wife couldn't understand what they were talking about because of the English way of pronouncing "oregano". The blend of languages is what sometimes distinguishes regional differences in the US, and while we have a form of common American English used on national networks, even there some other influences slip in. It is a process of natural evolution of a language. In the end that will be what happens in a united Europe, without any need to adopt or construct a single language, because the people will create their own language anyway.
M Horatius Piscinus
Sapere aude!