Imagine there are no languages...

[peterska2]

I can speak anything as long as I know what you want me to speak and you don't mind the strange way that online translators phrase things.

Other than that, I'm happy with English (the Queen's one), English (the American approximation of), Geordie, Scouse, Maccum, Glaswegian, Boltonion, Mancunian, and Lancashire Dialect.

[Lea Verou]

Originally Posted by Lionel

There is a movement like that already named Esperanto that originated in Europe and sponsored by the UN. That new language is spoken by millions and is mainly phonetic.

I too speak French as primary language. But why do we have to use two paragraphs for what can be said in one sentence in English? If the Indians were French, they would have burned down entire forests to send smoke signals.

Exactly the same thing with greek Lionel!!!

nufc fan it will happen gradually, not from one day to another And I believe it IS going to happen

[Allan]

Originally Posted by Lionel

There is a movement like that already named Esperanto that originated in Europe and sponsored by the UN. That new language is spoken by millions and is mainly phonetic.

I too speak French as primary language. But why do we have to use two paragraphs for what can be said in one sentence in English? If the Indians were French, they would have burned down entire forests to send smoke signals.

Les francais sont r?put?s pour leur humours

lol Lionel

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Exactly the same thing with greek Lionel!!!

nufc fan it will happen gradually, not from one day to another And I believe it IS going to happen

nope, it won't happen.

there is a reason why there are different languages, these are a part of someones personality and vice versa.

Of course it could happen to get one worldwide official language once, the internet is the best way to achieve this, but that won't eliminate native languages.

[KW802]

Originally Posted by nexialys

.... i'm waiting for the StarTrek movement to become reality... one language, one people, one effort to follow the Prime Directive...

[Geek Mode]Star Trek doesn't have one language but rather a Universal Translator (UT) that allows them to understand each other. All members of the Federation (the Trek version of the UN) share the technology and use it and that's why when dealing with a 'first contact' situation sometimes you'll see the UT not being able to do a translation.[/Geek Mode]

We're not there yet but getting close with gizmos like this...

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/...lateims_1.html :ninja:

[Brad]

I think the human race will countine to fight amoung each other until some UFOs land hell bent on taking the planet from us. Around that time the world leaders will start telling everyone how we need to bond togther and take up arms.

If we don't die in the war, and manage to win it without killing ourselves in the aftermath, maybe your dreams will come true.

[Chris M]

Indeed - A Universal Translator is used in Star Trek, but I think you'll find that in the later years of the Federation, most Federation officers and servicemen speak and learn in English

The idea of a Universal Language is a good one, but the idea is impractical while there are diversities which cause things like September 11th or the London bombings of last year...

Maybe in a couple of decades time...

Chris

[Jaynesh]

Did you know that london spoke french for atleast 600 years

[Xenon]

@Chris: nope, everyone in StarTrek speaks german here

[DirectPixel]

Originally Posted by Michelle

What do you think about the idea of a universal language? Can you imagine what it would be like if all the people in the world spoke the same language? Would you like something like that to happen? Do you think it will ever happen? Which language do you think will be "picked"?

I also have this thread in my forum, but I would like to hear opinions from people all over the world and this is the only international board I write often.
Most greeks btw are againist it, especially the younger ones..

I think it will be one of the best moves humanity could ever make. It would solve some great problems that now exist. Can you imagine being able to understand everyone as good as you understand people from your country? It would be awsome! I also believe that if a language was to be picked it would most likely be english. Alternatively spanish or chinese. I think it will happen sometime, even if it will be in 10.000 years

They say that one's ideas are limited only to the ability of the individual's native languages to render those ideas into comprehensible thoughts.

No, I would not want a universal native language. There are some words that cannot be expressed in every language. Luckily, other languages make up for those shortcomings. If there were only one universal language, a part of our collective human emotion will be eliminated.