Should there be a universal language?

[Lalaki]

In our increasingly integrated world, many people have been moving to and from different cultures, struggling to learn a new language. Obviously, language is a big part of one's identity, so there will always be a very wide set of tongues throughout humanity.

But, would it be beneficial for humans to adopt a global language? This wouldn't mean removing different languages, for people would simply be bilingual (someone who lives in Spain for example, would be able to speak both Spanish and the universal language).

What do you guys think?

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

Unless you're going to create an entirely new language, how do you figure it'll fly, given the rather nationalistic bent people tend to take with it?

There are so many translating services and technologies available, who knows what the future might bring in that regard. And people are learning more languages I think - I know they're putting more emphasis on it at younger ages in the schools where we're at, at least.

One Language to Link Them All is a nice theory, but I'd like to hear how you intend to make it universally acceptable, why whichever language you choose would be the best for it, and how easily others would adapt to it.

[Lalaki]

Unless you're going to create an entirely new language, how do you figure it'll fly, given the rather nationalistic bent people tend to take with it?

There are so many translating services and technologies available, who knows what the future might bring in that regard. And people are learning more languages I think - I know they're putting more emphasis on it at younger ages in the schools where we're at, at least.

One Language to Link Them All is a nice theory, but I'd like to hear how you intend to make it universally acceptable, why whichever language you choose would be the best for it, and how easily others would adapt to it.

Not saying I necessarily support the idea, but I do want to hear the opinions of other people. Discussing concepts is almost always simpler than discussing implementation.

[Russian Socialist Soviet States]

People should speak their national language.

[Luziyca]

Unless you're going to create an entirely new language, how do you figure it'll fly, given the rather nationalistic bent people tend to take with it?

There are so many translating services and technologies available, who knows what the future might bring in that regard. And people are learning more languages I think - I know they're putting more emphasis on it at younger ages in the schools where we're at, at least.

One Language to Link Them All is a nice theory, but I'd like to hear how you intend to make it universally acceptable, why whichever language you choose would be the best for it, and how easily others would adapt to it.

Not saying I necessarily support the idea, but I do want to hear the opinions of other people. Discussing concepts is almost always simpler than discussing implementation.

This is basically how a failed Kickstarter plan starts: "Hey, I got a cool idea! I want to port NS onto the NES!" "Ooooh! Get it on Kickstarter," that fool does so, people contribute, then months go by before the investors/contributors realize they've been swindled and lost all their money on some fraud.

[Caninope]

Unless you're going to create an entirely new language, how do you figure it'll fly, given the rather nationalistic bent people tend to take with it?

Rather easily, actually. The world has been losing linguistic diversity for quite some time now, and if the world continues its relative stability enforced by a small number of powers lead by a superpower, it's not exactly impossible to think that there won't be a lingua franca, if not outright universal language.

[Dagnia]

I don't think so. I believe machine translation will mature in the next few decades to a point where we will be able to use it without any funny or even dangerous mistakes. There may even be applications that make in-person conversation possible between people who don't know each other's languages.

There is also the issue of what language. Esperanto, probably the most popular of the constructed languages, does not work well for a great deal of the speakers of languages that don't allow things like consonant clusters (probably the worst for Japanese and Chinese speakers, and Arabic has some rules on them too). English may also be very hard for the same reason and because of the way people in different countries speak it.

[Sturmtiger]

There already is one. It's called English.

[Aurora Novus]

I'm definitely in favor of a global language. A common language that can cross all borders, but then all nations can have their own individual languages as well.

If something like this were to work, it'd probably either have to be English or Chinese. Currently these are the two languages most spoken in international business settings. Of course, I'm always in favor of resurrecting Latin, and simply making that the global language of Earth. Come ooooon. It'd be awesome.

[Republic of Coldwater]

NO.

This ends a culture's individualism, and it would be incredibly hard to teach everyone this language.

That also means that there will no longer be Chinglish signs or hilarious accents D:

[Breadknife]

[Idea][<-implicate-][Good]
[query->][language_form][which?]
[syntax][-before->][vocabulary][=answer?]
[syntax][<-before-][vocabulary][=answer?]
[mutable]<-/?/->[static]

[Wind in the Willows]

It's called English.

[Pagan Hungary]

It's called English. Haha, didn't expect anyone to have the same answer so soon.

[Olthar]

Yes. The universal language is the language of love.

[Aurora Novus]

Yes. The universal language is the language of love.

<3<3. <3<3<3. <3. <3<3. <3...<3<3<3!!

[Estruia]

As an English-speaking American, I would LOVE to see Esperanto gain more popularity. In fact, I would love to see any of the Romance languages gain more popularity.

[Gradea]

No, langauges are part of what makes up a culture.

[Ardoki]

Esperanto!

[The Lendol Archipelago]

Personally yes, but it's not viable. It just don't work

[Hyfling]

English is kind of becoming the universal language anyway, due to it's dominance early on.

[Ardoki]

Personally yes, but it's not viable. It just don't work

1. It has never been tried before.
2. That was terrible grammar.

[Velandia]

No universal language. I like hearing different languages from every country.

[Norstal]

Yes. The universal language is the language of love.

Uhhhh, uhhhhhhhhhh, huuuuuuuuuuuh, uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, UMMMMMMMMMMM, UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHR, AHHHHHHHHHH, ARGHHHHHHHH, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh, yes yes yes oh god god god god god yes yes yes yes yes god UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh haa haa haaa haa

Or for the rest of us

Put it in ow no stop it not there ow be more gentle ow yes ok right there ok ow no damnit a little to the left yeah that's it oh yes no right, to the right ow be more gentle

[The Lendol Archipelago]

Personally yes, but it's not viable. It just don't work

1. It has never been tried before.
2. That was terrible grammar.

I'm not properly up yet and it was meant to be won't, autocorrect must have wrongly corrected.
But all it takes is a few "patriots' who refuse to let their language become secodary and the whole plan will fail, remember each language will have its own patriots.

[Mammonio]

Everyone says there will be loss of culture, but they must have forgotten to read that this universal language will not replace others, it will exist next to them. Chinese can still speak Chinese, and English can still speak English, but when they meet they could speak Esperanto, without forcing anyone to learn the other language.