English: A Broken Language?

[Izweababa]

Honestly the UN should just create a Universal pictographic writing system using symbols that look like everyday items and then a few things for the other words that. Then teach it all around the world. That way everyone could write to each other even if they did not speak the same language

you mean Blissymbols?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blissymbols

[The Grene Knyght]

Honestly the UN should just create a Universal pictographic writing system using symbols that look like everyday items and then a few things for the other words that. Then teach it all around the world. That way everyone could write to each other even if they did not speak the same language

Pictographic writing systems are unwieldy and harder to learn than sound based phonemic ones.

Solution: learn Esperanto (like I did)

[Nimzonia]

People usually claim that English is "broken", or alternatively "special" because of loanwords, varied dialects, and perceived irregularities in grammar and spelling. It's hardly unique among languages for any of those things.

I think those people would be pretty pissed when they compare Danish to Norwegian XD

Or Norwegian to itself.

[Izweababa]

Honestly the UN should just create a Universal pictographic writing system using symbols that look like everyday items and then a few things for the other words that. Then teach it all around the world. That way everyone could write to each other even if they did not speak the same language

Pictographic writing systems are unwieldy and harder to learn than sound based phonemic ones.

Solution: learn Esperanto (like I did)

> esperanto

.....ehhh

[Republic of Keshiland]

Pictographic writing systems are unwieldy and harder to learn than sound based phonemic ones.

Solution: learn Esperanto (like I did)

> esperanto

.....ehhh

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

[Izweababa]

> esperanto

.....ehhh

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

kinda true
not quite tho

[Pilarcraft]

> esperanto

.....ehhh

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

bruh. Picture-based languages were dropped out of use for a reason. and it wasn't because some guy couldn't be arsed draw an eye of horus every time he wanted to say "protect"

[Aellex]

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

[Pilarcraft]

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

pretty much, yeah. well, that and the fact unless it becomes universal it's pretty much useless (doesn't have an established base. so there is no secure base number of users for it)

[Republic of Keshiland]

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

[Pilarcraft]

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

you've... never been to Europe, have you? I can tell.

[Izweababa]

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Well not only that, but English is steadily growing as a global lingua franca...

[Republic of Keshiland]

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

you've... never been to Europe, have you? I can tell.

I was in the UK twice as a one day flight stop but no seriously all you needs look at is the amazing race and the lack of a language barrier when in Europe

[Izweababa]

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

Then why would we need a picture language if English is being taught in all Euro nations?

[Kubumba Tribe]

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

Actually, it wasa a merging of Romance languages, not every language in Europe.

[Deina Prusija]

I think English would be a lot more neat if it stuck to its Anglo-Saxon roots, and didn't Latinize as much as it did.
French and Italo-Latin are probably the grossest, most uncomfortable languages on the planet, and I'm not fond of them mixing with German-rooted languages.
Mostly just because it makes a lot of unnecessary grammar rules. Rules for nouns and verbs of Germanic roots aren't the same as ones with Latinized roots. So you have this huge disconnect of how to capitalize, order, pronounce, and use wording from all very different backgrounds. Strange inconsistencies have always bothered me.
Why is it "Geese" for "Goose", but not "Meese" for "Moose"?
That's because Goose is Germanic, and Moose is native-american. That gives another question. Why wasn't a new word applied instead of just copying it from another spoken word? Wouldn't it be easier to name and identify a creature rather than adopting a foreign culture's word?

Instead of the English language being used for clarity and understanding eachother, it adopts multiple backgrounds until all of it jumbles together.
Why is Sheep both singular and plural? In German, Schaf becomes Schafe. The English equivalent should be "Sheeps", but "Sheeps" isn't a word, apparently.
Why is Deer both singular and plural? In German, Hirsch becomes Hirsche. Again, why is "Deers" wrong?
Again, another inconsistency. If Anglo-Saxon originates from Germanic languages, why hasn't it evolved alongside it? Why does German have plurals for these things, but not English? The English language is so terrible at following its roots, it follows its Germanic roots incorrectly.

Hold up, If the English Language is Germanic, why do we even call Germans "Germans"? That's a Latin root! It derives from the Latin "Germanus", and then a FRENCH alternative!...Why? Why would Germans identify themselves with a Latin/French word instead of "Deutsch"? Nothing makes any sense at all, and my head hurts.

I think the English language should've either stuck to its original roots, or have been reformed sometime shortly after the Medieval ages. Having a mish-mash of different cultures ends up bastardizing a language completely. Slang becomes common place, and soon enough - You have "Romans" speaking Sicilian.
Italian sounds nothing like original Latin. When a language gets splintered and splintered and splintered, words come from all sorts of backgrounds and sound completely different. It is a confusing mess, not just for speaking, but especially for spelling, writing, and using correct grammar.

So, in conclusion, no. It's not broken. But it is seriously inconsistent, in a lot of pressing ways, and communication seems difficult in written form. My point still stands. It would be great if the English Language was modernized, instead of just adding on a bunch of ridiculous foreign words until it became bloated and confusing.

[Republic of Keshiland]

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

Then why would we need a picture language if English is being taught in all Euro nations?

Because only 1/10 are European

[Aellex]

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

Most people aren't able to do more than babble about their tailor being rich, tho.

the lack of a language barrier when in Europe

That's literally the exact reverse of the truth.
Wow. Bravo!

[Republic of Keshiland]

Well every Euro nation requires English to be taught. It was just that they tried to merge EU languages into 1

Most people aren't able to do more than babble about their tailor being rich, tho.

the lack of a language barrier when in Europe

That's literally the exact reverse of the truth.
Wow. Bravo!

Every person who was in public school under 30 in Europe knows English.

[Pilarcraft]

Most people aren't able to do more than babble about their tailor being rich, tho.

That's literally the exact reverse of the truth.
Wow. Bravo!

Every person who was in public school under 30 in Europe knows English.

The majority don't talk english though. I mean, at least in Mainland Europe.
And, since different regions in Europe have either similar languages (At least, similar enough for two people to understand what they
other's saying, take Dansk and Norwegian. they're different, but a danish and a norwegian will probably understand each other when they're talking) or a lingua franca to talk with, it is not common to see two europeans talk English to each other (at least, unless online )

[Aellex]

Every person who was in public school under 30 in Europe knows English.

To babble in it, indeed. Maybe to read and comprehend some of it (but not to understand it).
To actually speak it, tho? Very little do.

In my English class, out of 40 people, less than five (me included) are able to actually hold a conversation and we're in preparatory classes.

[Izweababa]

I think English would be a lot more neat if it stuck to its Anglo-Saxon roots, and didn't Latinize as much as it did.
French and Italo-Latin are probably the grossest, most uncomfortable languages on the planet, and I'm not fond of them mixing with German-rooted languages.
Mostly just because it makes a lot of unnecessary grammar rules. Rules for nouns and verbs of Germanic roots aren't the same as ones with Latinized roots. So you have this huge disconnect of how to capitalize, order, pronounce, and use wording from all very different backgrounds. Strange inconsistencies have always bothered me.
Why is it "Geese" for "Goose", but not "Meese" for "Moose"?
That's because Goose is Germanic, and Moose is native-american. That gives another question. Why wasn't a new word applied instead of just copying it from another spoken word? Wouldn't it be easier to name and identify a creature rather than adopting a foreign culture's word?

Languages always loan words from others to mean things that come from foreign places.

Hold up, If the English Language is Germanic, why do we even call Germans "Germans"? That's a Latin root! It derives from the Latin "Germanus", and then a FRENCH alternative!...Why? Why would Germans identify themselves with a Latin/French word instead of "Deutsch"? Nothing makes any sense at all, and my head hurts.

Because the place where native Germanic peoples lived was called "Germania" by the Roman Empire, and the Saxons were in Roman territory...

I think the English language should've either stuck to its original roots, or have been reformed sometime shortly after the Medieval ages. Having a mish-mash of different cultures ends up bastardizing a language completely. Slang becomes common place, and soon enough - You have "Romans" speaking Sicilian.
Italian sounds nothing like original Latin. When a language gets splintered and splintered and splintered, words come from all sorts of backgrounds and sound completely different. It is a confusing mess, not just for speaking, but especially for spelling, writing, and using correct grammar.

Well English is a steadily growing lingua franca, so the more it grows internationally, the more foreign words get added.

As for Italian, it came from Vulgar Latin, which didn't really sound like the Classical Latin most people are used to.

[The New California Republic]

Every person who was in public school under 30 in Europe knows English.

Keshiland, you are talking complete nonsense again. I have traveled widely around Europe, and I can tell you unequivocally that your statement is complete nonsense.

[The Grene Knyght]

> esperanto

.....ehhh

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

no.

[New New Serrland]

Esperanto failed because is used words not pictures.

Esperanto failed because people do not want of an universal language.

Not even a universal language, a euro-centric "universal" language. When really only 3 of the top 10 global languages influence it, it's hard to call it anywhere close to universal.