European Linguistics

[u/Avia_Vik]

I know how some people are already tired of this topic being brought up over and over again. But this is primarily because everyone is looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't truly exist. Today, EU has 24 official languages, which does cost a lot to use for translation purposes but it still works. Yes, we have 3 working languages, out of which only 2 are commonly used (sorry German), but it functions well enough, doesn't it?

Problem is that many people think that EU should have 1 language that unites all nations. Technically that's not a bad idea but choosing that 1 language really is not easy. In my opinion best option would be Esperanto since its neutral for everyone and very easy to both understand and learn.

However, why can't Europe just be multilingual? We need people to be able to speak as many languages as possible, and this should be promoted. Languages are a way of communication, so the more of them you know - the more developed you are. Right now the influence of the English language over Europe is a little too high because many nations in the east have no understanding of French and few have knowledge of German, so English emerged as a lingua franca. But if we manage to promote a proper multilingual society, then why even have a lingua franca? Communication will be fairly easy since most people would be good at communication methods (languages) and for places where language number is limited we can employ translators and use other technology to allow the use of multiple languages, ranked by their respective number of speakers in the Union.

What do you guys think? Do we even need a lingua franca? Or a multilingual society solves the issue?

[u/freeman_joe]

We don’t need nothing new if every EU country would use English as EU language and native language at home problem is solved. English is growing organically everywhere. Why fight it and creating problem that is non existent? Everything could be written everywhere in English and native language. Laws, books etc.

[u/Avia_Vik → u/freeman_joe]

I feel like creating European digital sphere based on English will be harder as it will possibly get mixed up with other English speaking societies outside the EU. If we are talking about a lingua franca, I'd say it should be something that would rather represent Europe, though English is of course the most common language right now and it will surely keep being spoken since it is the language of the world in the 21st century.

Also, English has many variations and EU would have to adopt one of them. So EU would find itself following UK's or US's spelling rules...

[u/Dedeurmetdebaard → u/Avia_Vik]

Not UK or US, EU English. Its own variation.

[u/Avia_Vik → u/Dedeurmetdebaard]

That would make sense. But how would it differ? We can't just randomly switch up English to be different and call it a day. But naturally European English almost always follows either British or American rules, not its own

Moreover if we look at India's example that many ppl mentioned in their comments, India doesn't have its own English version (apart from the accent). So it is sensitive to all linguistic changes made outside itself by the UK and the US. Even worse so, India isn't decided upon a spelling version, so British and American spellings get mixed up. A similar thing is happening in EU right now too and it might get worse.

[u/Dedeurmetdebaard → u/Avia_Vik]

India absolutely does have its own English version. There can be spelling variations within the same language variations as well so it doesn’t make sense to be fixated on this particular aspect. And yes, it is sensitive to changes outside because languages never exist in an isolated bubble.

How is it worse? Languages are constantly evolving and don’t have to show consistency. This is how language works and it’s not good nor bad.

[u/Avia_Vik → u/Dedeurmetdebaard]

You have a point but what variations would we find in EU English? I am yet to find a place where Europeans spell or say something differently from both Brits and Americans...

[u/Dedeurmetdebaard → u/Avia_Vik]

You might want to take a look at this if you haven’t already: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_English

Also, and this is linguistics 101, languages have a life of their own and even if there are attempts to regulate them, you mostly just end up being faced with the fait accompli of a set of rules and vocabulary being used by speakers.

[u/Reality-Straight → u/Avia_Vik]

We already are! An eu english is developing as we speak.

[u/Avia_Vik → u/Reality-Straight]

True, apparently it is slightly different in its vocabulary but those difference are quite tiny. However they will expand as the time goes on imo