We interviewed Henry Hitchings, the specialist in language and cultural history author. Here is what he said:
Do you think that all the languages have the same influence in the world?
No, obviously English is the most influential language, because it’s the lingua franca of business and is mostly used in other areas like medicine, education and diplomacy.
Why do you think that English had spread so much?
The Industrial Revolution and English colonialism were the reasons why English is the most talked language in the world, but now it’s because the technological advances that is the most learned as well.
Do you think that the language is connected to the culture?
Of course I do. Every language is closely connected to the culture and I can give you a very good example of that: If I say to an Australian speaker “you hit that for six,” he or she won’t understand what I am saying. Even Non-native speakers of English say that they prefer to talk with one another than have a conversation with native speakers. I understand that feeling, because it is difficult for them to keep up the conversation of native speakers by having been raised in a different culture.
What do you think about the "invented languages"?
There have been attempts to create a language that the entire world can use, but just Volapük and Esperanto were successful. I think those languages did not prosper because none of them is very likeable, and let’s face it: who would like to learn a language that probably nobody would talk? It’s preferable to stick to the language that you know more people do talk.
We thank to Henry Hitchings for his willingness and time to do this interview. We hope to work with him on another occasion.
Do you think that all the languages have the same influence in the world?
No, obviously English is the most influential language, because it’s the lingua franca of business and is mostly used in other areas like medicine, education and diplomacy.
Why do you think that English had spread so much?
The Industrial Revolution and English colonialism were the reasons why English is the most talked language in the world, but now it’s because the technological advances that is the most learned as well.
Do you think that the language is connected to the culture?
Of course I do. Every language is closely connected to the culture and I can give you a very good example of that: If I say to an Australian speaker “you hit that for six,” he or she won’t understand what I am saying. Even Non-native speakers of English say that they prefer to talk with one another than have a conversation with native speakers. I understand that feeling, because it is difficult for them to keep up the conversation of native speakers by having been raised in a different culture.
What do you think about the "invented languages"?
There have been attempts to create a language that the entire world can use, but just Volapük and Esperanto were successful. I think those languages did not prosper because none of them is very likeable, and let’s face it: who would like to learn a language that probably nobody would talk? It’s preferable to stick to the language that you know more people do talk.
We thank to Henry Hitchings for his willingness and time to do this interview. We hope to work with him on another occasion.
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