2006.12.11
English is the Lingua Franca
Lingua Franca: any language that is widely used as a means of communication among speakers of other languages.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away the French language was the language most people speaking disparate languages used to communicate between themselves. This is one reason why you will see French used on your American passport. These days, however, English is supplanting French in many fields. “English is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, diplomacy and the Internet.” (from Wikipedia; they wouldn’t lie, would they?).
Is it any wonder the French are getting defensive?
As the European Union has grown, so too has the number of its official languages. One side effect is that English is emerging increasingly as the EU’s lingua franca, much to the chagrin of the French, once the guardians of the group’s foremost tongue.It was not always this way. When the European Union was born in the 1950s, Britain was not among the founding nations and French was the accepted language of diplomacy and international affairs.
…
In March, when a French business leader, Ernst-Antoine Seilliere, addressed a gathering of European leaders in Brussels, he announced beforehand that he would speak not in French, but in English, “the language of business.”French President Jacques Chirac, who attended the event with several government ministers, jumped to his feet and stormed out, his entourage in tow. Chirac later explained that he was determined to defend the presence of French against the growing weight of English — not just in the European Union but also at the Olympic Games and the United Nations.
I’m not quite sure what Chirac expected. It’s been my experience that when you become defensive of a position to the point of fanaticism then you’ve already lost. It’s just a matter of time before you realize it. France passed the Toubon Law in 1994 which codifies French as the General Custer of institutional languages. The French even have their Académie française which dictates the use of the language, commanding the use of “courriel” instead of “email”.
French lost. English won. And didn’t even try. It’s nothing to cry about just like English speakers generally don’t celebrate their ascendency.
Don’t get me wrong… Many of the people I admire and love speak French natively or as a second language. I love languages and hate to see the diminishment and loss of so many in our rich human linguistic heritage. However, I don’t think French is in any danger of vanishing. After all, it is the language of love; je t’aime, mon cherie sounds so much sexier than love you, babe, n’est pas?
4 Comments Categorized: thoughts
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4 Responses to “English is the Lingua Franca”
- Uncle Roger says (January 16th, 2007 at 16:19:19 )
In some ways, I think this is not the best outcome. English is such a screwed up, imprecise mutt of a language that its use might just cause as many problems as it solves.
On the other hand, my french est tres mauvais… 8^)
- douglas says (January 16th, 2007 at 21:26:37 )
It has always been my opinion, being something of an armchair linguist, that all languages are screwed up. This comes from language being a reflection of the human psyche. Logical languages, which never occur naturally, are horribly difficult to learn and when they enter the realm of abstraction (talking philosophy or religion or any of the emotions).
Therefore we’re stuck with the existing, commonly occuring languages. English has many huge advantages despite how the French Normans screwed it up almost a thousand years ago, not the least of which is that it is pervasive. Why it is pervasive is another debate (dealing with American pop culture, British imperialism, and economic realities to name a few).
My French isn’t terribly good, either, but I could probably pick it up again. Still, of all the screwed up languages out there I’ve always prefered English, and not just because it’s my first language. It lends itself well to many uses.
Barring English and French and, for the sake of argument, Spanish, what languages would make a good lingua franca?
- Uncle Roger says (January 24th, 2007 at 17:33:52 )
I’m not sure what would be good… I would think that it would have to be somewhat easy to learn… which I’m not sure is any of them. I suppose English is probably the best choice… which doesn’t necessarily make it a good choice.
- Unfrench Frenchman says (October 18th, 2008 at 18:59:22 )
French lost. English won. And didn’t even try. It’s nothing to cry about just like English speakers generally don’t celebrate their ascendency.”
This is an excellent way of putting the situation. English didn’t try indeed. English, unlike French, is not a language that armies of functionaries and teachers are desperate to ram down our throats. The French have for centuries been ruthlessly trying to expand their language at the expense of others. Nothing but global supremacy could satisfy French culture nationalists. Fact is, French was never a global lingua franca, always was at best a regional one, for all Gallic claims to the contrary. The ruthlessness of French culture nationalism makes the failure of France’s hegemonic ambitions a pleasant thing to watch. I invite you to read more on the subject at THE WORLDWIDE DECLINE OF FRENCH.
