Should everyone speak and be taught the same language?

[dmathiss]

In my opinion I believe that the best thing we have in this world is the diversity of races, culture, customs and language. Language is the living expression of culture. The world would become much less diverse and much less interesting if there was only one language.

What do you guys think?

[Joeyramone]

English is the language that is most common for everyone.  Most international business is conducted in English.

The was a movement for a time to learn and teach Esperanto as an international language... it didn't work out too well.

[Flackle]

The problem resides in who gets to decide what language everyone should be speaking or teaching? Should we use the most common language in the world, should we choose to create a new language, should we use a dead language, or pick straws of all the major languages of today? I don't think any single person or group of people should dictate what language a person should use or learn. If someone wants to use a different language we should let them. This also raises the question of what do we do to people who choose to use a different language? Put them in jail, warn them, or just leave them alone? If you don't punish those who choose not to use the pre-determined language then there will be no point in having a pre-determined language. Languages come together on their own. People choose to learn a certain language only because other people that they interact with use that language. They do so because other people do so, not because they are particularity forced too. One day we may see only one international language, but it should only come about naturally through the cooperation of every single human being on this earth.

[Graeth]

Preen out the most used languiages and use those. Let the others die out then let the big ones fight.
Leave it to mandarin and english.
Would solve so many problems, then we can start focusing on less trivial matters, such as survival as a species.

[Tresbn00]

I think that everyone should have a good grasp of the language that is native to their country...the country that they live in.  Americans should all speak english and it shouldn't take a back shelf to other languages.  Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Polish etc., should be the primary language in those countries. If I am going to any of those countries, for any length of time, I should make every attempt to understand as much of their language as possible.

[superteacher]

Research shows that the same language makes the same mind but the heart speaks the same language everywhere in the world. If we are human we share something in common in language like smile and tears. But smile is the same language every wehre. Keep smiling everyday and you will get that back too 

[jsuderc]

Have you ever heard of the tower of Babel? People used to all speak the same language and it caused bad problems. If you are not familiar with the story, you can read it in the Bible.

[swkstudent]

No I love diversity and differences in culture, languages etc.. Even if two people speak a different language we still have the commonality of being human and having human emotions, feelings etc..

[queenofnines]

While I certainly appreciate how English is a dominate language, read and understood even in foreign countries, different languages are just one more thing that make a place interesting.  My latest vacation has been to Australia and New Zealand, and they seemed just a little less magical because the writing wasn't in funky characters (they were still awesome to visit, though!).

Some things I can do without being different in other countries: the money and electricity!!

[Moosetoaster]

Have you ever heard of the tower of Babel? People used to all speak the same language and it caused bad problems. If you are not familiar with the story, you can read it in the Bible.

I thought the tower of Babel thing was punishment for the hubris of man because we attempted to build a tower to heaven. So God punished us by making so that different people couldn't understand each other, and THAT led to problems.

[gemini0314]

I think if you live in America you should speak English, that doesnt mean you shouldnt know your native tounge as well.  If an American goes to any country they all get pist because we only speak English when if we are in their country we should speak their language.  I hate going to a store or restaurant and not being able to get customer service because they cant speak English.

[jsuderc]

Have you ever heard of the tower of Babel? People used to all speak the same language and it caused bad problems. If you are not familiar with the story, you can read it in the Bible.

I thought the tower of Babel thing was punishment for the hubris of man because we attempted to build a tower to heaven. So God punished us by making so that different people couldn't understand each other, and THAT led to problems.

That's partly true. The people built the tower of Babel to make a name for themselves. (Read Genesis 11) I believe they were rebelling against God by building this tower. They were making the tower and city to glorify themselves. Perhaps they were distrusting what God had said about there never being another world-wide flood so they wanted to be above whatever the flood level would be. God knew that if they were allowed to continue, the world would very soon become just like it was before the flood. People spoke the same language and their rebellion against God was very strong because they could all communicate together. So God mixed up the languages to try to stop or at least greatly slow down the rebellion. The mixing up of languages was not primarily punishment for building the tower, but rather an attempt to break up the rebellion.

[acarswell]

I have two thoughts. I believe that people should be tought the language that is spoken where they live so that there would not be a communication breakdown. I also think that people should make an effert to learn the language that there grandparents speak for example if its different. 

[angsilva2000]

I believe tha all ppl should learn english if in america, any other language is up to u.

[diala84]

Language is a unique and important part of our identity. It is the way we interact in the world and also is the way we think to ourselves. Not all languages convey meaning the same way and in this sense if one were forced to used a different language it would destroy their identity. I think we need to see the importance of learning multiple languages from an early age only that way can we have more understanding of other cultures and it will be easier to communicate throughout the world.