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Tuesday, February 12, 2008

The universal language

If there's one non-ski related thing I learned from my trip to Estonia it's why English is truly going to continue to be the universal language. I've recognized for awhile that English is the most useful language to know but I always thought it was kind of arrogant to actually acknowledge that. I felt that thinking everyone should speak English was supporting the whole attitude of colonization and conquest with which the English speaking world forced everyone else to learn English. In case the other colonizing nations are feeling ignored here I will say that Spain, France, and Portugal have done a good job of getting their language spread around the world mostly through soldiers and priests.

Now the soldiers and priests are out of fashion and the modern linguistic colonizers is the entertainment industry. About half of Estonian tv is in English with Estonian subtitles. If you grew up watching tv in English with Estonian subtitles you'd learn English AND you'd probably learn to read really early. Most of the music that's been playing here has been in English too. So much for America being a leader in business or technology, it's the entertainment industry that's making English the universal language. And as long as we pour as much money as we do into movies, tv, and music I cant imaging that changing.

4 Comments:

Blogger Erik said...

I agree with you on that one. I think I hear 3 English songs to every 1 German song on the radio here in Austria. What kind of music were they listening too in Estonia? The last time I went to Czech Republic I heard Gangsters Paradise by Coolio multiple times. I think they might be a little behind still...

February 12, 2008 4:52 AM  
Blogger Jess said...

I'm still trying to learn Esperanto because I feel guilty about that whole arrogant American thing. It's too bad that Esperanto hasn't caught on more though...

February 13, 2008 4:23 AM  
Blogger Perhaps a Parrot said...

GO LAURA!!! Looks like some tough competition out there in Otepaa. Good job/keep it up/miss ya.

February 13, 2008 2:36 PM  
Blogger LAV said...

erik- actually our hotel's been playing a soundtrack here that's really varied with past and very current popular songs-- all in English of course.

jess- good luck with the esperanto. not like you don't have other things to learn or anything.

February 14, 2008 11:11 AM  

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