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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: English official language of the world - Short rant
Message-ID: <elnaE2qM5L.Bvp@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <32B0CED6.779E@corenet.net> <32B738AA.3D9A@scruznet.com> <850921059.28482@dejanews.com> <32B9C1D8.4F18@acpub.duke.edu>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 1996 00:17:44 GMT
Lines: 32
Sender: elna@netcom8.netcom.com

Randall Kloko <rkloko@acpub.duke.edu> writes in a recent posting (reference <32B9C1D8.4F18@acpub.duke.edu>):
>
>In the end, the question will be settled, if at all, by historical 
>momentum: the vast majority of common Know-Nothings in the world will
>decide, for one reason or the other, that their children should speak
>one language, because there will be more pressing things to worry 
>about than diddling around with two or more.  If you look at the
>demographics, you have only two choices:
>         If you're an optimist: English.
>         If you're a pessimist: Mandarin.

What does optimism have to do with English? or pessimism with Chinese?

If money is power; and power attracts privilege; and language-usage is an
aspect of privilege--- we had better look more closely at the future of
Japanese.  I know quite a few American businessmen & students who are
studying Japanese with an eye to personal gain! And it is *rapidly*
growing in popularity in Australia and elsewhere.

BTW I disagree with your assessment of the great unwashed masses: they 
will prod their offspring to learn the language of Power/Money/Opportunity.
This tendency will increase as access to other languages & cultures
spreads. The question remains: *which* language will bring these
advantages in the future?



-- 
Miko SLOPER              elna@netcom.com              USA  (510) 653 0998
Direktoro de la          ftp.netcom.com:/pub/el/elna   fax (510) 653 1468 
Centra Oficejo de la     Learn Esperanto! Free lessons: e-mail/snail-mail
Esperanto-Ligo de N.A.   Write to above address or call:  1-800-ESPERANTO
