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From: hinsenk@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA (Hinsen Konrad)
Subject: Re: Languages in the EC
In-Reply-To: philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk's message of Mon, 6 Feb 1995 02:09:00 +0000
Message-ID: <HINSENK.95Feb6120858@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA>
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References: <3fdf8r$gqe@nic.lth.se> <3feev2$4df@news.INbe.net>
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Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 17:08:58 GMT
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In article <792036540snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk (Phil Hunt) writes:

   > That's of course what I meant, because decisions in the EU are still taken
   > by governments.

   This might not be the case in the future.

Hopefully.

   > In my opinion, a referendum is not a good way to decide this question,
   > or for that matter any question that affects future generations.
   > The majority of people does not think about anything but their current
   > personal interests.

   And a majority of politicians don't think further ahead than the next 
   election.

That is certainly a valid concern. Still I have slightly more faith
in politicians than in the average citizen regarding this question.
Their interests may not be those we would like, but at least they
tend to spend some time thinking about the problem and its consequences.

   If everyone votes for what is best for them, the language chosen will
   be the one which is best for the most number of people. It might well
   not be English, but it will be the one people prefer.

It will be what people think they prefer. They won't see the
consequences until a few decades later. Then they will probably
say "That's not what we wanted." It has all happened before.

   Anyone of normal intelligence is capable of learning English (or any

True. But it takes an enormous amount of time.

   other language for that matter). In a common 2nd language is chosen, I
   expect most children will grow up bilingual in it an their 1st language.

After some time, maybe. Initially many people would probably consider
this a violation of the "cultural diversity" policy.

   If the EU is going to have a common language, it will only work properly
   if enough steps are taken to make sure most people know it.

   This argument remains the same whatever language is chosen.

Evidently. But the time spent for this by millions of future
Europeans depends a lot on the language chosen.

   There is no way Japanese (or any non-European language) would ever be
   chosen. Many Japanese words reflect concepts in Japanese culture which

I agree on that. But you asked whether I would personally prefer Japanese
to English, and I said yes.

   certainly does help. I can't speak French very well, and I don't 
   understand spoken French, but I understand written French reasonably well.

But are you satisfied with that? Should that be a criterion for the
choice of a language? In my opinion one should optimize for the time
needed to learn a language reasonably well, not for the time needed
to be able to guess the meaning of a simple written text.

   > It helps to recognise hospitals, but that could also be achieved by
   > inventing a commonly used sign to mark hospitals.

   This sign already exists. It is the word "hospital".

I haven't seen this word, or any similar one, on any hospital in Germany.
Or in the Netherlands.

--
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