The media, politicians and hearsay… all agree in saying that English is: dominant, essential, omnipotent… in short, THE language that you need to be able to speak. Without English, you’re lost!
Certainly, the “omnipresence” of English cannot be denied, and it’s useful to be able to speak the language of Shakespeare with dexterity; but does this “omnipresence” allow us to conclude that possessing English is sufficient, or that learning other languages is no more than an intellectual exercise?
Is English enough for travelling, for mutual and subtle understanding between people and cultures, for studying, for working and for a balanced personal development…?
Is English the first or the only language that you need to know?
Are other languages useless or at best secondary?
Would life be simpler if we all spoke one language, avoiding the constraints and perils of multilingualism?
in other words…
- monolingualism: is it a prospect for the future, an ideal that we should desire and defend?
- is multilingualism a barrier to the exchange and diffusion of knowledge?
Based on the opinions of experts, sociologists, linguists, English-speakers and non-English-speakers, the testimonials and experiences of travellers, students, teachers and professionals, the following 46 arguments are going to prove the contrary! (and at the same time offer you some food for thought on the dangers of such a position).
«English is not the only language you have to learn»
- because… please read the final part of this article
It's quiet in here! Why not leave a response?