Companies ditch local languages for English

[Colonel Olrik]

Working for a branch of a multinational company in Germany, it would be insane for me and my colleagues to write reports or even prepare presentations in German instead of English, as it is not productive to spend a huge amount of time doing the unavoidable rewrites further down the line. Some of the older German engineers hate this, since their English is quite basic, but their time is fading fast. I don't remember ever seeing a job announcement within Engineering here that didn't ask for good or excellent English skills.

[PainRack]

Still,the written language shouldn't fracture significantly,would it?

[hongi]

No. When English is written, it's usually written in the standard dialects (British, American, Australian etc), which are pretty similar wherever you go.

[Broomstick]

The written language seems to change more slowly, which is one of the reasons we have the bizarre spelling resulting in abominations like "enough" and "knife"

[Xisiqomelir]

The written language seems to change more slowly, which is one of the reasons we have the bizarre spelling resulting in abominations like "enough" and "knife"

Germanic kneif -> Norse knifr -> Old English cnif works fine for me (similar to the peregrinations Knecht took becoming cnight and then "knight").

English is hardly the only language in the world with historical curios in its orthographic catalogue. If people prefer a language created with strict adherence to standardised linguistic principles, there's always Esperanto.

If people wish English were more Esperanto-like, they're free to start attempting to foist their variant upon the rest of us. Within a century or two, "irregardless" might be considered a real English word, though the prospect of that is sickening.

[Todeswind]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irregardless

Funny that you mention it, that might be closer than you believe.

[Darmalus]

If people wish English were more Esperanto-like, they're free to start attempting to foist their variant upon the rest of us. Within a century or two, "irregardless" might be considered a real English word, though the prospect of that is sickening.

Why does that word sicken you? Words are words, as long as people understand each other, why does it matter?

[Crown]

This sketch from the Scots show Burnistoun shows the frustration with the English Language and different dialects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGbRHtF7eIY

I remember being in Newcastle and hearing a conversation between a Tynesider and a Frenchman speaking English with a heavy French accent and it was easier to understand the Frenchman.

I have found here that there's a gradual americanisation of some parts of British language. For example the increasing use of the word 'vacation' instead of 'holiday', but some of that could be put down to people trying thinking they're being trendy.

To be fair, the Geordie accent/dialect can defeat Stephen Fry;





Apart from the obvious dialect issues, I don't have a problem with any English accent, Scouse is my favourite by far.

[hongi]

I remember being in Newcastle and hearing a conversation between a Tynesider and a Frenchman speaking English with a heavy French accent and it was easier to understand the Frenchman.

French person et Quebecker meet and get to talking. 1 minute in, the Frenchman interrupts: Excusez-moi, mais pourriez-vous parler en anglais?