RE: paleonet Discussion: Anglo-Saxon Science versus the rest of t he world

[John Van Couvering <vanc@xxxxxxxx>]

I wouldn't want to offend anyone, but the discussion about the dominance of 
English in scientific literature seems to ignore the fact that the subject 
of English as the new world language has been discussed at very great 
length indeed in other disciplines, including those of literature, 
political science, sociology, anthropology, history, and of course 
technology. In the last area, particularly, the dominance of English has 
been so rapid and so complete, and for such obvious reasons, that one 
wonders why the question is being raised again on this list.

It's not because English is convenient, although I agree with Rich Lane 
that this is so.  For one thing it's the only European language with a 
double vocabulary with Romance and Germanic based synonyms.  Secondly, 
thanks to the Norman occupation, it was "degraded" until it became very 
simple. In this regard it's like Afrikaans and Swahili, other "peasant" 
languages that sound like baby talk to their more formal ancestors, but 
whose simplicity makes them very flexible and inventive.  Finally, with 
some ridiculous exceptions (tough and through and plough) the spelling is 
reasonably phonetic.

No, it's simply because everyone speaks it. For one reason or another it's 
the common tongue that unites important linguistically diverse areas 
(India, anglophone Africa, Philippines). It has become the second language 
all around the world, in some cases replacing other western European 
languages, or other languages of conquest (Russian, Arabic). Today, 
virtually the only places where English is almost unknown to educated 
people are the francophone ex-colonies.

Whether this is fair or not, whether French or Mandarin would have won in 
an unbiased contest, and whether this puts non-English speakers at a 
disadvantage, is beside the point. To put it in a nutshell, English is not 
being imposed by some imperial power -- it is being chosen, out of the 
necessity to communicate. Resentful complaints are silly, rather like 
complaining that rain is wet. The modern world must have a common language, 
and entirely by accident English got the head start. Now it is unstoppable, 
even if America becomes hated, or even if China should resume its 
historical role of world's greatest power, as seems more than likely.

John Van Couvering