non-english speaking countries

how is it that people from non-english speaking countries chat very well in english--better than my American compatriots---!!!??? I chat online with a mic, and it's the same..

 

This is just my possible theory, but they probably are doing whatever they can to connect with you or anyone who might be from the United States. Them speaking English is probably a way to connect with you.
Another way they try to make connections is this: when I was in Europe earlier this year, we were talking with this man who was definitely from Germany and to our surprise he spoke English rather well. He asked us what state we were from and when we said Kentucky he said, "Oh that's right KFC. Right?"
I think its probably a way to be friendly maybe. That's just what I think.

 

There are many factors:

1) English is the international language of the moment

2) The U.S educational system is bad for teaching foreign languages

3) Many Americans have never learnt foreign languages beyond highschool level

4) Some don't bother to learn

5) Some expect others to speak their language (even when they are in non-English speaking country)

6) Many Europeans watch films in English (including cartoons when they are kids and learn fast)

7) Listening to English speaking bands helps foreign teenagers to learn fast

8) The U.S. has a reputation for being bad a learring languages (this goes for British and French kids too) .

9) Speaking foreign languages are a key to understand the world through different cultures, this is why my parents put me in several international schools and the result is that I speak many different languages.

10) some use instant translators

There are quite some clichés here, but a lot of truth as well .

 

you'd be surprised that withing those 15 miles some of the Dutch wouldn't understand some Flemish or Limburg dialects. It's the same in the UK : most people think there is just one Englsih language: they'd be surprised to hear about scouse, Geordy or Cockney . Same for the French with the singing Provencal accent , as compared to the Northern Chti, the Picard, Alsacian etc.. Then you have all the regional languages in Europe. Ever heard of Ladin , Piemontese, Plat Deutsch, Frisian, Basque, Luetzeburgish, Gaelic, Galician, or Breton ? (sorry for the typos in those names if there are any , I'm doing this by heart)

 

I think that the world would be better off with only 1 language and since the language most widely spoken is English, then it should be English. Stupid language but no sense re-inventing the wheel, eh.

KTK

 

If you are talking about native speakers Mandarin (Chinese) beats you with twice as many speakers and Spanish beats you too.


Mandarin
官話 / 官话

955*

14.4%

Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei

Part of Chinese language family

Spanish
Español

405*

6.15%

Spain, Mexico, United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, and Western Sahara

Partially mutually intelligible with Portuguese[2][3][4]

English

360*

5.43%

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, and Commonwealth of Nations



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers




If you are talking about the most influential language then you'd have English (at least for another few decades) followed by French . (Source George Weber)

http://populationsdumonde.com/classements/les-10-langues-les-plus-parlees-dans-le-mon

 

I am talking about what my 3 years plus kicking around the world taught me and that is that English is the most universal langauage spoken.

KTK

 

As I said for another few decades. It could have been German 70 years ago, not so long ago it was Latin. This being said I have been to many countries in eastern Europe where English is the third or fourth language after , the local language, German or Rusisan. They are now leanring English fast to catch up, but you see a real difference with the elder generations.

 

The Bretons speak French nowadays, but up to the 1940s their native language was actually Breton whcih is very close to Welsh. As a result some pows in stalags talked Welsh together. During the Indochina war, the French had their Breton "windtalkers" .

 

very logical...great point

 

ty everyone...yes, Americans do not learn languages as nearly as well...and it is very nice/interesting to communicate with you all

 

No offence Ken, but that could never happen - thankfully. Even those who do speak English do not always understand each other. And as have been pointed out English is not the most widely spoken language, not even close. However it probably is the most widely spoken foreign language.

 

Or one official language of some countries (South Africa, Canada, India, Pakistan, Ireland all have one or more official languages) .

The language barrier is an old story.

 

No one can understand the English!

Stating to get the hang of the Scot's though.

 

I live in a midget country with about 2 milion inhabitants and I'm located at the Austrian frontier. For me, German language is necessity even though the most of Austrians speak English. Speaking German language helps me to establish more pleasant communication.
Besides some other minor languages I use English language too. In primary school I was average because I have focused myself just to learning individual words. Later on in grammar school my skills have increased slightly. Our professor of English language has explained us importance of learning phrases and understanding the context of conversation.
I use English language seldom on longer trips because I mostly communicate with people from German speaking countries.

 

It's all about the definition, so here's some credit to Ken the Kanuck.

If one counts the native speakers, as a second language speakers and also as a foreign language speakers then English indeed is the world's most widely spoken language. Here are the total numbers:

English 2,130 M, Mandarin Chinese 1,026 M, Spanish 528 M, Hindustani/Urdu 484 M, Arabic 353,5 M.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_language

 

I am no linguist, I can't spelling nor pronounce many words well and I am only speaking about English my native tongue. But I think that if we could all understand one another and share our ideas the world would be a better place.

As many here know Canada has 2 offical languages, French and English. We are forced to attend French classes while we are in school and need to pass in order to graduate. Many like me, never learned French very well. But when I was in a country where another language was spoken, I found that I quickly learned the rudiments, enough to get by. Learn 10 words a day and after 10 days you say 100 words which helped you get by.

The logic of the English language to me seems faulty, you would never apply it to math. I don't know if other languages are more logical but it seems that English is the most universal language and maybe the one to use so we can all understand ome another.

I salute all of you who speak more than 1 language.

KTK