Language is no longer a barrier. All of us can cite numerous examples of how we have managed to get by without knowing the native language of the city, or at the very least we have all lived to tell the tale. Knowing the language of the land just makes our job a lot easier. It is certainly not necessary to be a linguist or a grammarian: basic spoken-language skills combined with exceptional vocational skills is a surefire recipe for growth and acclaim the world over. The intermingling of speakers of inherently distinct native languages, thanks to pathbreaking communication advancements over the last couple of centuries, has diluted the concept and importance of mother tongue/ native language. Native language may no longer reflect the person’s ethnic group. This trend has led to hundreds of languages dying around the world, and hundreds more are marginalized and headed towards extinction. Some languages have seen a very high degree of vocabulary imported from other languages, leading to their reclassification as a dialect of a major language and thus losing their “independent language” status. It is widely believed that business, religious and political factors have been foremost in bringing about this change. A rough estimate suggests that over 80% of the world’s population knows at least one of the following major languages as their first or second language:
- Chinese – Mandarin
- Spanish – Castilian
- English – All dialects
- Hindustani – Hindi/ Urdu
- Arabic
- Bangla
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Japanese
- Punjabi
- German
- French
The six official/business languages used in the United Nations for transactional and inter-ministerial meetings are:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- English
- French
- Russian
- Spanish
Ref: Map of Major World Languages
The Dust Bowl