It's exactly what is happening to the Japanese language.

Tuss

We did this exact same thing is English Language at school yesterday, a video on how english as a language is slowly creeping into other languages. They gave specific examples of, Russlish, Japlish etc etc all these half english half native tounged words.

The Russians, at least, are on to it already. Their first move: all Pokemon trading cards will now have to be translated into russian, and the characters' names will have to be adapted to the russian language. Apparently that should safeguard russian kids against excessive westernization. Which is rather funny, considering Pokemon originate from a country in the Far East...

But is that really a solution? It reminds me of the French way, where they have a council which sets strict regulations on language. Radio stations for example are forced to play at least a certain percentage of French music, advertisement is strictly observed. Isn't this against the natural development of a language? Let's keep in mind no language is really 'pure'....

I don't think the radio things has much to do with the language, just French culture. Canadian stations are also required to play a certaion percentage of artists and bands that origninate from canada, producing some strange vareity shows on some of the opera stations...

Tuss

Slovakia tried the same approach. It lasted only until the language commission tried to translate the word "joystick" into Slovak.

Tuss: language is a part of it, because, yes, these songs have to be in French, not just by French singers. That is just a part of the overall tries to keep their language 'pure' (whatever that might mean) though. The most important part is some society/organisation which has the official job from the government to find French words for English words (much like what NetDanzr said about Slovakia). And believe me - they are doing their job 'well'!

I can't disagree, it's the same way in Quebec!
The delegates in parliment have to read half their speech in English and half in French. hohoho.

Tuss

Oh my god! My English was deteriorating for so many months! Then I went to the library and read many books for a few days, then it's okay now. Poor grammar and sometimes I mis-say sentences, like I would say, "Oh geez Fiona, what the kid over there?" And then I would think, okay, I was supposed to say, "Oh geez Fiona, what happened to the kid over there?"

I think it's because I'm around non-English speaking ppl all the time, plus I don't read as often as I use to. You see, there's a big hint here! Reading books is a good thing.

Hahahaha, I could sound ditzy, but alas, no.

I think most people who don't speak English as a native language, but use it regularly nevertheless, possibly contribute to "destruction" of the language; in fact they use a very simplified version that would be, if anyone got used to it, much poorer.

Edit: Of course I include myself to the group of "destroyers".

Edited by Tapuak at 01:54 on December, 12th 2002

Sometimes Mr Creosote really confuses me with some of his sentences!

Tuss

Creo isn't that confusing, just with the german spelt words half way through sentences like iraque and things like that

Iraque? That's not German spelling, unless Portuguese has become the main language here meanwhile.

I can testify that it is a french word.

Yep, "Iraque" is the French spelling. The only German spelling I remember using here was "Elch" because that would be pronounced right in English, too Other than that, would you please point out all the many words spelt incorrectly by me, sterge? I will gladly do the same with your posts - that'll be quite a lot of work for me

I'd like to point out that there are two different ways to bastardize a language, and the one Tapuak mentioned (by foreigners is only one of them).

The first way is indeed by foreigners, and trust me: you Europeans have seen nothing yet. In some Cetral American countries, English has totally destroyed Spanish, replacing it with the so-called "Spanglish".

The other way to bastardize a language is by the native speakers, or those who speak the language perfectly. Only those are able and arrogant enough to change words, spelling or leave out letters, which destroys the language from the inside, and, unfortunatelly, is finding its way to real life.

Last time I checked, you considered it an insult if someone called you 'American', so that doesn't make much sense

See? That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Tuss

That's because I'm too much of a bastard to be considered either American or European, Mr Creosote .

Tuss: And what's so incredibly confusing about that sentence?