Comments on: English Rules http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/ The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, But It Will Be Blogged Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:22:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Thrive Learning http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/comment-page-1/#comment-111305 Thrive Learning Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:50:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/#comment-111305 Hi! when you learn any thing you should have to obey the system rules so this one is very informative and creative,nice post which I like most.Thanks a lot.keep blogging. Hi! when you learn any thing you should have to obey the system rules so this one is very informative and creative,nice post which I like most.Thanks a lot.keep blogging.

]]> By: Husqvarna Chainsaw http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/comment-page-1/#comment-58885 Husqvarna Chainsaw Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:57:29 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/#comment-58885 It's called Singlish in Singapore - a derivative of English. It’s called Singlish in Singapore – a derivative of English.

]]> By: Bernard http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/comment-page-1/#comment-3562 Bernard Wed, 02 May 2007 02:17:32 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/dowbrigade/2007/04/29/3087/#comment-3562 Unfortunatly for this "English as lingua franca" meme, the percentage of english-speakers (Native-tounge and second-language) has already peaked (10-12%), and is now declining (8-10%). In addition, different "englishes" are diverging to the point of mutual incomprehensibilty. Even looking at USA versus British english, it is possible to find words and expressions that have OPPOSITE meanings on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. eg. "to table a motion (or a bill, etc)" In British parliament, this means to bring up or present for consideration and discussion. In USA legislatures, it means to set aside from, or to remove from consideration and discussion. The present position of english is very much a consequence of the military and economic power of Britain, and then the USA. Before that it was the french who had the power, and french was the language diplomacy. History shows that the language of choice is dependent on the has the military and who has the money (funny how often those go together). And I hear that there is a developing acute shortage of mandarin and hindi-speaking nannies for western well-to-do families... Unfortunatly for this “English as lingua franca” meme, the percentage of english-speakers (Native-tounge and second-language) has already peaked (10-12%), and is now declining (8-10%).

In addition, different “englishes” are diverging to the point of mutual incomprehensibilty. Even looking at USA versus British english, it is possible to find words and expressions that have OPPOSITE meanings on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

eg. “to table a motion (or a bill, etc)”
In British parliament, this means to bring up or present for consideration and discussion. In USA legislatures, it means to set aside from, or to remove from consideration and discussion.

The present position of english is very much a consequence of the military and economic power of Britain, and then the USA. Before that it was the french who had the power, and french was the language diplomacy. History shows that the language of choice is dependent on the has the military and who has the money (funny how often those go together).

And I hear that there is a developing acute shortage of mandarin and hindi-speaking nannies for western well-to-do families…

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