What If Everyone Spoke The Same Language?

It is the language that we can communicate our feelings & thoughts so easily. Language is by far the most important element of any culture and civilization that exists on this planet. But what would the world be like if everyone spoke the same language? What if there were one world one language?

As of today, there are over 7000 languages spoken worldwide, but only around 30 of them are well recognized and account for more than half of the world’s population, in which English has a more global influence than any other. But despite this, it is still not officially considered an international language.

Let us suppose if the world had only one language to communicate? Wouldn’t it be better for all of us? or, is it even possible to have one global language? What would have been the scenario then?

Here’s what the world would look like from my perspective:

A World That Speaks the Same Language (Positive Impact)

According to my opinion, there are a variety of reasons why it would have been better. If you look at the positive side, you’ll find:

1. We can travel to any part of the World with confidence and without obstacles as there is no language barrier.
2. We all have the same sort of music and understanding the lyrics of Despacito, Lemalem, and Alors on Danse & Gangnam style would be just a cup of tea.
3. Telecommunications of all sorts would be easier. You can easily communicate with fourth-world communities, which aren’t a normal part of society.
4. Leaders of various governments would have a meeting without the fear of being misunderstood.
5. All the novels and literature need not be translated and can be read in the original. As translation can never do justice to the spirit and elegance of the original.
6. Although interpreters and translators lost their jobs we would save billions on translation costs.
7. Writers all around the world would get a way higher number of views and authors can sell their books anywhere they want.
8. Language barriers would not be used as an excuse for misunderstandings.
9. A single language would enable new forms of global artistic expression and collaboration.
10. A more unified world could require new forms of global governance to address challenges like climate change and resource distribution.
11. Standardized education systems would be easier to implement.
12. The pressure to learn multiple languages would be eliminated.

And there is one thing I can say It would have been much easier for us to write here without letting people misunderstand them. Because it happens a lot when English is not your first language.

Sometimes people misunderstand what we are trying to say, just because of language barriers and cultural differences. There is a direct correlation between writers and communications.

Writers written work may not be coming out exactly as they mean, and English as the first language speaker may be taking it the wrong way.

Just for example, calling someone ‘Dear’ might be a nice gesture from you but it might be extremely condescending in other parts of the world if you don’t know each other.

Calling women ‘divas’ might be normal in your society but it is also often used as an insult in various regions of the world. It may look normal to you but have a huge impact on how someone takes your words because the language barriers exist between you and them.

So, imagine if everyone spoke the same language (except accents) wouldn’t it have been a blessing for all of us?

A World That Speaks the Same Language (Negative Impact)

Well, it has its pros that would have brought a completely different picture of the world. But there would have been some serious concerns also, for instance:

• With one world and one language, the difference between cultures would start to diminish too.
• The joy of learning a new language and other cultures would be eliminated forever.
• If everyone spoke the same language there would be no privacy.
• Talking in the native language in other countries is a matter of pride, that’ll be lost.
• Many languages are already endangered. A monolingual world would accelerate this process.
• While a common language can facilitate communication, it doesn’t guarantee peace.
• A single language could facilitate the spread of propaganda and disinformation.
• A single language could facilitate the spread of harmful ideas and ideologies.
• A single global language could have unforeseen effects on mental health and cognitive processes.
• Constant communication in a single language might lead to mental exhaustion.

So, with global language, our World would become a boring place to live.

Many believe that perhaps English can be the global language of communication as it has more influence. But the truth is, no one wants to ever give up their Mother tongue or native language as it’s a part of their culture.

Let’s take my country, I’m from India, previously colonized by the British Empire. Therefore, despite Sanskrit being our deeply rooted language, English has a greater influence on our society. And, this is also because of the fact that the spread of the English language occurred parallel to the spread of the British Empire. Many erroneously believe that Sanskrit is a dead language, but the fact is that it is very much alive today.

And ironically, the British now have many universities which teach Sanskrit to every child for the first five years, Even Germany also has several colleges and universities teaching Sanskrit in Europe.

The ancient Indian scriptures are a window to the National soul of India, and most of the scriptures are in Sanskrit. Sanskrit can be called the ‘Grand Mother tongue’ of every Indian and European.

In a country as diverse as India where there are 22 official languages, English is among them. There is a huge linguistic ocean of 122 to 300 major languages and around 1600 lesser know-ones. After every 15-20 Km language and accent change in my country.

As Kailash Kher, a famous Indian singer once said, “For us Indians, I don’t think English can ever exclude that magic of emotions which our Mother tongue can”. Therefore, people would never want to leave their native language as it connects them to their roots.

Surprisingly, most of the languages we speak today are somewhere interdependent on each other if we go back in time. You can easily find similarities among some oldest languages like Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, etc. Some words we speak in our language have had origin in some others.

For instance, English has borrowed words from numerous languages. Examples include “sushi” (Japanese), “karma” (Sanskrit), “café” (French), and “pizza” (Italian). Spanish has incorporated words from indigenous languages like Nahuatl (Aztec) and Guarani. Examples include “chocolate” and “tomato.”

But, Despite this deep linguistic ocean around the world, expert agrees that there are fewer languages around today than yesterday.

The United Nations observed:

“When language fade, so does the world’s richest tapestry of cultural diversity”

When a language dies, a whole culture dies. Losing a language is like losing an identity.

According to UNESCO, 230 languages have fallen silent since 1950, disappearing forever. Moreover, a staggering one-third of the world’s languages currently have fewer than 1,000 speakers. When the last speaker of a language passes away, the language itself dies with it, taking its unique culture, history, and identity with it.

Learning a language is not only learning the alphabet meanings and arrangement of words but also learning the society and its cultural customs.

Other languages like English provide you wings to fly but your native language is the indispensable root.

So, what do you think of a world where everyone spoke the same language? Let us know down below.

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