Wednesday 19 October 2016

WRITING: Discussion Forum (C1 LEVEL)

'COUNTRIES NEED TO PROTECT THEIR LANGUAGE FROM THE INFLUX OF ENGLISH WORDS'

I'm in two minds about this. I agree up to a point that it is almost impossible to stop the influence of English on other languages. However, I think it is very important to keep other languages alive and to create new words to define the new concepts that are arising in our times.
It is true that it is easier to use English words in specific contexts, for example when talking about technological development, but I do feel other languages should adapt their vocabulary to cover the current needs.
I think it is not necessary to use an English word when there is an equivalent in our own language, otherwise we would be neglecting the richness of the different languages.

16 comments:

  1. You have hit the nail on the head. It´s impossible to avoid the use incursion of English words in our everyday life, specially in fields as science and technology.
    It´s true that each language could invent new words but, on the other hand, it´s more practical to use English in order to make easier the communication between all the people who work or investigate in the same field, mostly the scientist community.
    However, we can´t let our own languages die or stay in the past. But, being realistic, most of new words created as a result of an effort to adapt our language to the fast rythm of cience and other fields will be just an adaptation of an English word, an anglicism, and in this case, possibly it´s better to use the original English.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great comment Esther, you´ve got a point saying that it is very important to keep all languages alive, but, what does it really mean? New words are being born every day, most of them because of new technologies. It´s true that even personally I used to prefer the Spanish word for all these new terms -almost when it is possible-, but sometimes I felt obliged to used the English word to be understood properly, even with Spanish people! Then I realize this means our language is alive, all these new words are coming to Spanish and certainly are mantaining it alive -in a different way than it used to be, really- but, don´t you think life and world are now different? Languages also do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Inma, I do not really agree with you, I have got mixed feelings about your comment, even though you have published it thrice!!! I am likewise a Spanish language protector too, it is my native tongue!
      Nonetheless if you think about it, there are a lot of words and idioms taken from another languages, aren’t they? Who do not live a “dejà vu”, use a “chat” to communicate with friends, or live the life “carpe diem”. It is true you could translate them but I agree up to a point you lost part of the sense or what you really you mean.
      This is the richness of the mix of the languages and the identity of one by one, that is why I think you have to use them to formulate truly your feelings.

      Delete
    2. Sorry! I made a mistake and published my comment thrice!! Antonio, I think you really are spot on. We also need all this words and expressions, they are mantaining our language alive.

      Delete
  5. I certainly concur with your view about the language is something dinamic that we build everyday in our lives, and sometimes we don't think enough because it's more comfortable the use of the introduced words from foreign languages.
    It's difficult stops the influence of English in our language because we live with technology constantly, and the most relevant and newer things about technology or sciences come from English-speaking world. But, as far as I’m concerned, I think we can make an effort to adapt our language instead of using words in English when possible.
    It's something difficult, but we have a rich language, with a plenty of fabulous words that are waiting to be discovered. Sometimes we only need stop and thinking , look for synonims that can make us enjoy our own language.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL!! Eli, I have not read your comment before, that easy to look for synonyms! This is a good exercise for the next class or a topic to debate, maybe!! :)

      Delete
    2. I go along with what Antonio says, but I think it is not always easy to find synonyms always, but if we love our language,we must do it.

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've got mixed feelings about this.
    It is a fact in our global world we are quite influenced by English words. The field of communication and information, the use of new technologies, the spreading of scientific advances or even the music, they connect us with another language and we try to adopt it quickly in order to keep up with the current needs. The sentence “No man is an island” takes on more significance here. As a result countries are losing a part of their language identity under the impact of the English in their cultures. Clearly modern languages are alive and we cannot stop the introduction of new terminology. But there is a matter, even if we translate or adapt a term it will always be an imported word and we may lose the opportunity to broaden our own vocabulary. Worse yet, our language risks impoverishment because sometimes we import the latest fad words, and the poorer terms, forgetting that our language is rich in vocabulary and expressions.
    Isabel M. Reche

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree up to a point with the statement. Societies are changing every day and this affect the linguistic field too. It´s true that languages change but it doesn´t mean that countries lose their native language. On the other hand, I do feel it enriches the vocabulary and it is positive in many aspects.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello to everyone! That's easy to say but I don't think countries need to protect their language from the influx of English. It's true that it's almost impossible to avoid Anglicisms, specially in science and information technologies. Nowadays, somewhere in the región of a billion people worldwide speak English at a useful level and this is the global language of business. So, the world has already choose the English as an international language and it hasn't necessary to affect our native tongue.

    People have the ability to learn many languages so, everyone is able to keep using its own idiom. I agree up to a point it is not necessary to use an English word when there is an equivalent in our own language but, if there is not I would along with the use of English. It will help you to communicate with others communities in a easy way.

    Rosa López

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello everyone!! We are facing a controversial issue, mainly, because its something which affects everybody. How important is our language? How important is being able to communicate with other people? I´ve got mixed feelings about this.
    Clearly, our society is changed a lot, in fact, the globalization is a question which has grown substantially. Mainly, because people have more opportunities for interaction. Certainly, If you want to communicate with foreign people, you ought to do in English or maybe in French, even If you don´t want to do it because this is a language which is getting more and more useful.
    To my opinion, that´s easy to say, but we´ve to bear in mind some different aspects like science, technology or development between others. When a language is on the top is because their country and their people is able to take risks, and fight tooth and nail to get the best results.
    Obviously, there´re some pros and cons. The general complaint and the biggest problem is that some countries have been losing their features and it´s not exactly good news.

    Alicia García

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi folks!

    I'm also in two minds about that. I totally agree that we need to protect our language but at the same time, I really believe that the boundary need to be porous to the influency of terms coming from other languages.

    As many of you say, in fields like science or technology we have several examples. In technology, terms like intranet, wifi, whatsapp can be examples of that. Obviously we could find in our language, with more or less effort, terms or expressions with similar meaning but sometimes they either express more precisely what we want to say or simply it is a matter of language economy.

    We should not forget that the language is a tool and as such it should make the communication easier and the more obstacles or contraints we put, the less useful could it become.

    Roberto Rojas.

    ReplyDelete