The English language – a winner or a loser?

Over the weekend, I went to The Hague to speak at the conference of Europe’s young socialists (which includes Labour students and Young Labour). I was struck that the youngsters manage without interpretation – all, including the French, use English for all the debates and discussions. Not yet something we can look forward to in the European Parliament, but an interested indicator of the trend towards our language – or a simplified version of it – becoming the lingua franca of Europe.

This has both advantages and disadvantages. A commonly understood language helps communication and cuts interpretation costs. It gives an unfair advantage to native speakers (which some will see as an advantage, but others won't!). But it does mean that we all tend to speak a simplified form of English, devoid of idioms and of less well known expressions and turns of phrase. No references to "batting on a sticky wicket" or using rhyming slang!

The massive gains and convenience are at the expense of an impoverishment of the language.