In a very interesting article from Radio Netherlands interviews a professor from Essex university about language rights and the loss of languages in the world today. What rights do you have to speak your own native language. If we are losing languages at an ever increasing rate what will our world like with the loss of these people and their languages? The radio interview brings up quite a fascinating dialog with another man who resides in Brussels speaking both French and Dutch, and the interplay between languages there. In all a very interesting interview and well worth a listen or read. They also mention the Manifesto for a Common Language, which I wrote about in a previous blog entry. With some very interesting thoughts about this proposal. The very strongly worded Manifesto is brought up in its wish for a common language between all citizens in Spain, but again as I stated before the professor is perhaps in agreement with me to the fact that such a proposal is in a way absurd. I would assume more so asserting the power of Spanish rather than a true call for a common language. Instead of using language as a dividing principle it may perhaps be used more effectively to unite different people instead of cause political turmoil.
(Image of an Ahmaric character table courtesy of chrys (lascribe.net))
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