English is the official language of the United States of America, Britain and most of the Commonwealth countries. It’s the most spoken language worldwide. It’s worth noting that many countries in Asia, such as China, Japan, Korea, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are quickly adopting English as a second language.  Over 1.4 billion people speak English either as a native or second language.
 

Note. Most Spoken Languages In The World [Graph].

Ø  Statistics and Data. https://statisticsanddata.org/data/the-most-spoken-languages-2022/

            Many people believe that it’s better to have fewer languages worldwide, rather than many. I will discuss some disadvantages of having many languages.

 1.      Inaccurate Language Interpretation

Inaccurate interpretation brought about by omissions or additions due to language barriers can change the meaning of what is being communicated. In the medical profession, this can lead to misdiagnosis and inability on the doctor’s side to determine the appropriate treatment for the patient.

When scientific data is interpreted inaccurately, this can lead to wrong conclusions and final decisions.

2.      Costly

            For a tourist who likes to travel to many countries, it will be paramount for one to learn many different languages, for ease of communication. This can be costly because this tourist must pay for language classes.

            As an adult, it may become difficult to learn many languages quickly, hence forcing one to enroll in more language classes. This will mean spending more money and time.

3.      Mixing Different Languages

When bilinguals process language, words from the non-target language can be activated, and sometimes even selected by mistake (e.g., Costa, Caramazza, & Sebastián-Gallés, 2000; Gollan, Sandoval, & Salmon, 2011; Hermans, Bongaerts, De Bot, & Schreuder, 1998). This can cause someone to think of a word in one language, and try to express it in another, bringing about miscommunication.

It’s true, fewer languages promote harmony and understanding between people. I will discuss the advantages of having fewer languages below:

1.      Understanding Culture and Diversity

It’s easier to understand other people’s cultures and diversities when spoken in one or two languages that are accepted worldwide. Many people love learning new cultures from different countries, but they encounter language barriers which make it difficult to appreciate the diversity of these cultures fully.

Therefore, if for instance, everyone could speak English, then it would be easy to appreciate and understand any culture anyone would be interested in.

2.      Reduction of Stress

Imagine you have travelled to a country for your annual holiday and are unable to communicate fluently with the hotel attendant. Wouldn’t that be stressful?

Communication barriers can lead to messages becoming distorted, wasting both money and time. This brings about confusion, stress and misunderstanding. Once these barriers are eradicated, stress levels are subsequently reduced. Once you understand what others are saying, you will be able to travel with more convenience.

3.      Smooth Development of Education

            It’s easier for students to travel for further studies when they are enrolled in schools

that teach a language or languages that they understand. If a student is a native English speaker and has enrolled in a school that teaches in French, the student will have to take up French lessons first to learn the language, before proceeding with the course. This can be time-consuming and expensive.

            It’s exciting to see how English is becoming a global language in the 21st Century. The fewer languages we have, the easier it is to avoid problems brought about by several languages spoken in different parts of the world.