Should We Have More International Languages?

English seems to be a widely spoken language in the world, be it whether you are living in the West or East. It has made communication slightly easier, as most people would roughly understand what you are trying to say. Perhaps it all started when the East India Company travelled around the globe, making other countries part of the Britsh Colony. Hence, today, countries like Singapore are still using British English as one of the spoken languages. Even her laws are built on the foundation of the British Law.

Several decades before the English travelled the globe, the Portugese and Spanish had done that. They were the powerhouses in the 17th century. That was why in some countries, like Brazil, the main language is Portugese. People are now tapping into this market due to its vast resources.

Now with China opening up to flood the world with about 20% of the total population (estimated to be about about 6.7 billion) today, more people have also taken an interest in its language. When I visited US last year, while we were waiting for a tour bus, I saw that a reporter was interviewing some Chinese people who were also visiting US. What appalled me was that he was interviewing them in CHINESE!! He spoke fluently, and was praised for his ability to do that! So I believe many people in the world are also learning the language now.

Looking across Asia, one can also find another up and coming market in the Arab countries (for example Dubai and Abu Dhabi), where opportunities are vast. In order for one to tap into the market, it may also be necessary to learn of the culture and Arabic language.

In Singapore, due to the foresight of the government, children are to learn 2 out of 3 major languages in school, namely English, Chinese and Malay. Thus we are effectively bilingual or tri-lingual.

So, should we have more international languages? If yes, should we be learning all of the above mentioned (Portugese, Chinese and Arabic)? Or should there be some more?