←back to thread

231 points rntn | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.444s | source
Show context
cm2187 ◴[] No.35413324[source]
Whether the UK is part of the EU or not is irrelevant to using english as a mean of communication between europeans. I remember a study from the French ministry of education which estimated for each language, what was the percentage of the EU population, to which it is not a native language, that studied it as a foreign language either in high school or university.

German and italian are in the 15-20% range, french and spanish in the 30% area, english north of 90%.

When you have 27 different EU nationals in a room, there is just one language they can practically speak among themselves. The EU will not go anywhere if its countries resist adopting english.

replies(3): >>35413357 #>>35413612 #>>35414936 #
kuboble ◴[] No.35413357[source]
My personal hope is that the EU would make a plan to adopt English as the only official language.

Now that UK is gone it can't be seen as unfairly promoting one country.

I think the example of Switzerland shows that there is no problem if spoken language is different from official language.

replies(6): >>35413469 #>>35413495 #>>35413518 #>>35413852 #>>35414632 #>>35416460 #
1. switch007 ◴[] No.35413852[source]
I think you’re forgetting Ireland and Malta
replies(1): >>35414054 #
2. smcl ◴[] No.35414054[source]
I think more importantly they're forgetting about France who would probably "Frexit" before consenting to elevate English above French