I suppose if you mean that people from more than one country use the language, then it is international. But then most languages satisfy that broad criterion.
What language is used most broadly by people of the world?
If you don’t speak the local language, what language is the likely best alternative for communicating? Matter of fact, what language is the best language to try first, regardless of the local language?
Using these questions as possible tests for an “international” language, esperanto is not even “an” international language as opposed to “the” international language.
If there is an international language, what is it?
If there is an international language, should we promote it or kill it?
Was watching (or, rather, enduring) “American Gigolo” with some friends, and in one scene Richard Gere says to a woman, “I speak three languages.” The woman, looking at Gere alluringly, says, “Plus the international language?”
Friend of mine, with a perfectly straight face, turns to us and says “Esperanto?”
Is there a language that satisfies the conditions…
What language is used most broadly by people of the world?
If you don’t speak the local language, what language is the likely best alternative for communicating? Matter of fact, what language is the best language to try first, regardless of the local language?
And given our concern about protecting all cultures, should we promote or kill the international language (if there is one)?
My wife is a wonderful linguist…
She speaks Esperanto like a native. (Old, old joke)
Seriously, English is now the international language – certainly for technical and business purposes. E.g., the international actuarial meetings are conductyed in English. In (at least) Turkey and Israel, insurance management education may be conducted in English. Only the French have resisted the standard use of English.
It’s my understanding that the internet is increasing English’s hegemony.
Caught an episode of “The Daily Show” that included a report about a film William Shatner did, pre-Star Trek, in Esperanto. They included an interview with Shatner about the impact of the film. Brilliantly funny to watch Shatner chew the scenery in another language.
[hijack]have you seen “Judgment at Nuremburg,” with Spencer Tracy? The court bailiff for the international tribunal was a very young William Shatner, looking all Captain Kirk-ish in a U.S. military uniform. One of those examples where the later role of an actor makes it hard to view the earlier role without giggling. Plus, Werner Klemper (a/k/a/ Col. Klink) was one of the Nazis on trial - somewhat disconcerting.[/hijack]
Actually, no. There are over 6,000 “living” languages. The vast majority of them are only spoken within small geographic areas. There were/are, for instance, on the order of 1,500 - 2,000 African languages. Very few of these are spoken outside Africa.
