The Second Languages of Every Nation

I found this interactive fascinating as an insight into politics and economics. Being Welsh, I inhabit a strange hinterland in which the Welsh language is spoken by a minority in my home country with English being dominant. It was certainly true in the past that children were punished in school for speaking Welsh. The link between language and cultural identity is often convoluted and helps define what people believe to be their distinct cultural heritage.

If that is the case, consider the situation in the United States, where I heard a remarkable lecture by Professor Richard Tapia of Rice University who outlined that within fifty years, at current projections, the dominant second language of the country will be Spanish. What will this mean for the national identity of the United States?

Source: http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-second-languages-in-every-part-of-the-world-infographic-2014-10

Source: The Second Languages In Every Part Of The World | Business Insider UK

About educationalist04

I'm convinced we can, as a species, do much better than this if we set our minds to being much more positive and productive towards our fellow humans. The solution is learning - creating independent and autonomous learners who can problem solve, innovate and create a better more equitable and sustainable world. My books, Future Proof Your School and Re-Examining Success together with this blog, explore how better learning outcomes for all can be achieved.

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