Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew H.
I'm not sure that more non-English SF will be written; for whatever reason it's a mostly anglophone genre.
Although I haven't read a book in a long time where the universal language was explicitly described as being English.
However, the very concept that there is *one* universal language language that everyone speaks is died-in-the-wool American Cultural Imperialism (tm) (Although the British aren't far behind us in that regard.) Why should there be one universal language - of whatever flavor.
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The idea is not unique to America, nor is it cultural imperialism. While there has never been a single universal language that everyone has spoken, they almost inevitably develop; either as a result of imperialism, diplomacy or trade. Sometimes they are an existing language, sometimes they are pigeon of several different languages.
As to why? Simple, language translation is inherently limited. Language shapes the way we think, so it is sometimes impossible to precisely translate an idea developed in one language into another (you end up with an approximation). Thus having a common language facilitates communication since those translation issues are lessened. (Also its inconvenient to need a translator every time you want to communicate).
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Bill