Language is a means to communicate. Sure, we have complex grammar, dialects, weird spelling and pronunciation, but none of these really matter if you strip it down to its pure purpose.
Look at that picture up there, now how difficult would it be to learn all of those words? I bet most people could do it in half an hour. It's only 35 words, after all.
And yet, people tend to have a strong reaction to different languages. They give you the look. I don't mean the befuddled look of incomprehension, but rather the 'how dare you address me with your alien tongue, begone from my presence or I shall shoot hate-lasers from my eyes' look.
Why is that? It goes far beyond frustration at the inability to communicate, so what, exactly, is wrong with speaking a different language?
Languages can be intimidating, especially if you've had little to no exposure to anything other than your mother tongue, and humans have a bad tendency to react to fear with anger.
Look at that picture up there, now how difficult would it be to learn all of those words? I bet most people could do it in half an hour. It's only 35 words, after all.
And yet, people tend to have a strong reaction to different languages. They give you the look. I don't mean the befuddled look of incomprehension, but rather the 'how dare you address me with your alien tongue, begone from my presence or I shall shoot hate-lasers from my eyes' look.
Why is that? It goes far beyond frustration at the inability to communicate, so what, exactly, is wrong with speaking a different language?
Languages can be intimidating, especially if you've had little to no exposure to anything other than your mother tongue, and humans have a bad tendency to react to fear with anger.
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