Quote by Edward Sapir
English, once accepted as an international language, is no more secure than French has proved to be as the one and only accepted language of diplomacy or as Latin has proved to be as the international language of science.
Summary
This quote suggests that although English has become widely accepted as an international language, it should not be assumed that it will remain secure in this position. It draws parallels to French, which was once dominant in diplomacy but lost its status, and Latin, which was once the international language of science but became less prominent over time. The quote implies that language trends and preferences can change, emphasizing the need for caution and not taking the international standing of any language for granted.
Topics
Future
By Edward Sapir