Latin

[JOSEPH E. LAFERRIERE]

(1)  Is not English the lingua franca of
science now, as Latin was 250 years
ago?

Answer me this: If English is as universally
accepted as you claim, why is it then that my
doctoral dissertation contained references to articles
or books in seven languages other than English?
Journals throughout Latin America are routinely publish
in Spanish, including lengthy descriptions of new
plant taxa. I remind you that Spanish is spoken in
over 20 countries, so one cannot consider these as not
being international publications. Many journals in
Russia and her former colonies are
publish in Russian. Journals in Brazil are published in
Portugese. Many journals in former French colonies in
Africa are published in French. A little known fact is
that French is the official language of more countries than
Spanish.
   English has been the #1 language for a few decades,
but this will not last. History teaches that nations
that abuse the environment do not get away with it.
This was the reason the Roman Empire declined, and
unless the US changes its ways rather significantly,
it will decline as well. When it does, nations in
Asia, Europe, and Latin America will rise in relative
political and economic importance. Their languages
will rise in stature with them. By the year 2050, the
idea of publishing in English a description of a plant
native to Guatemala or Chad or Manchuria will seem
rather quaint.

--
Dr. Joseph E. Laferriere
"Computito ergo sum ...  I link therefore I am."