Should We Switch to a Universal Language?

Languages are like electrical plugs - find yourself in a country without the right one and you're stuck.

Everyone is aware that turning on the light is as simple as flicking a switch. Most household comforts these days rely on electrical appliances. However, the fact that different countries have different voltage mains and frequency for electricity can make summer holidays unnecesarily confusing. In the United States, the standard mains voltage is 110-120V, while in the majority of countries across the world, including the United Kingdom, it is around 220-240V. This is the reason why electrical appliances made for US customers cannot be easily used in the UK without voltage converters. Wouldn't it just be easier if all countries used the same one?

When you go away, it's not enough to read up on the voltage and frequency of electricity in the country you're heading to. It's also important to know what kind of plugs you will need to ensure that all your important gadgets - laptop, mobile phone charger, hairdryer - work smoothly. For instance, in North and Central America a plug with two flat pins is required while in South America plugs may have either two slanting flat pins or two round ones. Imagine how nice it would be to pack for your holidays without having to think about something as mundane as a plug adaptor.

There are about 13 different kinds of plugs used across the world, but the language count is pegged at around 40,000. In an increasingly globalised world, national boundaries are effectively being rubbed out. There are fewer barriers for people to travel the world and live in different countries. Often the biggest obstacle to a comfortable life in a foreign land is the language barrier. Imagine relocating to China without any knowledge of Mandarin or Cantonese. With more than one billion speakers, English is arguably already the universal language, so it is no wonder that English courses in London are so popular.

That is where the similarities end between languages and plugs, however. The rich variety in forms of expression, culture and literature make it worthwhile learning other languages. These things outweigh all the practical advantages of a common language, as even those studying at an English language schoolwill tell you.