We Should not Have a Global Language

It could be said that the incompletion of the tower of Babel results from different languages, which facilitates cultural diversity. But it is hard to fully understand each other if you speak a different tongue, so that is why some people advocate that we should establish a global language.

In my opinion, it is not a good idea to establish a global language. First, language itself is part of a culture. The meaning of words in one language is endowed by their cultural context rather than dictionary definition. Second, it is hard to choose an existing language as our global language. The equality between cultures rules out the rationale that one language should be chosen over all the others. And last but not least, to create a brand-new and so-called "neutral language" is not desirable either. History has already proven the failure of the wide use of Esperanto.

Indeed, a global language can save us a lot of time, money and energy currently devoted to translation and interpreting. But as I see it, such a cost is worthwhile to protect cultural diversity in the world. Just as Bertrand Russell said: "Diversity is essential to happiness". (195 words)

结构剖析

文章分为三段

第一段引出话题it could be said that, 指出世界通用语的使用与否。

第二段用in my opinion开头，是作者自己的观点，他认为全球通用语言不是个好主意，并从三个方面分析了原因。

第三段是对第二段的补充，的确indeed通用语能节省很多的财力物力，但是最后作者引用谚语："Diversity is essential to happiness"表明还是要保持文化的多样性。

我们不应该有全球通用语言

可以这么说，通天塔之所以没有完成是因为语言不通，但这也促进了文化的多样性。但是，如果人们使用的语言不通，很难完全理解彼此，所以这也是为什么有些人主张我们应该设立全球通用语言。

我认为，设立全球通用语言不是个好主意。首先，语言本身就是文化的一部分。一种语言中单词的意思都是由它们的文化背景所赋予的，而不是字典定义的。其次，很难选择现存的一门语言来当作我们的全球通用语言。文化间的平等性排除掉了在所有语言中选择一门语言的合理性。最后，要创造一门全新的所谓的"中立语言"也没有吸引力。历史已经证明了世界语在广泛应用上的失败。

其实，全球通用语言可以为我们节省好多时间、金钱和精力，而现在要依赖于笔译和口译。但是依我看来，这种花费在保护世界文化多样性方面是有价值的。正如罗素所说："须知参差多态，乃是幸福本源"。

Babel n. 巴别塔，通天塔

result from 是由......造成的

advocate v. 提倡，主张，拥护

establish v. 建立，创办，安置

be endowed by 赐予，捐赠

rule out 消除，取消

brand-new adj. 全新的，崭新的

indeed adv. 的确，真正地

essential adj. 基本的，必要的，本质的

Diversity is essential to happiness. 须知参差多态，乃是幸福本源。

1. It could be said that the incompletion of the tower of Babel results from different languages, which facilitates cultural diversity. 可以这么说，通天塔之所以没有完成是因为语言不通，但这也促进了文化的多样性。

2. The meaning of words in one language is endowed by their cultural context rather than dictionary definition. 一种语言中单词的意思都是由它们的文化背景所赋予的，而不是字典定义的。

3. The equality between cultures rules out the rationale that one language should be chosen over all the others. 文化间的平等性排除掉了在所有语言中选择一门语言的合理性。

4. Just as Bertrand Russell said: "Diversity is essential to happiness". 正如罗素所说："须知参差多态，乃是幸福本源"。