--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: English, once accepted as an…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edward-sapir-15133_accepted_english-once-accepted-as-an-internationa_3114978.jpg" --- # English, once accepted as an international language, is no… ![“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.” quote by Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edward-sapir-15133_accepted_english-once-accepted-as-an-internationa_3114978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edward-sapir-15133_accepted_english-once-accepted-as-an-internationa_3114978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/533/edward-sapir-15133_accepted_english-once-accepted-as-an-internationa_3114978.jpg) > “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.” [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that no language can guarantee lasting dominance; past lingua francas have been replaced. **In simple terms:** No language stays dominant forever. Key Takeaway Adapt communication strategies to multilingual realities. Themes language globalization culture history Mood analytical critical Type academic philosophical When to use this quote - international conferences - academic curricula - media broadcasting Key Concepts linguistic hegemony cultural shift communication policy Questions to Reflect On - What factors cause a language to lose status? - How can societies preserve linguistic diversity? A Different Perspective Assumes language change is linear, ignoring power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) [International language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international-language/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [French is the language of diplomacy. Spanish is the language of bureaucracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/french-is-the-language-of-diplomacy-spanish-is-the-language-of/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“The French, it seems to me, strike a happy balance between intimacy and reserve. Some of this must be helped by the language, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mayle/the-french-it-seems-to-me-strike-a-happy-balance-between-intimacy-and/) [Peter Mayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mayle/) > [Latin is an international language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krzysztof-penderecki/latin-is-an-international-language/) [Krzysztof Penderecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krzysztof-penderecki/) > [A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-standard-international-language-should-not-only-be-simple-regular/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Both French and Latin are involved with nationalistic and religious implications which could not be entirely shaken off, and so, while they seemed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/both-french-and-latin-are-involved-with-nationalistic-and-religious/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [So far as the advocates of a constructed international language are concerned, it is rather to be wondered at how much in common their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/so-far-as-the-advocates-of-a-constructed-international-language-are/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [It would, of course, be hopeless to attempt to crowd into an international language all those local overtones of meaning which are so dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/it-would-of-course-be-hopeless-to-attempt-to-crowd-into-an/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [“That wasn't English she was speaking: it was the language of diplomacy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/that-wasn-t-english-she-was-speaking-it-was-the-language-of-diplomacy/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [“Isn't language loss a good thing, because fewer languages mean easier communication among the world's people? 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I'd say jealousy and anger are also pretty articulate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/people-say-love-is-the-international-language-i-d-say-jealousy-and/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [Music is an international language and it's something that can connect people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-wang/music-is-an-international-language-and-it-s-something-that-can/) [Jackson Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-wang/) > [Music can make a difference. There is a global nature to music, which has the potential to bring all people together. Music is truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/music-can-make-a-difference-there-is-a-global-nature-to-music-which/) [Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/) > [“If there was an international language between men in the world, it was about women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hoffman/if-there-was-an-international-language-between-men-in-the-world-it/) Carl Hoffman > [Art is an international language, understood by all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-babailov/art-is-an-international-language-understood-by-all/) [Igor Babailov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-babailov/) ## More by Edward Sapir > [Human beings do not wish to be modest; they want to be as expressive - that is, as immodest - as fear allows; fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/human-beings-do-not-wish-to-be-modest-they-want-to-be-as-expressive/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A common allegiance to form of expression that is identified with no single national unit is likely to prove one of the most potent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-common-allegiance-to-form-of-expression-that-is-identified-with-no/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A standard international language should not only be simple, regular, and logical, but also rich and creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-standard-international-language-should-not-only-be-simple-regular/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [The psychology of a language which, in one way or another, is imposed upon one because of factors beyond one's control, is very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/the-psychology-of-a-language-which-in-one-way-or-another-is-imposed/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [French and German illustrate the misleading character of apparent grammatical simplicity just as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/french-and-german-illustrate-the-misleading-character-of-apparent/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A common creation demands a common sacrifice, and perhaps not the least potent argument in favour of a constructed international language is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-common-creation-demands-a-common-sacrifice-and-perhaps-not-the/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [A second type of direct evidence is formed by statements, whether as formal legends or personal information, regarding the age or relative sequence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/a-second-type-of-direct-evidence-is-formed-by-statements-whether-as/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [One of the glories of English simplicity is the possibility of using the same word as noun and verb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/one-of-the-glories-of-english-simplicity-is-the-possibility-of-using/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Comparison of statements made at different periods frequently enable us to give maximal and minimal dates to the appearance of a cultural element or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/comparison-of-statements-made-at-different-periods-frequently-enable/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [No two languages are ever sufficiently similar to be considered as representing the same social reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/no-two-languages-are-ever-sufficiently-similar-to-be-considered-as-2/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [It is no secret that the fruits of language study are in no sort of relation to the labour spent on teaching and learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/it-is-no-secret-that-the-fruits-of-language-study-are-in-no-sort-of/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Cultural anthropology is not valuable because it uncovers the archaic in the psychological sense. It is valuable because it is constantly rediscovering the normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/cultural-anthropology-is-not-valuable-because-it-uncovers-the-archaic/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [As a matter of fact, a national language which spreads beyond its own confines very quickly loses much of its original richness of content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/as-a-matter-of-fact-a-national-language-which-spreads-beyond-its-own/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Cultural anthropology is more and more rapidly getting to realize itself as a strictly historical science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/cultural-anthropology-is-more-and-more-rapidly-getting-to-realize/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) > [Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sapir/language-is-the-most-massive-and-inclusive-art-we-know-a-mountainous/) [Edward Sapir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) [Explore all 44 Edward Sapir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sapir/) ## More Accepted quotes > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. 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