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At the Dance World Cup, here in Sitges in Spain, World Finals 2018 | Dance World Cup[^]
The US did attend, along with 46 other countries, from Argentina, to Mexico, to Thailand and China, with a lot of others inbetween.
England compete apart from Scotland and Wales. And there are also teams from Jersey, Guernsey, and Gibraltar.
I have a personal interest in this, my daughter is in the English team. They just came 4th in the ballet group dance.
The ENglish team is made up from about five dance schools, so it is massive. We also came fifth in the same class, and first in the small ballet group. A 5th in the duet group.
And all this was in about two hours of dancing, which goes on all week. Apparently we always end up winning! 
Anyway, not only is Dance World Cup written in English, the commentary was in English. The signs in English. The music in English, but a large number of competitors are, and a very large number speak it as their first language. SA and Aus were there too.
All in all it is clear it is an English world!
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Well ... Not really[^]
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Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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It's a "yes, but" situation with China, I think. Sure, over a billion people speaking Chinese...but they're mainly sitting in the same place. Or flying through space in Serenity. It's not like you could pop into a cafe in Athens and start speaking Mandarin or Cantonese and have anyone know what you were saying...doubtful, anyway. But the chances are good there'd be someone with at least some English.
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You might be surprised - Athens has quite a large Chinatown ... 
Sent from my Amstrad PC 1640
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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But speaking Mandarin or Cantonese?
While Mandarin is the most popular language in China it isnt in the UK. Almost all of our Chinese population use Cantonese. How abut Athens?
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Absolutely really.
Your list is of native speakers. I am of course talking about English speakers, both native and those who have learnt it.
It is an English world.
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I'm not sure, as I read the intro, if they were only including native-speakers, or 'speakers'.
Aside from native speakers, for example, Chinese, along with many of the others, aren't used. The reason the claim of an 'English' world, linguistically speaking, is probably correct is that it is spoken pretty much everywhere (with outside contact). The official language of science is "Broken English" - and heavy accents with weird grammar are just fine with us science types. (Even Welshmen, although that's being called into question).
Spanish is everywhere - but it doesn't get you far outside of the native speaking countries, although perhaps a little further than Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, &etc.
This is not a judgement on the languages. It's just, perhaps, pointing out that lists of top tens of various types - well it depends upon the parameters you're measuring. If you look for "English as a Second Language", you'll probably find it overwhelming.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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So sad! 
I am glad you are wrong! 
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Sad? Sad my daughter came FOURTH in the WORLD!??!?
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Nah, this part is good
I was talking about the latter part about the English world.
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Nah, it isnt sad. We need a global language, and English is the best choice by miles.
It is flexible, adaptable, good for both business and poetry. It is not owned or regulated by any single body, the OED just reflects its usage.
It is also a very simple language. No gender, no cases, and it's sentence structure is lose.
Sad? No, it is a good thing.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: It is also a very simple language. No gender, no cases, and it's sentence structure is lose.
So, we should all speak Visual Basic, then? I was going to suggest JavaScript but that is case sensitive, so it fails one of your criteria.
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I would contend that Indonesian is much simpler yet as adaptable, if not more. I think we should all speak Indonesian, clearly.
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Really?
Shame they didnt get off their arses and conquer the world then!
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From OGs link - I'm not surprised Chinese is No1 but I was expecting Indian to be higher in the mix, I guess they have so many different dialects it moved them down.
I admire anyone with multiple (spoken) language skills as I am incapable of learning more than my milk language 
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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No... not the fact that the US team didn't qualify for 2018.
No... not the fact that most Americans don't give a damn about soccer.
I'm watching some local (Chicago) news show this morning and hear this:
Talking Head - "Now we're turning to our sports reporter Steve who wants to gloat about the UK's World Cup team that is doing quite well. Tell us Steve, does the British team have a chance at winning it all this year?"
Steve - "Errr... Ummmm..."
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OK - I have no idea why this is embarrassing. From what I have heard the English teams paint has been drying faster, and their grass has been growing longer, than their opponents. So what is the issue?
I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended.
I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended.
Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like.
Dave
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I would guess it is the mixing of UK and British regarding teams when the fact is neither actually have a team in the WC. England does but that is not the same as Britain and the UK. There are no teams specifically for Britain and the UK.
Again - just guessing.
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And somebody thinks that Americans are going to make that distinction?
Hell - I'm Canadian and I didn't pick up on it.
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I am rather surprised that more people are not aware of this. I guess I just read a bit more than most.
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Last time I was in the USA they were showing a lot of games on TV from both the English and Scottish leagues, so I'm pretty sure they should be aware that in football England and Scotland are totally separate [bar the ood anomoly - Berwick Rangers].
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Your guess is correct.
I'd prefer the media not even mention anything they are so obviously ignorant about. Then again, maybe it was the fact that this particular talking head is a twit.
modified 25-Jun-18 16:00pm.
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Mike Mullikin wrote: the media not even mention anything they are so obviously ignorant about
Logic loop - how can she not talk about something she doesn't know about if she doesn't know enough about it to not know she doesn't know? Ya know?
I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended.
I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended.
Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like.
Dave
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I watched them play against Panama. They even scored a couple of times.
They buy shoes, then they wear them! They make them sound old! Dairy! Dairy!
modified 20-Oct-19 21:02pm.
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Stable Genius wrote: They
Hint: These is no UK team or British team. There is a team from England however.
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