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Yes, there's strong anti-Russian feeling in several countries, but Russian is still, by far, the Slavic language with the most second-language speakers. Accord

Yes, there's strong anti-Russian feeling in several countries, but Russian is still, by far, the Slavic language with the most second-language speakers. According to Ethnologue, there are more than 100 million Russian speakers outside of Russia. It is the primary language in Belarus and half of the Ukraine (and is known by most people in the country). Almost 7 million people in Poland know how to speak it.[1] English is probably becoming more of the lingua franca of Eastern Europe, but still, if any Slavic language were to serve as the lingua franca, it would be Russian. It's the Slavic language with the largest international presence, and in contrast to constructed languages, it actually has a large speaker base and significant cultural heritage. 1. http://www.ethnologue.com/21/language/rus/ http://www.ethnologue.com/21/language/rus/

dmurray 7y ago
The second-language speakers skew old, though. People under 30 are much more likely to speak English or German. (Not trying to say that English should be the preferred lingua franca here, just that Russian doesn't have the headstart your statistics suggest).
- DiogenesKynikos 7y ago
  We're talking about Slavic languages. I've said repeatedly that English is the international language, but if it comes down to Russian vs. a constructed Slavic language, Russian is obviously more attractive, given its existing speaker base and culture.
  - tom_mellior 7y ago
    People are arguing against you because what you claim is not as obvious as you claim.
hourislate 7y ago
>but Russian is still, by far, the Slavic language with the most second-language speakers Only because Russia tried to destroy the language and culture of all the nations it occupied. They forced citizens of other countries to speak Russian and not their native languages. It is only the most spoken by older generations while the younger generations of other countries are being raised in their native language. Given enough time, the Russian language will only be spoken by Russians.
- DiogenesKynikos 7y ago
  What a negative comment! The same could be said of English, which is the dominant international language because of British imperialism. It's also, historically speaking, simply not true that Russia tried to wipe out the languages of the countries it occupied (also, liberated from the Nazis) after WWII. Russian was taught in school as a second language, but there wasn't any plan to wipe out the Polish language, for example.
  - Jataman606 7y ago
    Liberated from Nazis is quite rich statement :D
  - tempest345 7y ago
    > liberated from the Nazis 'Liberated' by invading first you mean. As was done in my country, among others.
wavefunction 7y ago
I think feelings tend to run negative towards the Russian government rather than Russian people. I feel that Russian and American people are more alike than we care to admit at least.

dmurray 7y ago

The second-language speakers skew old, though. People under 30 are much more likely to speak English or German. (Not trying to say that English should be the preferred lingua franca here, just that Russian doesn't have the headstart your statistics suggest).

DiogenesKynikos 7y ago
We're talking about Slavic languages. I've said repeatedly that English is the international language, but if it comes down to Russian vs. a constructed Slavic language, Russian is obviously more attractive, given its existing speaker base and culture.
- tom_mellior 7y ago
  People are arguing against you because what you claim is not as obvious as you claim.

hourislate 7y ago

>but Russian is still, by far, the Slavic language with the most second-language speakers Only because Russia tried to destroy the language and culture of all the nations it occupied. They forced citizens of other countries to speak Russian and not their native languages. It is only the most spoken by older generations while the younger generations of other countries are being raised in their native language. Given enough time, the Russian language will only be spoken by Russians.

DiogenesKynikos 7y ago
What a negative comment! The same could be said of English, which is the dominant international language because of British imperialism. It's also, historically speaking, simply not true that Russia tried to wipe out the languages of the countries it occupied (also, liberated from the Nazis) after WWII. Russian was taught in school as a second language, but there wasn't any plan to wipe out the Polish language, for example.
- Jataman606 7y ago
  Liberated from Nazis is quite rich statement :D
- tempest345 7y ago
  > liberated from the Nazis 'Liberated' by invading first you mean. As was done in my country, among others.

wavefunction 7y ago

I think feelings tend to run negative towards the Russian government rather than Russian people. I feel that Russian and American people are more alike than we care to admit at least.