Why is Pope Benedict Speaking in English?

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mshealy

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I am watching with great interest EWTN’s live and recorded newscasts of Pope Benedict’s trip to Turkey. But, why is he using English for every majory address? The Pope is German, the Holy See is in Italy, and Latin is the official language of the Holy See. So, why English? Is it just because English is a more universal language? I’m glad he’s doing it, but it just seems odd.
 
mshealy said:
I am watching with great interest EWTN’s live and recorded newscasts of Pope Benedict’s trip to Turkey. But, why is he using English for every majory address? The Pope is German, the Holy See is in Italy, and Latin is the official language of the Holy See. So, why English? Is it just because English is a more universal language? I’m glad he’s doing it, but it just seems odd.
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Nothing odd at all. It’s the most widespread language in the world. There are more people who speak English as a second language than as a first language. Benedict is one of them. He’s simply trying to communicate effectively.
 
He apparently doesn’t know Turkish. Also, given local anger about recent EU actions, English is a good choice, since it considered more an world language than a European one, and within Europe the British have been among the strongest proponents of bringing Turkey into the EU.
 
English has become the lingua franca. At one time French, Latin, Greek all held that position. Indeed, “lingua franca” means “french language” reflecting that language’s near universal use at one time as the common language for diplomacy and commerce.
 
mshealy said:
I am watching with great interest EWTN’s live and recorded newscasts of Pope Benedict’s trip to Turkey. But, why is he using English for every majory address? The Pope is German, the Holy See is in Italy, and Latin is the official language of the Holy See. So, why English? Is it just because English is a more universal language? I’m glad he’s doing it, but it just seems odd.
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He is doing it for me of course. 😃 I don’t understand Aribic.
 
The Pope has such a thick German accent when he speaks English, I love it! It’s endearing… 😃
 
RPConover said:
The Pope has such a thick German accent when he speaks English, I love it! It’s endearing… 😃
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I scarcely even notice his Bavarian accent. My great-grandmother was from the same area, so I got used to hearing it as a kid. I can tell the difference between low and high German though, having taken German in high school and college.
 
Jennifer_G said:
I scarcely even notice his Bavarian accent. My great-grandmother was from the same area, so I got used to hearing it as a kid. I can tell the difference between low and high German though, having taken German in high school and college.
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Oh yea, I mean I took German in high school and some of my relatives are/live in Germany… mostly I notice the almost stereotypical “zis” as opposed to “this” when he is speaking in English, not so much the Bavarian accent when he speaks German… my first year German teacher taught low German and then I was forced to learn High for the rest of my education 😃 He speaks so softly, in the sense of tenderly, in English, I really like it, it’s comforting almost, but authoratative…
 
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