(Americans believe) what % of the world speaks English?

[serryjw]

NOW>..I won't tell you til tomorrow.

[eleny]

1. ?!

:spank:

[Hissyspit]

2. Well you know I'm just gonna Google it!

I actually know the approximate percentage of English speakers because I've looked it up for class before, but no idea what percentage Americans think.

Actual percentage of world practioners of some variation of Christianity is as much as 35% and as low as 20% (depending on which study you look at). Most Americans think it is much higher, I'm sure.

[TomInTib]

4. You take classes?

I always thought that you were a.... whatever.

[Hissyspit]

5. TEACH classes.

I am a whatever! :7

[TomInTib]

7. Whew! , whatever...

I was temporarily rocked back in my chair.

All this time...

Damn.

That was one of those great little surprises.

I never learned anything. What do you teach?

[Hissyspit]

13. Art History

[TomInTib]

3. I am saying less than 1%, probably less. nt

[onehandle]

6. They think "100% of the people who count", but the joke's on them.

In fifty years we'll all be speaking Chinese.

[pitohui]

8. 90 percent

i am embarrassed to say that i just sent a friend on a trip thinking he realized that it was a spanish-speaking country, just got a shocked email from same friend that no one speaks english

crap

i did TRY to convince him to bring me as a guide, i'm all about the free trips

[Emit]

9. I'm sure Americans believe

more than half do, whereas the % is probably much lower. I'll check in tomorrow to find your answer.

[pitohui]

11. yes keep this bumped

i want to know the answer too!

my guess is pretty wild but, crap, i have a reason for shaking my head after this week that was

[OneBlueSky]

10. don't know what the percentage is, but . . .

they're the only ones who count, i.e. who have intrinsic value as human beings . . . according to many (if not most) Americans . . .

[opihimoimoi]

12. I say about 10 % or less

[Golden Raisin]

14. Well, Jesus spoke English

(and was blonde & blue-eyed) so the percentage HAS to be high. Just fergit about all them brown, black & yellow folks --- they don't count anyways. Nor do those damn, pussy Frenchies, or all them Ay-rabs.

[pitohui]

15. abso effin lutely

jeebus wrote his inerrant word in english for a reason my friend!!

:-)

[crimson333]

16. delete

[Wilber_Stool]

17. English is the most popular world language.

20% of the world population speak a funtional form of english.
Mandarin Chinese is next with 15%.

http://www.englishenglish.com/english_facts_6.htm

http://www.usingenglish.com/poll/232.html

[phylny]

18. OK, I was going to guess 25% n/t

[serryjw]

21. Obviously, you are not part of the

20% that speak english, because that was NOT the question!

[Wilber_Stool]

22. Did you click on the poll link?

[izzie]

19. I think about 25 percent low to 50 percent high

but I have heard people say 'every one' should speak English and I would bet Am. think half plus speaks it. I think most countries are adding it in to their second one and I guess we should add a few news one in at our schools also

[zcflint09]

20. I'd guess around 20-25

It depends on what you consider a functional type of the language. I'd say 20-25 have enough knowledge to hold a basic conversation, besides just a few words here or there.

[serryjw]

23. Times up...You decide you won

Remember the question was NOT what part of the world speaks english but rather What did Americans think it was...The article iis 8 years old, can't find a more cent but it is an interesting article on how we believe the world revolves around us

quote........
AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT OVER HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION SPEAKS ENGLISH (ACTUALLY ABOUT 20% DO SO

On average, adult Americans believe that just over half (52%) of the whole world's population speak English. The real number, according to The National Foreign Language Center in Washington DC, is probably closer to 20% at the most.

Younger adults, and people without a college education, tend to believe the proportion of the world's people who speak English is even higher, well over 50%. But even very well educated and older people greatly overestimate the world's proportion of English speakers. Large minorities of both college graduates (43%) and those with post-graduate degrees (42%) believe that more than two out of five people worldwide speak English.

Even though they greatly overestimate the number of people who speak English, most people believe it is important that, in the United States, people in business (80%), people in government (79%) and teachers (78%) speak a language other than English. Between 46% and 37% believe this is very important. However, the belief is most common among people with relatively low incomes; people with higher incomes are less likely to believe this. For example. 52% of the lowest income group (with household incomes of $7,500 or less) believe it is very important that people in business speak a language other than English. Only 28% of people with incomes of over $75,000 think it very important.

end quote.......
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=146