No, Spanish is not a useless language. It is the second most spoken native language in the world and is widely used in international business, diplomacy, and travel.
A more detailed response to your inquiry
Spanish is a vital language to learn in today’s world. It is the second most spoken native language in the world and is an official language in 20 countries. According to Ethnologue, there are over 460 million Spanish speakers in the world, with 405 million of them being native speakers. This means that Spanish is a truly global language and an essential one for those looking to travel, do business or connect with people across the world.
Moreover, Spanish is the third most widely used language on the internet, after English and Chinese. Knowing Spanish can open up a wealth of online resources from various Spanish-speaking countries. Learning Spanish can also help one gain access to a rich cultural heritage, encompassing everything from literature to music, art and film.
As the globalization of business continues, Spanish skills are highly valued in many workplaces. Being able to communicate in Spanish can be an asset in industries such as tourism, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. In fact, a recent report by New American Economy found that demand for bilingual workers in the United States grew more than 113 percent between 2010 and 2020. Clearly, Spanish skills will continue to be in demand as more businesses aim to be global.
To quote former US President Barack Obama, “We should all learn languages. Language is the key to understanding other cultures and building bridges of peace and understanding.” Learning Spanish can help break down barriers and bring people together. In a world where communication is key, Spanish proficiency is an invaluable skill.
Here are some interesting facts about the Spanish language:
- It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
- Spanish is a Romance language, which means that it evolved from Latin, just like French, Italian, and Portuguese.
- Spanish is the most studied foreign language in the United States.
- The Spanish language has over 50,000 words in its dictionary.
- Mexico is the country with the most Spanish speakers in the world.
- Spanish is the official language in countries diverse as Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Equatorial Guinea.
In conclusion, Spanish is far from being a useless language. With its global reach, cultural richness, and professional usefulness, Spanish is a great language to learn, whether it’s for personal or professional reasons.
Table:
| Spanish-speaking countries | Population |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 127 million |
| Colombia | 49 million |
| Spain | 47 million |
| Argentina | 45 million |
| Peru | 33 million |
| Venezuela | 28 million |
| Chile | 19 million |
| Ecuador | 17 million |
| Bolivia | 11 million |
| Paraguay | 7 million |
| Uruguay | 3.4 million |
| Costa Rica | 5.1 million |
| Cuba | 11 million |
| Dominican Republic | 10.9 million |
| El Salvador | 6.3 million |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1.4 million |
| Guatemala | 18.4 million |
| Honduras | 10 million |
| Nicaragua | 6.5 million |
| Panama | 4.3 million |
Video response to your question
The video “Top 10 Most Useless Languages to Learn” lists down languages that are considered unnecessary to learn. Spanish ranks at number 10, as Portuguese can substitute it. Mandarin is the most spoken language, making it hard to stand out, and it won’t give a competitive advantage. Swedish and Norwegian come at number 7; they are useless compared to Danish, which the creator deems the most beautiful language. French is at number 6 as people in France mostly speak Arabic or American, and Americans have adapted all the important French words already. Lastly, the video includes Esperanto, Dutch, Russian, and English, dubbing Japanese as the most futile language to learn, although it has been gaining popularity outside Japan recently.
More interesting on the topic
Is Spanish actually useful?
Answer to this: By learning Spanish, you’ll be better able to communicate with Spanish speakers. Latin American countries are our most important trading partners. Being able to speak Spanish greatly enhances your resume. If you are bilingual you are more competitive in the workplace.
Is it worth it to learn Spanish?
Response will be: With over 490 million Spanish-speakers across the globe, those who learn Spanish are able to build relationships outside of their English-speaking network, giving them options that monolingual English speakers may not have.
Is Spanish or French useful?
Response will be: Spanish will unlock most of Latin America to you (and Spain, obviously), whereas French will give you an in to many African countries, plus France, Belgium, Canada and Haiti. If you’re learning to boost your career prospects, Spanish and French are both very useful business languages to know.
Is Spanish more useful than French?
Answer to this: If you live in the United States or plan to travel throughout Latin America, Spanish is probably going to be much more useful to you. However, if you’re in Canada, or planning to travel or do business there, knowing French is going to be more helpful — it’s an official language of the country, after all.