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The future doesn't look good for the English language

November 2004

I think that I'm going to have to learn better Dutch, and write in Dutch. The English language doesn't have much future.

English-speaking people are going to give up their freedom of the press. This begins in America. The courts are going to find another way of interpreting that part of the Constitution. Already, reporters are going to jail because they will not rat out a source.

Reporters are not yet going to jail for their political opinions.

Expression is not yet completely squashed. But that's only because that would seem too outrageous, too extreme. These things take a little time.

Nobody's coming to get your notebooks, yet.

The English language has had a long career, and could have achieved greatness, but it's finished now. It will still be around. But it will only be the principal international language.

You won't be able to write anything.

— 22 November 2004, Nijmegen The Netherlands

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