realizing the dictionary is expanding every year, i still wonder how much the language (especially English) has shrunk over the years in actual vocabulary.
living overseas for a while I sought to learn the language, only to find that likely 85% of the people there spoke english (the language of business). i had issues with slang and had to slow down and enunciate, but felt disadvantaged rarely due to language barrier... I honestly have a LOT harder a time reading english written in the 1700's, and because a dictionary has to be close by.
i'm told English is precise in regards to exhausting options, and is therefor preferred for business transactions. makes sense... an Arab telling me something takes three or four breaths for English to explain in less than one.... which automatically made me suspicious of everyone attempting as Grandpa's words kept ringing in my ears "boy, if it takes more than a breath to explain something, there is a fair amount of bull shit present".