Apparently at least 2000 millions people can communicate in English, which is de facto universal language in the world and used as the common language in many Asian and African countries such as in India, Philippine, Nigeria, etc. Even in continent Europe, English is mostly used as second language.

Mandarin can be understood only in China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. At most, 1500 millions people can understand it.

In the third group, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, French and German are used in multiple countries. Other languages could be categorized as the local ones. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not, that only 8 languages are dominating in the world.

By the way, thanks for the effort – I wasn’t having a go at you.

“why does Indian English sound so ornate and Victorian ?”

Err, what?

also, i should have remembered – Apu from the Simpsons.

(again – no offence intended)

rem.

By the way, the 2 official languages of the United States are En-
glish and Spanish.The rest of the Americas speak Spanish; except Brazil which adopted recently Spanish as an Official languages,though the main language is Portuguese,
On the other hand The Guyanas Speak English, French and Dutch respectevely.
Mexico being the largest and most populated city in the world
speak Spanish.

Everything is false check your numbers…this is the true list beacause you need to use official numbers

1 Mandarin Chine, Taïwan, Singapour 1 200
2 Anglais Etats-Unis, Royaume-Uni, Canada, Inde, Australie 1 080
3 Hindi Inde, Pakistan 725
4 Français France, Canada, Belgique, Suisse, Afrique, Asie du Sud-Est, Antilles, Océanie 520
5 Espagnol Espagne, Amérique Latine 389
6 Russe Russie, CEI 275
7 Arabe Afrique du Nord, Moyen-Orient 259
8 Portugais Brésil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola 221
9 Bengali Bangladesh, Inde 210
10 Allemand Allemagne, Autriche, Suisse 200
11 Malais Indonésie, Malaisie, Bruneï, Thaïlande 180
12 Japonais Japon 132
13 Italien Italie 125
14 Ourdou Inde 104
15 Panjabi Inde 100
16 Vietnamien Vietnam 90
17 Wu Chine 80
18 Télougou Inde 80
19 Tamoul Inde, Sri Lanka 78
20 Javanais Indonésie 76
21 Coréen Corée du Nord, Corée du Sud 75
22 Marathi Inde 75
23 Turc Turquie 75
24 Cantonais Chine 70

Hey Adrian, how did you get the nummber for french speakers?
In Belgium there are 3 official languages and native French-speakers make up about 40% of the country’s population
In Swizerland there are 4 official languages… less than 20% speak french.
In Canada official with english, but no more than 9 million speak french.
In Africa estimated 115 million.
In France 65 million.
I would say about 200/210 million native speakers…

Proud to be Indian with Hindi as 3′rd Largest spoken language in the world.