It is only natural that basic language has followed their spread.

ECONOMIST: Letters

Language, it appears, remains a persistent barrier to international marriage in Europe and the spread of English as a second language does not seem to have changed that.

ECONOMIST: International marriage

Hollywood's position is underpinned by the enormous size of its home market, by the world's gargantuan appetite for screened entertainment, and by its extraordinary ability to exploit the appeal of American culture and the spread of the English language.

ECONOMIST: Star wars

Fast-forward to the Revolution of 1789 and francien-derived French was imposed as the language of liberty and nationhood, its spread then aided by the emergence of a French press in the 19th century and, from 1882, by compulsory schooling.

ECONOMIST: How multilingual is France?

There's a clear favourite to win the Academy Award for best foreign language film this time - based on its spread of nominations alone, Amour is already an Oscar hit.

BBC: Oscars: best foreign film contenders

Violating military regulations to spread messages of peace in a universal visual language, Banksy animates painting as both image and action.

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