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Crocefisso

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They were a) not popular enough to hold substance within a debate on ideas of such magnitude
--

:O

:O
One Hundred Years of Solitude is only the most popular work of literature in the Spanish language of the 20th century. It is also the second most read Spanish language work, behind only the legendary Don Quijote.
Don't try and correct me on that, Yrolg, I am Spanish, I have lived in South America, and I know I am right.

27-May-2010 19:41:57

Yrolg

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South America does not begin to compare in market share to Europe and the United States.
Being first in South America in no way correlates to similar power on market substance.
I'm talking on a global scale, and, unfortunately, the Spanish language has little influence on this. Chinese, English, and French are, with numerable exceptions, the languages worth considering in such discussion.
Because Chinese culture has changed so much since the early twentieth century, I personally would hesitate discussion on its literary world. This rapid and consequential change, combined with my own limited knowledge of the demographical makeup of the country (and its Mandarin-speaking counterparts), make further discussion on that particular venue challenging.
French, dissimilarly, has changed very little. The factors which have changed for this language are the multifarious regions of the globe responsible for its popularity. There are France, Quebec, and the Caribbean (such as Haiti) to name only a few of its incredibly diverse pockets. I do have sufficient knowledge for discussion, but I'm afraid that the varying fields associated with this language's implication make discourse unrealistic.
This leaves us only with the English variety with which to speak. You have offered no counterexamples of sufficient merit to disprove my originally posted thesis, and, thus, it still stands.
I am, of course, willing to discuss the literary languages up for thought. You should note, however, that your Spanish bias will be incredibly detrimental to your understanding of its global impact if you wish to discuss this. This does not mean that you could not formulate an appropriate post and thought, but, merely, that it would be difficult and more susceptible to error and fallacy. I would encourage not trying to disprove this particular aspect.
(On a side note: El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de La Mancha is amazing. One of my favourite pieces of Spanish literature, without a doubt.

29-May-2010 00:30:57 - Last edited on 29-May-2010 17:19:49 by Yrolg

Crocefisso

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392 million
That's the number of people who speak Spanish as their first language. This doesn't include the US Latino population of 42 million. Don't even try to say that they have 'little global impact' or any other fancy excuse. It's the worlds third most spoken language. I love the way you believe that French - spoken only in France and two tiny South American countries - can even begin to compare with the Spanish language on any level.
Remember, also, that authors like Poe and Hugo had a similar number of readers (as in % of the population) compared to Calvion or Rushdie because the social equivalent of Twilight readers were illiterate in the 19th century. There was also far less competition.
On a side note, I find this comment of yours amusing:
"This leaves us only with the English variety with which to speak. You have offered no counterexamples of sufficient merit to disprove my originally posted thesis, and, thus, it still stands."
The truth is, Yrolg, I wouldn't expect anything less from you. In your mind, your ideas always stand, no matter what.

29-May-2010 15:06:17 - Last edited on 29-May-2010 15:09:48 by Crocefisso

Yrolg

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Crocefisso,
Hello. From your above post, I am able to discern that you have emotional investments in the discussion we're having. As I stated in my previous post, these can complicate further discourse. Because it is easily visible that you are close to offended (if not offended already) by my statements, I will have to ask that this discussion end. If you can separate your personal feelings from the debate at hand, I would be more than willing to continue it.
With regards to your statistics, however, your number is exceedingly high. From the three internationally recognized statistics I've been able to procure, the average number of speakers of Spanish is roughly equivalent to that of English -- 330 million. Some estimates place English higher by a few percent, others place Spanish higher. (In my personal opinion, in this particular category, Spanish should have the higher number).
I am not speaking, however, on the people who speak it as their first language. I am focusing on the total speaking population. And this is where the distinctions come into play.
Estimates say that around 1,115,000,000 people speak Mandarin Chinese, 1,045,000,000 people speak English, and 650,000,000 people speak French. These same estimates also state that Spanish has, at most, 450,000,000 speakers.
These are merely representative of the audibly fluent persons. It does not take into consideration literacy, economic status, or other factors which may determine the overall power of the speakers on the global scale.

29-May-2010 17:08:17

Yrolg

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With regards to French, in terms of total speakers, it is in fact third on the list, surpassing Spanish. It is the official language (or one of them) of France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Haiti, Lebanon, and portions of Italy. It is the largest secondary language in the United Kingdom (the official language of a few portions of the country). Thirty-one countries in Africa have French as their primary or secondary language, as well as significant portions of Oceania and India. There are significant French-speaking people in Syria and Israel.
As you can see, this represents an entirely global scale. I include French not because it represents more people but because it represents more types of people.
Edgar Allen Poe and Victor Hugo had similar demographics in their audience to Calvion and Rushdie because in the nineteenth century, only the elite and upper-middle class were literate.
"the social equivalent of Twilight readers were illiterate in the 19th century."
This is exactly my point. As society becomes more literate, the complexities of appropriate and classic literature are deemed more cumbersome and less popular compared to the simplistic "formula fiction" styles of Meyer, Roberts, and Grisham. As society has evolved during the latter stages of the twentieth century, books of complexity have grown less popular compared to the booming industry of simplistic fiction.
With regards to your side note, I think your statement is a bit presumptuous. I take stances on issues based on the facts as they are presented to me. I analyze them and formulate an appropriate response, including in this the reliability of the facts. Because I take such consideration in my opinions, they usually are correct.
Usually, however, is not always. There is always the possibility that I am wrong, which is why I always encourage discussion.

29-May-2010 17:08:36

Yrolg

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If you would like more specific facts and statistics regarding the influence of English on the global literary market, I would be more than happy to provide them.
English is by far over-represented in the global market.

29-May-2010 17:09:36

Yrolg

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For the first time this year, I've managed to find time to work on Lunar Eclipse.

The following chapter is, unfortunately, one of the more dry chapters. It is, however, incredibly important for the rest of the story. I hope that its tedious detail isn't too boring.

03-Jun-2010 04:22:09 - Last edited on 03-Jun-2010 05:20:42 by Yrolg

Yrolg

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Chapter V
Complete, utter silence filled the entire chamber, leaking out into the surrounding halls. The men who occupied the majestic court held themselves with the utmost pride, and, as such, offered forth no iterations: they were saving each and every thought until after the King had spoken. Conglomerated only an hour past, they made no ventures towards loquacious endeavors, and did not chat with each other. Perhaps one or two of the noblemen had tapped his quill in the demonstration of perturbance, but even these rhythms had since perished in the oppressive silence which reigned dominant in the chamber.
The King was due at any minute, having been designed to arrive but twenty minutes earlier. Through fierce loyalty to tardiness, however, the chamber’s occupants were not expecting him at any time within relative adjacency to this appointment. And so, the chamber slowly perished under the obliterating tyranny of silence, each man working on a new bill to submit or performing self-audits on his luxurious estates. More than a single man had already dedicated himself to slumber, and many were fiercely fighting the phantasmagoric delusions of their dreams.
When the King did at last make his regal entrance, far earlier than expected, it was against this grave silence that he fought, bombastically calling attention within the room, and boisterously commanding the eye and ear of every person within that vestry. Whether it was through the fanfare of feet behind him, scuttling with the piles of paperwork which had yet to be ruled upon, or through his own precedent, in which the King pompously announced his own arrival, or even to the great cataclysm of sound which reverberated in the hall, after he ebulliently slammed open the doors to the chamber, does not matter: he simply commanded the full, undivided attention of all those present in the chamber.

03-Jun-2010 05:16:09 - Last edited on 24-Jun-2010 15:28:16 by Yrolg

Yrolg

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Magniloquent*y drawing the eyes of the gathered senators, the King slowly climbed the steep stairs where, once arrived, he regally sat himself down upon his fauteuil, clearing his throat ever-so-slightly. “Mr. Auvrice, what does the council wish to deliberate over this day?” the King asked, looking imperiously, and rather apathetically, down upon an aide who sat on the tier below his own.
“Your Majesty, it is of the utmost importance that four topics are today discussed. First of these is the problem Sir Nie Strusse has informed the council of, that there have been attacks against his property, of late. He informs the council that in his utmost legal opinion, these actions against his property are amounted to vandalism, and that he has knowledge of the offending party. He wishes to present this evidence before the council, whilst you mediate, Your Majesty.
“Second of this day’s issues is the shortage of actioners of your will, Your Majesty. The shires of Et’Sarum and Port Alkys humbly request that Your Majesty assume responsibility for the deeply incessant crime within these provinces, and that you make most haste in your decision regarding their policial future.
“Third of this day’s issues is a proprietal dispute between Mr. A. Boardell of Sunster Province and Mr. R. Foarthrit of Your Majesty’s Reconnaissance and Recovery Force. Mr. Foarthrit demands that a certain body be placed under his sole control and estate, whilst Mr. Boardell maintains that, being found upon his property, the slave is legally his. Mr. Boardell demands that an entity of legal position to rule on this matter be presented to them.

03-Jun-2010 05:16:24

Yrolg

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“Fourth and last of this day’s issues lies within the instability of Orfys Province. It has been disseminated that the unpaid workers are being instigative to revolt, and royal decree and assistance in the matter is requisited from Governor Pafre. According to recent reports from Your Majesty’s Reconnaissance and Recovery Force Chief Officer, the revolt in its entirety has been organised and schemed by infiltrating officers of Cout-Varis.
“There are, in addition to the four major deliberations needed today, three thousand, two hundred, and eighty-three cases pending council jurisdiction, via the council’s proxy. Council decision upon these matters shall be commenced, should we complete today’s task early; respect to each council member wishing to leave prior to the Secondary Affairs Convention.
“These are today’s topics, given permission of the King. Your Majesty, does all seem in accordance to you?”
The King had by now began his descent into unconsciousness, his normal position at these tiring meetings. Awaking with some bit of regret, he looked to Mr. Auvrice, who had been with the Royal Court for over forty years, and knew plenty well the great dedication that the day’s meetings would require. “Does all seem in accordance, Your Majesty?”
“Oh, er, sure,” the King responded, dismissively waving to the aide. He promptly enlisted his chin to his hand, and set his elbow upon his high desk.
“Very well,” his aide responded. “Come forth, please, Sir Nie Strusse of Bör Province; the Council will now hear your case.*

03-Jun-2010 05:16:52

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