Why are all the Egyptian protest signs in English?

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   thequastposted 13 years ago

   Why are all the Egyptian protest signs in English?
   
   Game Over?  We Want Freedom?  Out with Mubarak?  Who are they talking to?  The official language of Egypt is Egyptian Arabic, and is by far the most spoken language in the country.  Are the protest signs for the camera?  And if so, why is it so important to them that the West read their protest signs as opposed to their own people?

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   sarclairposted 13 years ago

   This is a good question. You should make a hub about it. This question makes me think! Thanks

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3. 79

   dashingscorpioposted 13 years ago

   I'm guessing it's easier to spread their message worldwide using English. America is also still viewed as the beacon for democracy. The protesters may be hoping the citizens of America will understand and empathize with their goal of obtaining a democracy.
   
   When I was in Europe a couple of years ago I observed most of the educated people there spoke English in addition to their native language. If this is the case in Europe it may be the same in other parts of the world.
   
   Only in America is it considered "normal" for the educated to speak and understand one language.
   Most of the highly educated people in other countries are bilingual and English is often the second language they learn. In an odd way this would make English the "universal language" for the highly educated. Therefore people in France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan ...etc will understand the messages without having to place the signs in other languages

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   uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years ago

   Propaganda is an amazing tool.
   http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=49826

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5. 61

   Visual Hobbyistposted 13 years ago

   A good number of people in Egypt do speak English over there, as I do believe that they teach English in the university curriculum (such as in the American University in Cairo). A majority of the protesters are young, educated Egyptians who are currently unemployed and unhappy with the status quo. I also think that they do make some of the signs in English for the rest of the world to read and understand, especially with media coverage. It certainly helps to get the word out to the rest of the world.

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   David99999posted 13 years ago

   I believe that so many Egyptian protest signs were in English so that the maximum number of people watching television coverage of the protests could understand them.  English is understood by more people than any other language.

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      andrew savageposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree to a degree, and I believe that this answer is another valid point as to why English, as such a versatile language is quintescential to unifying our global tribe. One tongue means that there is less room for error in understanding.

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7. 57

   andrew savageposted 11 years ago

   The Egyptian protest signs that are English are that way because some people really believe in Shakespeare's quote "The world is a stage, and all the citizens there on are the actors." (paraphrased:~)
   
   Also it is easier for people in America and Europe to get angry if they know the language written on the signs, walls, etcetera.
   
   To answer your question "who are they talking to" they are talking to everyone who will entertain them for a minute and hear them out prior to pushing a button on the next election and let the free world bomb the nonfree world.
   
   Furthermore, the language is not Egyptian Arabic, it is Arabic. Eqyptian is an entirely seperate language, thus one may entertain the question: what happened to the true Egyptians? While you are figuring that out I highly recommend not entertaining the thoughts of anyone who subscribes to Sharia Law. (Please input your thoughts regarding Sharia Law here : http://andrewsavage.hubpages.com/questi … al-culture after you come to an understandment of what it is.
   
   Thank you for asking such an intriguing question. Who are all of those people over there on air time, and do they have pertenance to over here?

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