In 1940, Stalin decreed that Cyrillic should be the official script. And as of this year, Latin has become the official script again. How language moves But language may move as often by stealth as by decree, sometimes serving as a culture's Trojan horse. Another creature of the times, technology, may prove the most effective leveler of language barriers. Or the most ruthless imperialist, depending on one's view.
Internet access offers the world a common portal.
It also gives English another foot in the door. But more intricate language politics are at play, too. The advances of technology give a kind of perceived power to those who first adapt to them. And the mainstream does drive the pace of change. Of course, in the end, a culture needs its language, its currency, to hold sway.