How do you know that one language is not better than another?

Answer 1

All languages are capable of expressing the same thoughts and events to those that know that language. The differences becomes cultural. In a silly example, an Eskimo who has always lived in the Arctic might not know what a palm tree is but the language could certainly describe it. Conversely, if someone has never seen snow, they might not know the difference between powder and crud and corn snow, but the language can describe it. There was a great story not too long ago about it snowing in Baghdad and people were calling it "a strange white rain".

Certain languages might be better suited for certain tasks but that depends on your tasks and what could be an advantage one time is a disadvantage in other. For instance, in German, you have this great verb tense that when used automatically distances yourself from what's being said, meaning, it is clear that YOU didn't say it but that's what someone supposedly said. In English, you have to add more words like, "reportedly" or "allegedly" or "so they said". As a journalist looking to cut down on word counts, German can be very handy. Then again, you can sometimes say things in English much more quickly than in German, but again, it's often cultural. A "fun house" in German becomes "Rummelplatzattraktion mit Räumen mit beweglichen Böden und Zerrspiegeln" because fun houses don't really exist.