Quote:
Originally Posted by Talk Host
My wife an I have the good fortune of being able to travel a lot.
We were in Sweden and Denmark recently. In addition to their native language, nearly everybody we met also spoke English and Spanish (perfectly). All of the menus were in both languages.
Over the past couple of years, we have driven through most of the western and eastern European countries. In Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, The Czech Republic, Russia and Holland, everybody spoke their native language, plus many spoke English, French, Russian an others. We did a boat tour of the waterways in Vienna and our young tour guide spoke English, German, Italian Spanish and French. Most menus offered not only native language but also English
In Brazil, where Portuguese is the native language, nearly everybody also spoke English and Spanish.
In Canada, there are two languages, French and English.
Here in this county, everybody has their fur up because Spanish is becoming a second language. You know, the old, "By God were Americans and we talk American." Why are we so against the wonderful opportunity to learn a second language and have it be part of our culture. Realistically, we are never going to turn the tide, so shouldn't we flow with it?
It doesn't seem to any problem at all in most other countries.
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Ok, now that I have read them all, let me be the bad guy.
You tout the multi-lingual abilities of other countries as though we are behind the times and some how inferior. You must have missed this, " everybody spoke their native language." We as a nation do speak other languages. Like Europe, we are able as our needs require. One thing that you forget is that most European countries are bordered by three or more countries who speak a different "native" language. Thus a need. Most of our states are bordered by English speaking neighbor states. Thus, less need. Remember that many of our states dwarf the size of many of Europe's countries. English is the language of business. It has been for decades and will be for a generation forward, at least. So, yes, European countries speak more languages than we. They have more need.
Why in the world would you use Canada as an example. It is well known that the French Canadians are a most language bigoted people.
There are at last count 117 languages spoken or read in the United States. Which ones would you suggest that we learn and or discriminate against?
If you were recommending to a grandchild, which language would you suggest that they study, for other than tourism that is?
I am all for learning other languages. I do ok with tourist Spanish. I like to travle S. America and the Caribbean. I am working on tourist level German.
I would not judge Americans for not knowing what they have no need to know. People are so fast to do that.
I will say this; If I were going to live in another country I would be sure to learn the language of my new home and I wouldn't think of criticizing me if I did not do so.
Just some thoughts on the subject.
Yoda
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