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Originally Posted by Yoda
I pasted this from my word processor. No copyrights are involved. Do not delete.
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
I pasted this from my word processor. No copyrights are involved. Do not delete.
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Why do you think this would be deleted. I started the conversation and asked for opinions. I'm not going to edit out the ones that disagree with me and actually, I resent the implication that I might.
JLK