[Yorio]

I think the more one can converse in more languages the merrier. I envied the Dutch who can speak about 5 languages fluently. I realize this was done out of necessity. However, I don't think we would want to end up like Quebec where two languages I believe are mandated. Or, like the United Nations where there are too many OFFICIAL languages to abide by. This is America and the language is American English though I may spell theater, theatre sometimes.

[billmar]

Originally Posted by BogeyBoy

I wrote a long reply and deleted it - instead I'll just point out that the countries TH mentioned all were multilingual. I thing a big part of what gets people riled up is that we are making it very easy for people to not become multilingual.

I did the same, so I'll just say instead... Good Point!!

[CMANN]

Everybody seems to think that European nations who speak several languages are so much greater than we are.

I am from Massachusetts. I assure you that if Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York all spoke different languages that I would speak those languages also besides my native Massachusetts language.

Speaking languages is no biggie. Speaking different languages depends on necessity and nothing more.

[mrfixit]

I learned a Long time ago to Press 2 for Spanish when calling Corporate 1-800 numbers.. The Spanish speaking employee has ALWAYS spoken nearly perfect English. I just start speaking English when they answer .....Viola'....I do not have to to wait for 10 minutes like when I press 1 for english. Nobody who speaks Spanish is going to say......" hey DUMBA$$-----Ya Pressed the WRONG number"..( they are always very kind to this feeble old man )..SO FAR ...SO GOOD.....never waited on line and ALWAYS got a bi-lingual employee. Is that gonna get me sent to the NAUGHTY table again? Hope so.... I met MOST of my childhood friends at the Naughty table in Grade School. Some of whom (still are friends) turned out to be Corporate Titans..... ME... NOT SO MUCH...

[Skybo]

Originally Posted by mrfixit

I learned a Long time ago to Press 2 for Spanish when calling Corporate 1-800 numbers.. The Spanish speaking employee has ALWAYS spoken nearly perfect English..

LOL - I do the same thing! My friends don't believe me, but Press 2 for Spanish and you'll be more likely to get someone who speaks English, than if you Press 1 for English. Crazy world.

[mrfixit]

My grandkids now are going to learn Mandarin in Grade School. Anybody have ANY idea why they would want to teach that?? When i looked it up on "Headmasteronline" it said something about jobs -BUT---I don't get it..they are just little shavers..sure don't need no darn jobs. Besides, they already speak English and Spanish. Ain't that enough ??? I heard that Mandarin is what Chinese people speak..is that true.???

[2BNTV]

My growing up experience has been both my mother and father were born in Europe. When they came to the USA, they did not speak a word of English. They embraced the American way of life and learned to speak English fluently. I grew up in a neighborhood that had a lot of immigrants; they made friends with other people who spoke my parents native tongue and English to help integrate them to America. Some took jobs with others to translate for them the instructions they received needed to do their jobs.

Some people ask me if I ever learned to speak my parents native languages and I say no because they were speaking fluent English before I was born.

IMHO - If I were to go to live in another country, I would learn that language and not expect others to conform to my native tongue so it is easier to do what I needed to do.

[Bogie Shooter]

Most of us can remember when we had the option of several languages other than English when in school.
The masses are not willing to pay for this in our school systems any longer. So, it like physical education, more sciences, and languages have been dropped.
So sad.
(sorry if this was mentioned earlier....I did not read all 37 posts)

[cybermuda]

If your first language is French, what is your best choice for your second language? Most likely English, as it is the language of business and trade and is spoken by more people (first or second language) than any other.

Likewise if your first language is Spanish, or German, or Italian.

But if your first language is English, what do you choose as your second language? Nothing you choose will be as useful to you as choosing English is for those people for whom English is not their first language.

So we choose nothing.

Well, that's my excuse :-)

[The Great Fumar]

I wasn't going to comment on this but so far no one has hit the target which is, why do you think airline capt's ,maritime skippers, cosmonauts and exchange students (for the most part) speak English.......Its because several years ago as the earth was getting smaller the United Nations ,and many other world industrial organizations decided to pick one international language for ease of communication with one another.......English was already spoken by 3/4 of the world so it was a natural pick....Now all international schools teach English as a second language and we have dropped the demand for a second language here.....
That is why the majority of the foreign golfers when interviewed speak beautiful english........having said that , If your kids are going after an MBA they might consider taking Mandarin as a business language........

Personally, I have a Masters in Pig Laten...

umarfa.............

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Further to cybermuda and Fumar's points:

In one of my "past lives", I worked (in the U.S.) for a division of company that was headquartered in France. The organization had a presence throughout Europe, primarily, as well as in the Americas. Whenever there was a business meeting that involved those from any one of a number of places around the globe, guess what the dictated language of use was? English. Everyone in the entire company was expected to speak it fluently.....and everyone I ever came in contact with in the company absolutely did.

Bill

[suzannebpayne]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Brillo

Further to cybermuda and Fumar's points:

In one of my "past lives", I worked (in the U.S.) for a division of company that was headquartered in France. The organization had a presence throughout Europe, primarily, as well as in the Americas. Whenever there was a business meeting that involved those from any one of a number of places around the globe, guess what the dictated language of use was? English. Everyone in the entire company was expected to speak it fluently.....and everyone I ever came in contact with in the company absolutely did.

Bill

My opinion, everyone should learn to speak English if they want to become citizens of the US. It is essential if they are to succeed here. Anyway, it costs our government more money to have everything in 2 languages.

[Schaumburger]

For the past 8 yrs. during the school year, I have been a volunteer tutor at an English as a Second Language class that is sponsored by one of the high school districts in the N.W. suburbs of Chicago. The students come from all over eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America and range in age from early 20's to 60+. I have a lot of admiration for these folks who are trying to learn (or improve) speaking the English language as an adult, especially since a lot of these people have already worked a full day by the time class starts at 7:00 p.m. I've heard the stories of some of the students, especially the ones from China and the older students who lived in eastern Europe while the communists were still in power, that make me very appreciative of being born and raised in the U.S. with all of the freedom we enjoy.

[robertj1954]

I am all for speaking Spanish as a second language, but I still maintain, those wishing to immigrate into the American culture as citizens, it is their responsibility to learn the language. I am against the spending of public funds to create two languages in America. The money could be put to better use like teaching them how to read and speak english.

[cybermuda]

The Swiss have four languages - French, Swiss-German, Italian and Romansh

And the official language of the Swiss army?

English!


Not sure what my point is here, but it would certainly be cheaper if the UN adopted English as its sole language and did away with the hundreds of translators (same with the EU)