One nation, not just speaking English

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

No one said that the second language HAS to be spanish.

I think that people who only speak spanish should learn english, but I don't think that english should be made the only offical language. (To go back to the stimulus for this conversation) After all, there are plenty of places in the country which were spanish speaking before they were english speaking.

[Niels Bohr 72]

GOOD FOR YOU CHARLES! I never understand what a Canadian would say. Their dialects are way too different. Sometimes I had to have them repeat what they say.

[DairyFarmer 1]

GOOD FOR YOU CHARLES! I never understand what a Canadian would say. Their dialects are way too different. Sometimes I had to have them repeat what they say.

I'm english-speaking Australian and I have had trouble communicating at times with Scots, Brits, Irish and even Amercians.

Charles do you need employment as a translator, I could use the help.

[Niels Bohr 72]

No one said that the second language HAS to be spanish.

I think that people who only speak spanish should learn english, but I don't think that english should be made the only offical language. (To go back to the stimulus for this conversation) After all, there are plenty of places in the country which were spanish speaking before they were english speaking.

We can see an example of how having two official language is a problem. Take a look at China. The Ministry of Education wanted to standardize either Mandarin, or Cantonese for the national language. It turns out Mandarin would be the common dialect. There would be problems later, as history indicated in China, if there are two different official language.

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

He never said he spoke Scottish! I can translate for you though. I speak American, English and Irish (the language, not just the accent), and can get by in French, German, and Chinese.

[pedroh 21]

I speak southernese

[DairyFarmer 1]

He never said he spoke Scottish! I can translate for you though. I speak American, English and Irish (the language, not just the accent), and can get by in French, German, and Chinese.

I speak southernese

I'll let you both know when your services are required.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I speak the language of the dead. I can summon Lucifer or Jesus because I'M GOD!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

No one said that the second language HAS to be spanish.

I think that people who only speak spanish should learn english, but I don't think that english should be made the only offical language. (To go back to the stimulus for this conversation) After all, there are plenty of places in the country which were spanish speaking before they were english speaking.

We can see an example of how having two official language is a problem. Take a look at China. The Ministry of Education wanted to standardize either Mandarin, or Cantonese for the national language. It turns out Mandarin would be the common dialect. There would be problems later, as history indicated in China, if there are two different official language.

Plenty of countries have several offical languages. It doesn't cause problems.

I don't think that the chinese example is comparable. First of all the chinese language are to a large extent mutually intelligible in their written form. Secondly the Chinese governments agenda is for Mandarin to be used accross the country, replacing the local dialects. In other countries with several native languages, the languages can co-exist. In China's case, the push for Mandarin is killing ancient dialects.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

GOOD FOR YOU CHARLES! I never understand what a Canadian would say. Their dialects are way too different. Sometimes I had to have them repeat what they say.

I'm english-speaking Australian and I have had trouble communicating at times with Scots, Brits, Irish and even Amercians.

Charles do you need employment as a translator, I could use the help.

wait till you talk to someone from wales

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So why not teach the kids Hindi, Mandarin or Arabic then. These languages are certainly more marketable around the world than Spanish.

40 million Spanish speaking people here in the states. Go figure.

Agreed - a second language that has immediate local application is more useful than learning a relatively obscure language that has far fewer native speakers in the country. Also its not like there isn't an entire spanish speaking landmass right next to the US is there...

In the UK we more or less have the choice of French, German or Spanish - though German is probably the more useful for business purposes. Though as far as language education goes - the UK school system is pretty poor, at least as far as my experience went. My best mate - is german/chilean and speaks fluent English, Spanish and German. He learned English through the German school system. Even his g/f who thinks that her English isn't very good is far better at it than I am at German. She has some vocabulary issues - but more than enough to get by and make herself understood.

[DairyFarmer 1]

GOOD FOR YOU CHARLES! I never understand what a Canadian would say. Their dialects are way too different. Sometimes I had to have them repeat what they say.

I'm english-speaking Australian and I have had trouble communicating at times with Scots, Brits, Irish and even Amercians.

Charles do you need employment as a translator, I could use the help.

wait till you talk to someone from wales

Don't they just sing instead of speak?

Agreed - a second language that has immediate local application is more useful than learning a relatively obscure language that has far fewer native speakers in the country. Also its not like there isn't an entire spanish speaking landmass right next to the US is there...

At home there is an extensive teaching of Indonesian and Japanese, cause they are so close on our doorstop I guess.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

GOOD FOR YOU CHARLES! I never understand what a Canadian would say. Their dialects are way too different. Sometimes I had to have them repeat what they say.

I'm english-speaking Australian and I have had trouble communicating at times with Scots, Brits, Irish and even Amercians.

Charles do you need employment as a translator, I could use the help.

wait till you talk to someone from wales

Don't they just sing instead of speak?

Agreed - a second language that has immediate local application is more useful than learning a relatively obscure language that has far fewer native speakers in the country. Also its not like there isn't an entire spanish speaking landmass right next to the US is there...

At home there is an extensive teaching of Indonesian and Japanese, cause they are so close on our doorstop I guess.

It makes sense to learn the language of the people you're most likely to come into contact with. I imagine an Aussie is more likely to encounter Indonesians or Japanese people than a Brit would be.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I think I should produce more offsprings so then I can make Cambodia the official language.

[pedroh 21]

welsh people don't speak english.. it's some kind of elfin dialect