Should America speak more than one language

[Mighty Thor]

Before I was married and living with my parents, I was lucky to travel all over the world. I been to most of the parts in Europe, Asia, Central America, Canada, and so on. And most of these countries do speak more than one language.

English for the most is spoken in these country. I would be lost too if road signs, menus, and so on were not translated in English.

Should be no suprise right. I mean you can even see that an educated person in Iraq or any in the middle east are speaking english.

The only country I know or have been too that only speaks one language is Japan and the United States.

My cousin went to a University in the Philippines to save some money and to experience culture, came back with a bachelor's degree in Engineering. Not knowing a single word of filipino he told me that the Universities there only taught in English. I flipped out. Why didn't I think of that. I could have gotten my degree in Physical Therapy there.

I am more leaning to think the US citizen should start speaking more than one language. I can see spanish being one of those languages.

What do you guys think.

[Ian]

f-that. learn our language.

im standing firm on this.

[02PewterFirebird]

I agree with Ian. If you are going to be in this country, then learn the language. If I lived in mexico I would learn spansish, same with france, anywhere! I think we should only speak english!

[j_downey50]

Originally posted by 02PewterFirebird:
If I lived in mexico I would learn spansish, same with france, anywhere!

why would you learn spanish to live in france? [img]tongue.gif[/img]


someday (very very long time from now) they'll probably end up making a universal language. something that they'll start teaching children on the side when they're little as well as their native language. but yes, for now i'm with 02PewterFirebird and Ian. if you live here, learn our language. if you live in mexico, learn spanish. if you live in canada, learn canadian.

[faelyur]

i'm with ian.. everybody wants to be an American they can learn to speak english. i don't want to be anything BUT American. So I'm sticking with one language.

[SilverRS96]

if they dont wanna learn english then stay in ur own country...i cant stand when im workin and a person that cannot speak english comes up to me and get pissed that i cant understand what they r sayin...its total bs

[Machiavelli]

wow, good to hear from the idiots of the group.

While I only know one language - I regret this. I wish I knew 2, 3, or 4.
This opens many doors for you. You can serve your country in many various ways. Traveling is more fun and many more places are accessible the more languages you speak.
There are 3 types of people in this world, bilinguals, trilinguals and Americans.

The topic Mighty Thor was bringing up was not should immigrants to this country speak English - of course they should. His question was should Americans speak another language? Yes, of course they should.

[maxcamaro]

this is obviously an inherancy issue (for you high school debators out there) the United States already speaks more than one language with all the different ethnic groups living here. I just got back from NYC a month ago and i swear every other person there spoke chinese or some european language. On top of that the Mexican immigrants speak spanish the irish speak irish (top o the morning) and the italians bring over that annoying accent or theirs

[j_downey50]

i think you're forgetting that each country has a specific national language. our national language is english. although there are many people here that don't speak it, the majority does. that's why it's our national language.

[Machiavelli]

Originally posted by maxcamaro:
this is obviously an inherancy issue (for you high school debators out there) the United States already speaks more than one language with all the different ethnic groups living here. I just got back from NYC a month ago and i swear every other person there spoke chinese or some european language. On top of that the Mexican immigrants speak spanish the irish speak irish (top o the morning) and the italians bring over that annoying accent or theirs

you need to take your debate class over again, and while youre at it get some linguistics in there too.

[maxcamaro]

u need to take your debate class over again

[Machiavelli]

Originally posted by j_downey50:
i think you're forgetting that each country has a specific national language. our national language is english. although there are many people here that don't speak it, the majority does. that's why it's our national language.

Based on the facts available, you might want to rethink your misconception.
I bet you 100 bucks that English is NOT the national language of the United States.

[maxcamaro]

might i add i actually am taking advanced debate next year

[Machiavelli]

Originally posted by maxcamaro:
u need to take your debate class over again

What are you? a junior in High School? dont even try to tell me you know anything about debate.
Its inherency. And there is NOTHING that applies to inherency regarding whether Americans should learn another language.

[Dan Vincent]

Originally posted by Machiavelli:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by j_downey50:
i think you're forgetting that each country has a specific national language. our national language is english. although there are many people here that don't speak it, the majority does. that's why it's our national language.

Based on the facts available, you might want to rethink your misconception.
I bet you 100 bucks that English is NOT the national language of the United States. </font>[/QUOTE]Random fact: The United States does not have an official language. However, some states have mandated that their "official" language is English. English is just a lingua franca of the USA.