Why Is It That We Have To Speak English?

[Dale Mabry]

Originally posted by BigBallaGA
...its all ebonics, southern english and other vernacular drivel that has permuated proper English that once existed in this country.

I will assume you meant permutated here.

Prince, I would have to say get them to write and speak our language correctly first, then worry about Spanish. I would have to agree with the others on the board and say that most Americans speak substandard English these days. I remember when I taught a research analysis class in college. The grammatical and spelling errors blew my mind. I do have to say that learning French and a bit of German helped me understand grammatical structure and verbage alot better than English did.

 

[BigBallaGA]

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
I will assume you meant permutated here.

Prince, I would have to say get them to write and speak our language correctly first, then worry about Spanish. I would have to agree with the others on the board and say that most Americans speak substandard English these days. I remember when I taught a research analysis class in college. The grammatical and spelling errors blew my mind. I do have to say that learning French and a bit of German helped me understand grammatical structure and verbage alot better than English did.

I ASSUME you MEANT to say "A LOT" and not alot !!!!!

 

[bandaidwoman]

Originally posted by Prince
For Americans I think it's pretty important for kids to be learning Spanish in school. I am "making" my son take Spanish, actually he has been taking it all thru elementary, and we are going to make him take all the way thru high school.

That's great. He will assimilate the language before 9 yrs of age at a time when he can learn to "think" in the language. I still "think" in the first four languages I learned before the age of ten, but have to "translate" (though very fast) to english.

 

[oaktownboy]

Originally posted by butterfly
WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

An officer in the U.S. Navy was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.

The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied:

"Maybe it's because the Americans, Brits, Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis and other English speaking countries, arranged it twice so you would not have to speak German."

The group became silent.

damn straight

 

[Dale Mabry]

Originally posted by BigBallaGA
I ASSUME you MEANT to say "A LOT" and not alot !!!!!

touche

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
Prince, I would have to say get them to write and speak our language correctly first, then worry about Spanish.

as bandaidwoman said, it's easier if a child learns multiple languages when they're younger.

as far as the Spanish in elementary school that is standard in our school district here, but the class is only once per week.

 

[Dale Mabry]

How could they learn once a week? I would say f you are gona require it, go all the way, or at least 3 times a week.

 

[ponyboy]

In Canada we were required to learn French, so I can get by with that - at least understanding it. I always tried to learn at least basic conversational stuff when I visited a foreign country. I can swear in I think nine languages - does that count?

But it drives me mental how many foreigners here in Toronto don't ever bother to learn English and then get offended when you don't understand them. Come to my country, learn to speak the damned language. Or at least make an effort. I find people of Asian background are usually the worst offenders of this.

 

[John H.]

Originally posted by bandaidwoman
English was my sixth language and I have always been confused by the spelling. Grammatically it's easier than the romance languages (no feminine, masculine, less verb conjunctions etc.) but the spelling......arrgh! Also, the adjectives ad infinitum. Nothing beats the simplicity of chinese grammar (heck, we don't even use a, the, and past and present are expressed in usage vs. actual modifiers etc.) However, it is easier to write in english as well as type so I won't complain. I wish I knew German, since there are so many good german medical literature I'd like to read. I know enough spanish to get some basic history after immersing myself in South Central on the obstetrics ward for three months. However, I wish I knew more since I love the literature that comes from so many latin, spanish writers!


The american school systems have it all wrong. The brain can absorb a second, third, fourth language before the age of 9 quite easily, in fact, there is very little "accent" if learned before this age. Instead, most languages are introduced after the age of twelve or junior high school if I am correct.

Hi Bandaid. I think you are very right. I should have learned other languages and computer skills when I was very young - but computers were not around then. And everyone was just speaking English. Take Care, John H.

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
How could they learn once a week? I would say f you are gona require it, go all the way, or at least 3 times a week.

I think they just want to familiarize them with the language, but to say they cannot learn once per week is really underestimated the mental aptitude of a child. They pick up some basic words, phrases, etc. this way when they hit middle school and start taking it as a regular subject it's not completely "foreign" to them.

Dale, you do not have any kids do you?

 

[Dale Mabry]

Nah, I have no kids, but from what I have read on human cogntion, it's better to teach a second language earlier rather than later. I suppose an intro to the language would work as well. How old is/are your kid(s), Prince?

If I had a kid and was going to have them learn a second language, I would get them into a structured program early on. To be completely honest, I would have them learn latin and greek first since those languages are what most are based on anyway.

PS-I wish I knew a really obscure language so that I could catch 2 people talking about me in it and then surprise them with my knowledge of the language. That would be sweet.

 

[Dero]

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
Nah, I have no kids, but from what I have read on human cogntion, it's better to teach a second language earlier rather than later. I suppose an intro to the language would work as well. How old is/are your kid(s), Prince?

If I had a kid and was going to have them learn a second language, I would get them into a structured program early on. To be completely honest, I would have them learn latin and greek first since those languages are what most are based on anyway.

PS-I wish I knew a really obscure language so that I could catch 2 people talking about me in it and then surprise them with my knowledge of the language. That would be sweet.

Dale Mabry a l'intelligence d'un singe...Un maccaque pour etre plus precis!!!


Like that?
Yes,english is a second language for me,I knew it before I started school,learned it in da 'hood.

 

[firestorm]

Originally posted by butterfly
WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

An officer in the U.S. Navy was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.

The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied:

"Maybe it's because the Americans, Brits, Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis and other English speaking countries, arranged it twice so you would not have to speak German."

The group became silent.

BUTTERFLY,,,If that is a true story it is OUTSTANDING!! If it's just a patriotic statement....It's STILL OUTSTANDING!!! HAHAHA I love it!!
Fire