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Multilingualism
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| 10. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 12:19 am |
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Quoting libralady: I know French, Spanish and Italian as well as Egnlish but I would never claim that I can speak them, until I am fluent and can be clearly understood in those countries. |
By the way, I must say I envy of you in this respect!
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| 11. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 12:21 am |
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Regardless of if it is individual or a nation. The fact remains the same, the US cannot say that it has 1 official language. The citizenship of the US includes 50-60 million Spanish speaking population. There is a projected 57% growth rate of this population in the next 20 years. Some states today have as many as 45% of its population speaking Spanish as the primary language in the home. Indeed, Spanish cannot even be considered a "foreign" language here. There is no move by these Spanish speakers to give up their language. The 3rd and 4th generation are continuing to speak Spanish and pass it along to their children. While the typical image of an "American" is one of English only...this is not an updated image of an American today. Therefore we cannot consider the US or its citizens monolingual. We are not. The american latino population easily destroys this myth!
I have to add. The Spanish speaking populations is learning English at the same vigorous rate as other immigrants groups to the U.S. But unlike other immigrants, they desire to maintain their own language. Many complain that they do not learn English, data does not support that.
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| 12. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 12:26 am |
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Thanks Capoeira. I found what you wrote above interesting and informative. In Turkey, there are also few other languages spoken by considerably people; but the official language and its number remains the same: one and Turkish. I think this case, as far as I understand from your post, applies to the USA as well.
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| 13. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 12:32 am |
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Quoting AllTooHuman: Thanks Capoeira. I found what you wrote above interesting and informative. In Turkey, there are also few other languages spoken by considerably people; but the official language and its number remains the same: one and Turkish. I think this case, as far as I understand from your post, applies to the USA as well. |
The US has never voted on one official language! You will not find legislation on the national level with language that explicitly states that English is the official language.
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| 14. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 01:47 am |
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Quoting Capoeira: The US has never voted on one official language! You will not find legislation on the national level with language that explicitly states that English is the official language. |
I don't think legislation and declaration that English is the official language in the USA, is compulsory, or necessary, to accept it so. Maybe it is so clear that they have never thought such a legislation about the language is necessary. I would prefer, for example, to look at the traffic signs or observe the courts rather than the laws, to find out and be sure about the official language(s). If the traffic signs there are in Spanish along with English and if you can swear or defend yourself, at the courts, in and with Spanish as well as English, then I would say Spanish is the other official language.
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| 15. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 03:26 am |
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Quoting AllTooHuman: Quoting Capoeira: The US has never voted on one official language! You will not find legislation on the national level with language that explicitly states that English is the official language. |
I don't think legislation and declaration that English is the official language in the USA, is compulsory, or necessary, to accept it so. Maybe it is so clear that they have never thought such a legislation about the language is necessary. I would prefer, for example, to look at the traffic signs or observe the courts rather than the laws, to find out and be sure about the official language(s). If the traffic signs there are in Spanish along with English and if you can swear or defend yourself, at the courts, in and with Spanish as well as English, then I would say Spanish is the other official language. |
key word "official". there is no "official" language here. Maybe our forefathers understood that we were an immigrant nation while signing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and never specifically stated 'English' as an official language. There are political groups that have tried unsuccessfully to lobby for an 'English only' laws and legislation at the national level.
Also courts offer court appointed translators. And there are Spanish speaking court judges that will hear arguments and render a verdict all in Spanish. Such judges are soo popular that they even have their own T.V. shows! My friend, you are operating on a stereotype of what an 'american' and how we operate. Most jobs now a days require bilingual skills which for now the bilingual meaning Spanish and English. Please come and visit then you will see. It is hard to accept this change not only for you but many others. 'Old americana' is dead! And I for one am ever sooooooo grateful!
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| 16. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 10:58 am |
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| 17. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 11:07 am |
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| 18. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 12:02 pm |
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Here are a few names just to get you started! You just didn't realize that they are United State Citizens some born in other countries, immigrating here,others born here and they speak Spanish.
1. Jennifer Lopez - actress, singer
2. Cesar Chavez- founder of the United Farm Workers Association
3. Carlos Santana - Musician
4. Geraldo Rivera - Journalist
5. Cristina Aguilera - Singer
6. Selena- Singer
7. Henry Cisneros-politician
8. James Olmos -actor
9. Dolores Huerta- Now serves as board of Regents U.C. Berkeley
10. Desi Arnez -Actor
11. Antonio Villaraigosa- Mayor of Los Angeles
12. Antonia Novello - Former U.S. Attorney General
I could name many more...and the United States of America is the perfect name...'give me your tired and poor, your hungered masses waiting to be free!' We are and will always be an immigrant nation no matter how many people object!
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| 19. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 01:06 pm |
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| 20. |
25 Feb 2007 Sun 04:40 pm |
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Quoting qdemir: 12 people out of 50 million. Not too bad!!!
How do you succeed in living on a land without having any feeling of belonging? Enyoy the opportunities only she provides you, but refuse to be a part of her. Nice blending! Quote:
First you claim 'ignorance' of the knowledge of any U.S. citizen that speaks Spanish. Now you suddenly, after reading 12 names, you are acutely knowledgeable about how Latinos operate without feeling as if they belong or their refusal to be a part of the U.S. society. Also you base your arguments on immigrants living in Turkey. Then draw conclusions of ability to suceed or not in a foreign land. There are many great books out there and recent documentaries regarding the Latino immigrant and the Latino U.S. citizen. I won't name a book as it will be mocked as just 'one' out of the possibly trillions of books that have been written in our world. Good luck in doing your own research regarding a topic that you clearly know nothing about. After doing that I'll be more than glad to field a valid conversation with you on this topic.
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