(12-01-2016 10:47 AM)58-56 Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 10:41 AM)Fitbud Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 10:39 AM)smudge12 Wrote:  I agree with stink that it would probably be best if all mankind had one language. Don't think it should be forced in any way, but I can see the Internet being the thing that brings all humans to one language. It'll probably be English since the majority of the Internet is in English, but who knows... likely won't happen in our lifetimes.

If you believe what is written in the Bible, I don't think it would be a good idea at all.

If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for all of mankind.

Everyone is making me spit out my coffee.

If I moved to Slovakia, I wouldn't demand their products to have English subtitles.

(12-01-2016 09:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Germans don't get angry that I can't speak German very well.

They didn't want me speaking German to them. They understood my English better!

(12-01-2016 09:43 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Germans don't get angry that I can't speak German very well.

I've found that if you give it a shot when traveling, people respect that. I usually try and then a waiter or shop owner will speak English to me if I'm butchering it.

Only place I found that not to be true is the Metro Paris area.

I had no problems in Paris. Just started with "Pardon, poly vous Anglais?" My French didn't consist of much more than that.

(12-01-2016 10:12 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:56 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:49 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  English needs to be the only language in the world. I hope Trump can make that happen.

^^^ for a variety of reasons

I won't go that far as folks have a right to speak their native language. However, I can agree with English being the official language used for conducting US govt business.

I wouldn't disagree with any of that with the latter being the potential "realistic" end game...

IMO, the way humans communicate is the single most important development in mankind's history....in my mind, the fewer options that are available becomes the tool to help achieve the most moving forward as a species...

Its why its so crazy the Europeans are trying to revive their dying languages and the leftists here are trying to maintain segregated language areas.

(12-01-2016 10:39 AM)smudge12 Wrote:  I agree with stink that it would probably be best if all mankind had one language. Don't think it should be forced in any way, but I can see the Internet being the thing that brings all humans to one language. It'll probably be English since the majority of the Internet is in English, but who knows... likely won't happen in our lifetimes.

In the Americas virtually every educated person speaks one of four languages-English, Spanish, French or Portuguese.

In Africa virtually every educated person speaks one of six languages-those 4 plus Arabic or Amharic.

In Europe the vast majority of the educated people speak one of those 4 languages, Russian or German.

Those 8 languages, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin and Japanese and you virtually cover the globe.

yeah this place sure doesn't sound bigoted, racist, and xenophobic.

(12-01-2016 11:34 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  If I moved to Slovakia, I wouldn't demand their products to have English subtitles.

No one in the United States is demanding the United States to have products to have subtitles.

(12-01-2016 01:02 PM)john01992 Wrote:  yeah this place sure doesn't sound bigoted, racist, and xenophobic.

That is pretty much the entire language of the left.

(12-01-2016 10:05 AM)smudge12 Wrote:  Meh, being part of a multi-ethnic nation is dealing with all the languages involved. As the United States turns more Hispanic, I personally don't care if Spanish becomes the dominant language as long as it makes sense economically and socially. In the end, languages are simply means of communication...if my descendants aren't speaking English, so be it.

Nations change, especially when it comes to the unprecedented experiment in human civilization we call America. In fact, I expect lots more changes here than any other country on Earth because of it.

Spoken from an individual that surely doesn't have American Heritage. Correct me if I am incorrect.

(12-01-2016 11:46 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 10:12 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:56 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:52 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:49 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  English needs to be the only language in the world. I hope Trump can make that happen.

^^^ for a variety of reasons

I won't go that far as folks have a right to speak their native language. However, I can agree with English being the official language used for conducting US govt business.

I wouldn't disagree with any of that with the latter being the potential "realistic" end game...

IMO, the way humans communicate is the single most important development in mankind's history....in my mind, the fewer options that are available becomes the tool to help achieve the most moving forward as a species...

Its why its so crazy the Europeans are trying to revive their dying languages and the leftists here are trying to maintain segregated language areas.

if the majority of global money is tied to a specific language (which it is), then that can only limit and inhibit if that is the choice they want to make.....

money doesn't care about those that enjoy poverty....

(12-01-2016 01:17 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 01:02 PM)john01992 Wrote:  yeah this place sure doesn't sound bigoted, racist, and xenophobic.

That is pretty much the entire language of the left.

to be fair, they still have the cis- whatever thingys...

edit: oh yeah, #misogynist

you can't help but laugh at it....

(12-01-2016 09:45 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:43 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Germans don't get angry that I can't speak German very well.

I've found that if you give it a shot when traveling, people respect that. I usually try and then a waiter or shop owner will speak English to me if I'm butchering it.

Only place I found that not to be true is the Metro Paris area.

Agree 100%, especially about Paris.

As for other places, I've found that they want to practice English with me so my being able to practice their language can be somewhat limited.

I went to Paris in 2001 and 2003 and it was as you guys describe. I went again last Summer and most of the young people were a lot more welcoming. As long as you try they don't mind, if you just walk up and start speaking English at 100 miles per hour they won't like it. I find a smile, a please and a thank you in any language goes a long way.

(12-01-2016 02:59 PM)ODUgradstudent Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:45 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:43 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 09:21 AM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  Germans don't get angry that I can't speak German very well.

I've found that if you give it a shot when traveling, people respect that. I usually try and then a waiter or shop owner will speak English to me if I'm butchering it.

Only place I found that not to be true is the Metro Paris area.

Agree 100%, especially about Paris.

As for other places, I've found that they want to practice English with me so my being able to practice their language can be somewhat limited.

I went to Paris in 2001 and 2003 and it was as you guys describe. I went again last Summer and most of the young people were a lot more welcoming. As long as you try they don't mind, if you just walk up and start speaking English at 100 miles per hour they won't like it. I find a smile, a please and a thank you in any language goes a long way.

I actually have had pretty good experiences with the locals while in Paris. I made it a point to learn some conversational French and to start conversations with it. They would normally laugh and start speaking in English, but would thank me for being respectful enough to at least try.

They really don't like the stereotypical loud mouthed American, though. I think that's where a lot of people get in trouble. I was in a coffee shop over there once and an American walked in and started barking orders at my waiter in English. Now, I had just finished a long conversation (in English) with the waiter, but it was amazing how quickly he seemed to forget English when dealing with that guy.

Should all law in a nation be written in a common language? **YES**
Should all immigrants be forced to lean that language? **NO**
Should all who wish to become voting citizens be required to learn the language **YES**

(12-01-2016 11:34 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  If I moved to Slovakia, I wouldn't demand their products to have English subtitles.

No, but if millions of native English speakers moved to Slovakia over a short period of time you'd start to see it happen. Free market. I guess you'll just have to deal with it.

OT ,..
but tomorrow SCD Jr's elementary school is having "Immigration Day". The 5 th graders have to dress in time appropriate attire and such As if they were coming via Ellis Island. Weird since hardly anyone does it that way any more!!

(12-01-2016 01:02 PM)john01992 Wrote:  yeah this place sure doesn't sound bigoted, racist, and xenophobic.

Liberal nonsense. Racism and xenophobia ended 40 years ago.

(12-01-2016 03:35 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(12-01-2016 11:34 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  If I moved to Slovakia, I wouldn't demand their products to have English subtitles.

No, but if millions of native English speakers moved to Slovakia over a short period of time you'd start to see it happen. Free market. I guess you'll just have to deal with it.

Legally moved, of course.

I wouldn't vote for it to be the official language. I prefer it's de facto status. It is used for virtually all government business anyway.

I encourage everyone in America to learn English for business dealings.