[MarythePuppy6]

Actually, Anna, if I remember correctly, English is directly descendant from the Germanic languages. Of course, it laso includes any number of words from Latin...and just about any other European language. English is particularly known for doing this.

IIRC, it's a member of the Indo-European family of languages, a family which basically covers all of the languages spoken in Europe today -- except probably Basque whose origins are still unclear to this day.

Mind you, I am not a linguist, just recalling some of the things I've read about on this topic in the past. Hopefully, someone with a greater wealth of knowledge of the topic can add their own comments later on.

[flanna.kersting]

Tell me what other country has been required to post everything in a second language?


What other country? Canada (your neighbors, remember us???)! English and French, although I would say only about 20% (rough estimate, correct me if I'm off-base) of Canadians speak French (I speak very little French, only the basics, and what you read on the cereal box). However, we are supposedly a completely bilingual country. Whichever way you look at it, learning a new language will only enhance your personal growth, and should never be looked upon as a negative thing.

[Scfdglkn]

Thanks for correcting me Keith.

What are we all gonna do then when Hindustani takes over English???????????????

[WeissVine]

Those countries are in Europe so wouldn't the people be Europeans? Opps ownrules I saw your post after I had posted mine. Yes your right. And English came from Latin as well didn't it?

[opdirorg]

As you all know by now, I was born in Uruguay...came to the states when I was 14 and in six months I could read, write and speak English...

My parents also learned the language, my Dad bought a house less than a year after we arrived...and he did it all in English...

Mind you, "broken English"...but English nonetheless...he speaks like an Italian from New York...very "Soprano" like...

It irks me to no end when here in Miami I see people refusing to learn the language...

Two examples: I went to a "Don Pan" bakery last week...ahead of me was one of the few real "gringos" that still venture out in this city, and he asked for an "arepa" (said the word in Spanish) but could not tell the lady that he wanted tuna fish in it...

The bitch, (and I mean it in the real bad sense!) talked to him in SPANISH all the time...pretending she didn't know English, but not even apologizing for it. I think actually she did know, but refused to speak, just to give the guy a hard time.

Second: I work for an Internet site that's bilingual...with me, there's this little guy that has been living here for almost 20 years, who refuses to learn ENGLISH!!! It drives me up a wall, not only 'cause he's so ignorant, but for the fact that I end up doing the translating for anything he writes...

I have confronted him and my boss about it, but they just ask me to be 'nice' and do it for him!!! The nerve!!!

He has gotten the point though, and now only asks me when it's an emergency...otherwise he uses an online translator, which doesn't really translate anything...has anybody ever tried using one?

I don't really have a point here...it just makes me REALLY MAD that people, like spoiled little kids, want everybody to accomodate them when they come to the US, when it shoud be the other way around!!!

[D6Ri5u13]

Italians, French, Greeks, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanians and Albanians(I think) are all Latin!

I am Latin and Galic. My father's Family is from Galicia. A Galic Country. I even have a Kilt! But don't call me Hispanic! I hate that term

[EmpaccalGah]

Anna

But of course. Just as Saxons and Slavics hail from Europe. It is just a further division based on the communal origin of their language.

[Hftqdxpm]

And with this fact I was watching a debate last night titled "Angry White Men, English Only" or something like that with Phil Donahue. There were people angry that you can choose whether you want to hear something in english or spanish, claiming that English is the primary language.
If the United States is supposed to be the melting pot, then why is something like this an issue, if you don't know spanish learn it, is it that hard? People can be so closed minded and ignorant sometimes.

[Hftqdxpm]

No doubt the "official" language of the States is english, and I agree that everyone should be able to speak it here, I don't think Americans should be made to learn spanish to accomodate anyone, but don't complain when someone speaks spanish or becuase businesses and ATM's offer services in spanish.
I believe if there is a "second" language of the states it would be spanish because we have so many spanish speaking people here.
People in Curacao would sometimes get an attitude with me because I would speak to them in English, and they would say "this is Curacao, we speak papiamento so you have to speak papiamento, if I come to america I have to speak English" I was only there for three months though and could not learn it that fast, I learned phrases and greetings and stuff. I wasn't closed minded to the idea though, and I that's what I'm trying to say. If you don't know it be happy in your ignorance and don't complain.
It would do "us" good to learn other languages.

[Rqvtwlfk]

I agree. No matter where one goes, if you want to live there you should learn their language. No one should feel it their 'right' to have their native language spoken in another country. This is happening more and more often here in the states. When I lived in the DR I rarely spoke english outside my home and I certainly didn't expect to be attended to in english wherever I went. Why is it that the spanish people feel they have the 'right' to be attended to in spanish here in the US? I love the latin culture and spanish, but the official language of the US is english.....or have I missed something!

[Scfdglkn]

Britain is in Europe, but most Brits are appalled if you call them European!!! I personally don't consider myself to be European - I was born in England, live in England and think of myself as English.

What a good job we're all different, eh?

[Scfdglkn]

Ken, I agree with you. Although I can't speak for the US it's the same over here in England - the English travel to the far corners of the globe and expect to be able to communicate in English. It's just so so lazy!!

I also agree that people should be allowed to maintain their own culture regardless of where they choose to live, but only to a certain degree, i.e. within their own community. In England we have many many different nationalities, religions, cultures, and whilst I do not object to any of those people I do object to the fact that a lot of them - and please don't ask me for any statistics because I can't give them - do not speak English.

If people want to live here then they should at least make an effort to learn the lingo.

[Jalieteplalry]

My opinion is that the Americans are hurting themselves by not learning another language of two. They should start teaching a language when children are young.In every other country they have to learn some other language, usually English.
It's so amazing to me how narrow minded most Americans are. I was a narrow minded American and didn't even know it. I wish I had learned some language when I was there but just never saw the need. I thought everyone in the world could speak English so why bother. Now I know better.

[Jalieteplalry]

In America you shoulld learn English if your living there. And also living here I'm trying to learn Spanish. Its not easy since I was never exposed to any language before and I'm over 40 now. But I'm trying.
But don't you think that other countries are getting more of an advantage by speaking more than one language? In business and personal life it definatly helps to know more than one language and in USA not many people have that advantage. But then most don't care.

[D6Ri5u13]

It is a Semi Autonomous Region. At one time it was its own kingdom but it was absorbed into Spain. It has its own Flag, National Anthem and Parliment.
If you were watching the news Lately you would have seen the reports of the big Oil Tanker that sank and released Millions of gallons of crude. The beachs that were affected are Galicia's beaches. Including one beach that is named after my family

[littlePen]

If you are white with blue eyes and you are from argentina, venezuela etc, you are not white, you are hispanic. If you are all black (almost 100% african) and from DR or puerto rico, you are also hispanic (not black).
If you are half black and look almost white and speak english (born in usa) you are black. If you have any black (african american) blood in you (may that be 25% and look totally white but live with black folks etc) you are african american.
See my point? Its not so simple to define who is hispanic or african american.

[Scfdglkn]

My father's Family is from Galicia. A Galic Country Tony, where is Galicia?

[D6Ri5u13]

Originally posted by Dominican Babe


Tony, where is Galicia? North West Corner of Spain. Just above Portugal

[XYTommy]

The English are very ignorant in respect to languages, I know, I'm one of them The joys of being an island, just across the water the rest of Europe embraces languages and most Europeans I meet speak 2-3 languages.

Fortunately for many newbies to the DR, more and more people are learning English, most kids that attend private schools can speak English, many fluently by the time they graduate. I'm sure the language landscape will be different here in 10-15 years.

You are already starting to see English appear in mainstream advertising in the DR. Not sure why, maybe it makes the company look more sophisticated?

Bottom line, when you can communicate, the experience is greatly enhanced...

[Scfdglkn]

Thanks Tony! You learn something new every day.