Promoted by Steven D.
Senate vote endorses English as the ‘national language’
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Hmmmm, where to start? What are we so afraid of? People find ways to communicate. Many of the richest places in the world culturally are the ones built where trade routes met, places where cultures mixed and languages bumped into each other and melted and combined. This country has taken that historical truth and writ it large, on almost an entire continent. We are who we are because we’re nothing BUT an idea, an idea that people can find ways to make things work. To insist, once again, that the nation’s spirit is being sapped instead of enriched by the continuing waves of strivers is to deny our history, to deny WHY THIS COUNTRY EXISTS.
Once again, the fearful and ignorant will tear us apart by trying to lock something down. It is in openness and breathing fresh air that growth, change and LIFE are fostered.
If confronted by someone ranting about how “they” should speak english, make a point of pointing out every foreign word that comes out of the ugly American’s mouth.
If we want to find REAL solutions to our problems, we need to reconsider our trade policies. We need to make a real commitment to education. We need to TALK to each other, even if it’s in halting English and waving hands and clumsy translations. We need to make a commitment to see that we address poverty and healthcare here, and make sure we don’t export our corporate rapaciousness to our neighbors, shredding their economies and forcing desperate people to move in search of survival. We need to open up, recommit to talking and sharing and diplomacy and an open and egalitarian application of the rule of law. We need to remake ourselves, see the world through new eyes and to find new political leaders.
Personally, I’m starting a class in Chinese this summer. As they all-but own this country, I figure it’s a good idea to know your banker’s language. It’s a beautiful, fascinating culture, and even if I find it as difficult as everyone warns me it is, I feel sure that I will be enriched for the learning. I can’t use it, but I had German in high school. I found it made my use of English stronger. It broadened my appreciation of vocabulary and understanding of grammer. I’m hopeful that learning this new language will make the world anew for me by giving familiar things new names for me to use. Learn a new language in protest to this know nothingism. Talk to the hispanic grocer … learn some of her words. Try to pronounce Tsing Tao properly when you order a bottle with your tempura … ask the waiter to help you.
It’s a big, broad, beautiful world … sing it’s praises in as many ways as you can.
originally up at Liberal Street Fighter
I would have put more languages in the poll, but I don’t know how to use all the different language packs you need for the different characters!
Given the emphasis in the current debate, the overwhelming majority for “loco” seems appropriate.
But for how many more centuries and nationalities (you know, Germans, Irish, Chinese, … ) are we going to have to have the same damned debate? It should be clear to all that broadening the national gene pool improves it. End of story.
Better be Made Clear:
Are they talking about ‘British English’ or ‘American English’?
After all where did we get ‘English’ from!!
Don’t need another ‘French Fries’ or ‘Freedom Fries’, my tired old mind can’t keep up with the modern lingo
Actually, what they should have done is specify “American dialect of the English language”; otherwise you can’t get in your pickup truck and drive down the highway to the parking lot and then take the elevator to your office. You’ll need to “drive the lorry down the motorway to the carpark and then get in the lift”.
I think “Office” is still OK, even tho the BBC Slough version is more excruciatingly painful to anyone who’s ever worked in an office than the Scranton NBC version, and thus, funnier.
I heard a wonderful discussion the other day on NPR with a food critic. Her point was that not only do immigrants adapt to the culture they enter, but they change it as well. Her example was how food has travelled across cultures and changed them. As she was talking, I thought about things like music and the arts as well. As you point out, language is another example. To try to de-construct a US culture from all of these influences is indeed laughable. But alas, here we are.
So many foods that we take for granted came with the immigrants. The Frugal Gourmet’s “Our Immigrant Ancestors” is a good place to start if you want to explore a variety of ethnic recipes. We’re lucky in that we have access within about 20 miles to a wide selection of ethnic markets and even the local super markets have aisles with ingredients from the Far East, India and the Middle East. It says something for the blending of cultures that salsa has surpassed ketchup as the most popular condiment.
Of course the ultimate irony is that English is bastard language: it absorbs words and phrases from other languages and adopts them as its own. Less than half of the words in the English language have a Germanic, or Old English origin; the rest is made up of Latin, primarily. The idea of English as a “pure” language has always struck me as absurd.
Frankly, I’m comforted to know there’s so little urgent business required of our governance these days that our paid representatives have time to engage in this utter, drooling nonsense.
Guess they don’t think that other things are as important, like people’s lives, those who can’t get their rx’s under Part D. Bunch of assholes.
Fabulous diary! What I want to know is will they arrest you if you don’t speak “English”? What a waste of time when they are so many other pressing issues like get the hell out of Iraq, Impeachment, Censure, healthcare for all, gas at $3.63 a gallon…
Once again, the fearful and ignorant will tear us apart by trying to lock something down.
What’s the penalty if you don’t speak the King’s English to the Queen’s taste? Fine? Jail time?
Of course, I’d advise shrub not to part his lips at all since he can’t speak English either.
Certain Democrats joined the Republicans in approving this mishegoss, representing few non-English speakers.
The Voting Rights Act prompted the census survey of languages in 2000. In the entire U.S., only 8.1% speak English less than “very well.” In the states of these Democrats, speaking English is an underwhelming issue. No wonder they didn’t insist on ESL funding.
Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan — ND
1.8% speak English less than “very well.”
Sen. Tim Johnson — SD – 2.3%;
Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor — AR – 2.3%
Sen. Bill Nelson — FL – 10.3%
Sen. Mary Landrieu — LA – 2.8%;
Sen. Robt. C. Byrd — WV – 0.8%;
Sen. Max Baucus — MT – 1.5%
Sen. Tom Carper — DE – 3.9%.
In ND, among those who do not speak English at all:
4 speak Italian, 20 Greek, 885 German, 4 Navajo,
and 185 speak African languages.
In SD, 4 people speak only Thai and 255 speak only Spanish.
In DE, 15 only Gujarathi, 45 Urdu.
In FL, 35 only Scandinavian languages, 40 Yiddish.
In MT, 4 only Polish, 40 Russian.
In AR, 10 only Japanese, 130 Laotian.
In WV, 80 only Chinese, 10 Hindi.
In LA, 4 only Cambodian, 480 French, c’est si bon…
The Census report notes:
After “English Trumps Your Native Languages” what’s the congressional encore? Look for “Drilling for Oil in Alaska is Healthy” followed by “Our Agricultural Disaster Relief Act Helps Alaskan Farmers,” and “Arkansas Missionaries Know What’s Best for You.”
It’s a good thing that the French don’t have a word for “entrepenaur.”
LOL
how could I forget that one?