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11-10-2009, 02:17 PM
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Senior Member
Status:
"Friends don't let u do stupid things... alone."
(set 26 days ago)
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Europe
109 posts, read 66,935 times
Reputation: 77
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Americans and their language.
How do Americans feel about their national language - English?
In Europe most of nations have great pride of their national language, it is the key element of naton's identity.
What about Americans? I've heard English speakers don't care much about their language. That's probably because English will remain unchallenged as the world's number one language anyway. It seems Anglos don't appreciate what they have.  |
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11-10-2009, 02:25 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2009
412 posts, read 73,334 times
Reputation: 254
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paparaciii
How do Americans feel about their national language - English?
In Europe most of nations have great pride of their national language, it is the key element of naton's identity.
What about Americans? I've heard English speakers don't care much about their language. That's probably because English will remain unchallenged as the world's number one language anyway. It seems Anglos don't appreciate what they have. |
Only English speaking anglos or European anglos as well? 
As a native English speaker who's picked up a few languages along the way...English is not worse nor any better than any other language.
And English isn't the National Language of America. Or the United States.
Last edited by filihok; 11-10-2009 at 02:35 PM..
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11-10-2009, 02:30 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pittsburgh
1,864 posts, read 884,028 times
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Quote:
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That's probably because English will remain unchallenged as the world's number one language anyway. It seems Anglos don't appreciate what they have.
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Number one in what? I'll concede that English has become the language of business, but population-wise, more people speak Mandarin and Spanish, with Arabic, Hindi, and Bengali close behind. |
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11-10-2009, 02:38 PM
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Senior Member
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"The Reckoning Resumes Dec. 12..."
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Another reason for the prevalence of English is that it is better suited for drafting contractual agreements than many, most or (arguably) all other languages. Trying to write a 1,000+ page international merger and acquisition in Mandarin would be (i) impractical and (ii) less "precise".
I have a lot of pride in my native tongue. It isn't as colorful as Spanish, as sexy as French, as cool as German or as rugged as Russian but it is a very useful language that lends itself well to rambling prose and very complex enumerations. It's a shame to hear it butchered on MTV or in Australia.
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11-10-2009, 03:04 PM
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Hlör u fang axaxaxas mlö.
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Victoria TX
11,655 posts, read 3,895,465 times
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Most European countries don't share their language with other countries. Their language is unique to that country, and that's why the have a special national pride in it. Peruvians don't have any special pride in Spanish, and Senegalese don't have any special pride in French
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11-10-2009, 03:38 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Houston/Heights
2,645 posts, read 409,070 times
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Maybe each State should have it's own Language.
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11-10-2009, 03:48 PM
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There's no R in Acadia!!!
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: The northern end of a rock in the Atlantic Ocean (Maine)
1,413 posts, read 1,083,012 times
Reputation: 1254
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thaskateguy
Maybe each State should have it's own Language.
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I think Maine does... it's called Yankee, deah.  |
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11-10-2009, 03:54 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Houston/Heights
2,645 posts, read 409,070 times
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Texans have their own ways of speakin, and that's fo sho.
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11-10-2009, 04:05 PM
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Cold Climate Aficionado
Status:
"Age of the Rube Goldberg Economy"
(set 13 hours ago)
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tiny, one-dimensional little world...
1,494 posts, read 433,142 times
Reputation: 1221
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Well, since you asked, I think English sucks for the most part. It could be a good language--it has the makings. But lots of things 'could be.'
It's contorted and illogical. Perfectly good grammar patterns are routinely breeched. The spelling system is a absolute asinine joke. And it has been pretty much allowed to 'go to hell' over the centuries.
Hey, you asked. Since I'm 'American,' there is one American opinion for you.  |
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11-10-2009, 04:06 PM
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Senior Member
Status:
"The Reckoning Resumes Dec. 12..."
(set 18 days ago)
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thaskateguy
Texans have their own ways of speakin, and that's fo sho.
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I dunno 'bout that. "Fo Sho" sho nuff sounds like it belongs in luziannuh. |
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