Languages (was Re: [Sca-cooks] globetrotting)

[Gorgeous Muiredach]

>As far as Americans not learning languages... I think it's another aspect of
>the "ugly American" syndrome. We're so self-absorbed and self-important that
>our educational system doesn't recognize the benefit in learning other
>languages.

I can only smile at that statement :-)

>The fact that less than 25% of our border is shared with a
>country that speaks another language doesn't help, either. (Yeah, I know
>about Quebec - they don't count, the official government language of the
>nation is still English).

I hate to point this out, but the official language of government in Quebec
is French.  The official languageS of government in Canada is *both* French
and English...

>Of course, I'm hardly one to comment, since the
>only two languages I've studied in any depth are both dead (Latin and
>Yiddish).

I wish I knew Yiddish more, like that I'd understand all those klezmer
music CD's I have! :-)


Gorgeous Muiredach the Odd
Shire of Forth Castle (in transit)
Meridies
mka
Nicolas Steenhout
"You must deal with me as I think of myself" J. Hockenberry