To our friends from the far east.....

[Hanske]

What bothers Americans is Spanish is new here. Regardless of the place names, Spanish was localized, and in control. When you "grow up" with 2 languages, it's easier to deal with. Canada's just about been dual language since they were Canada.For the Norwegian example, it would be more like hearing Pakistani options on the automated phone system, and seeing it on food labels. It's some new usurper changing your country under your feet.

Right or wrong, that's the way it is. Personally, I don't know... The Mexicans have at least brought good food. Americans? I'm not sure. In any case, I'll be dead before it really matters, so I don't care :^D

Well, we do have a Pakistani phone operator, Lebara, and if you walk in "the wrong parts of Oslo", you'll see more Pakistani, Turkish, Iraqi and Somalian stores than you've ever done before. If you walk into such a store, you'll find Norwegian Coke, snus and cigarettes. All other signs and product labels are in urdu, bengali or whatever language the store owner speeks. But it will never be an official language here.

What I meant to say about the US, was that your native population has been suppressed by European immigrants. It was immigrants that gave you your language. The fact that the Englishmen beat the Spanish is fair enough, but I don't think there's something wrong with Spanish being a #2 language in the US.

From what I gather, places other than the US, well, I guess south of the border too, do not really teach multilanguages. The North Koreans are more fluent in English than the Mexicans. I do wish the US would teach more languages starting right at the start of school. Spanish would be the one to learn most, I think, in the US, could depend where one lives too, other than Viets and Somalians, and some Indian people, mainly I see Mexicans, and they "no speak English".

In Norway they teach English from 1st grade and throughout 13th. So most Norwegian are fluent. I am orally, but I find myself writing long sentences without much meaning in English. I sort of translates directly from Norwegian. When we start in 8th grade we can have a second language. This is usually Spanish, French or German, but some schools teach Italian, Greek, Russian, Mandarin and Japanese as well. This is taught alongside with English. When you start your first high school year (11th grade) it depends on what you want to be as a grown-up. If you are going to work directly after high school, you woun't learn any language. Except English. If you are going on "studiespesialiserende videregående opplæring", you will have a second language. You can choose to continue with the language from junior high, or you can pick a new one. So Norwegians are usually fluent in English and can be understood in Spanish, French or German.

[lxskllr]

What I meant to say about the US, was that your native population has been suppressed by European immigrants. It was immigrants that gave you your language. The fact that the Englishmen beat the Spanish is fair enough, but I don't think there's something wrong with Spanish being a #2 language in the US.

What I was trying to convey is we don't have a Spanish tradition here. Other than some small pockets out west, we're English through and through. Italians that came here spoke English, same with the Germans, and every other group until recent Mexican immigrants. Having Spanish as an official second language would be like Norway adopting Pakistani as an official second language. It's absolutely foreign, and I can imagine it would rub people the wrong way.

Stuff changes over time. People, language, culture, and customs... While it's inevitable, it's also inevitable that people familiar with the old ways will reject the new. In the end, the sun's just gonna obliterate the earth, so none of it really matters outside immediate aesthetic considerations :^D

[sgreger1]

"que" is latin, like spanish, portuguese, italien and romenian.

In the states you have a lot of "vatos locos". And in Europe we are facing a lot of imigration from south american countries also. Nothing compared to the states of course.

First it was the south (with the exception of brazil, that was our colony and where they speak portuguese) and now the north america.

Am I right "essê"? lol

I'm not being racist, I just watch a lot of movies.

Odelay holmes!

[Hanske]

What I was trying to convey is we don't have a Spanish tradition here. Other than some small pockets out west, we're English through and through. Italians that came here spoke English, same with the Germans, and every other group until recent Mexican immigrants. Having Spanish as an official second language would be like Norway adopting Pakistani as an official second language. It's absolutely foreign, and I can imagine it would rub people the wrong way.

Stuff changes over time. People, language, culture, and customs... While it's inevitable, it's also inevitable that people familiar with the old ways will reject the new. In the end, the sun's just gonna obliterate the earth, so none of it really matters outside immediate aesthetic considerations :^D

Ah, I guess I misunderstood you.

[Snusdog]

In the end, the sun's just gonna obliterate the earth, so none of it really matters outside immediate aesthetic considerations :^D

Well there's a happy thought for the day

Anybody know the Spanish/Japanese/German/Pakistani word for sun.............you know..........so I can spread the joy

[WickedKitchen]

look out.....in 20 years the national language in china might be spanish too.

I think it's more likely that Chinese will be the world's language. Either that or Arabic. There are plenty of dialects and I don't even know them but 200 years from now I think that will be the case.

I think a lot of the Spanish that is used in the US today is for convenience. I mean if a private business wants to have menus, directories, service et al in Spanish to capture more business then fair play to them. For the government and health care industries I think it's more for the public good. I used to be intolerant to it really but I see the advantages now...though it it frustrating seeing the Spanish language option on unemployment services.

歡迎到論壇上，朋友。

[Premium Parrots]

I think it's more likely that Chinese will be the world's language. Either that or Arabic. There are plenty of dialects and I don't even know them but 200 years from now I think that will be the case.

bingo.