Ok , so American's can't talk French......

[XboxWarrior]

I have been watchin' CCTV9 news for a few months (that's chineese news in english)

One thing that stands out to me, is that all of the other foriegn leaders seem to be able to speak English.....even if it is their 3rd or 4th languauge!

When was the last time, we as Americans, had a leader that was bi-lingual? (not to mention tri or quad)

Sure george can order some "tamales" with "salsa verde".......but have we ever had a leader that can talk shop with a foriegn leader in his native speak?

I am just curious......I don't wanna go back to the colonial days, as many spoke the French.

peace

p.s. I may be naive in this matter

[951-Riverside]

1. Why french? n/t

[XboxWarrior]

4. French was a Headline

It could have been Russian?

But when was the last time we had a leader that could talk

with another leader in "his or her" native language?

point remains?

peace

[Swede]

45. French is considered to be the universal language of diplomacy.

nt

[July]

59. IIRC, Bush senior is said to be fluent in French.

I read this several years ago, and I believe there was also the comment that his knowledge of French was downplayed so that he did not seem too "elite."

[Sequoia]

2. Bush speaks Spanish, right?

[Midnight Rambler]

12. Bush can't even speak ENGLISH!!!

n/t

[demosincebirth]

32. He able to read it, some what.

[Mass]

53. Enough to say that Cinquo de Mayo is on May 3rd!

[Warpy]

3. A lot of people here in New Mexico are at least bilingual

and some speak their tribal language, Spanish, English, plus whatever they learned on top of those in high school.

However, in most of the country, people in suburbs tend to speak only English, although they may have studied another language in high school. Many didn't even do that.

That's why there are people all over the country pushing for laws that make English the only language, as though new immigrants are going to stop speaking their own languages and learn English overnight so that suburban ears won't be offended.

[XboxWarrior]

7. I am NOT for english only.....

just the point that some countries elect peeps

with the intellectual capacity for knowing more than

their native language.....

we have a bumbler, that can barely manage english?

peace

[Warpy]

40. I've got news for you

he murders Spanish, too.

[Lautremont]

5. Kennedy spoke German...

No, I'm kidding. However, as languages, particularly Romance languages, were a regular part of a classical education once upon a time, I'm sure there have been some statesmanlike presidents in the past who have spoken passable French.

In Canada, you get run out of Ottawa on a rail if you're a unilingual politician, which is as it should be. Beyond the practical and political considerations, I'm of the opinion that conversance in multiple languages is a good sign of an intelligent and energetic mind.

[TechBear_Seattle]

29. But not well

Because of a quirk of German, President Kennedy's most famous German quote actually declared: "I am a jelly doughnut." (Ok, that's an urban legend, but it is a popular one, and just a bit funny.)

[morgan2]

6. I speak english and jive

[XboxWarrior]

8. Point remains....

the Latvia pres.....( a woman, I forget her name.....)

Can drive trucks arround Bush's management of the English language!

peace

[verse18]

9. I'm sorry but I have to-

Some Americans can't "speak" French, not "talk" French.

I guess some American's can't talk English, either:)

[XboxWarrior]

10. Ok........dog me for my words (semantics)

But, the post remains......

When has our country last had a multi-lingual Prez?

peace

p.s. please don't miss my point

[OregonBlue]

11. English has truly become the language of commerce. If you want to

do business internationally, you must speak English. It would be great if we had a pres who could speak another language. I suspect Bush's Spanish is on parr with mine. I can get around, order food, take transportation, etc. but not have an in depth philosophical conversation. French is only slightly better. Any of the potential Dem candidates out there speak another language fluently?

[XboxWarrior]

13. Mira?

Yo peudo hablar espanol....

But my point remains......

Name me the last multi-lingual President?

One that doesn't need a peep to tell him how the

Iraqi's "feel"?

Maliki can speak english......why shouldn't * speak arabic?

peace

[OregonBlue]

23. Don't think there are too many adroit politicians who speak Arabic but

certainly must be some out there who speak a second and third language fluently. As I said, Maliki and most people who conduct international business and certainly politics, speak English. It is the international language. I travel in my business a lot and everywhere I go, I have no trouble finding people, especially business people, who speak English.

[Igel]

42. The problem is one of practicality.

* should speak Arabic. But should he learn a dialect--and if so, which one? And if Arabic, why not Russian? And Chinese? And Spanish and French and Portuguese? Not to forget Kanada and Telugu and Aymara.

Non-English speakers have it a bit easier: The most useful language for international anything (pretty much) is English. Then probably comes French, and then Spanish, and then probably Arabic--but it really depends on one's needs. After that you get rapidly diminishing returns.

But that ignores the issue of practice, probably the snarliest issue in language learning in the US.

[Blue-Jay]

48. Hey, that's a cute post.

:eyes:

[XOKCowboy]

15. Same here.

I took high school French and Spanish (in Oklahoma so think about that accent!). When I went to France and Spain at first I couldn't recognize anything that was being said. After about a week though I'm like you, order food, find your way around the Metro, etc. I'm always amazed how many people around the world can change languages immediately when they hear "Sorry I don't speak ______".

[CTyankee]

34. I work for LIteracy Volunteers andyou are correct about English

Our new visitors and citizens to this country should know that English is the language they need to get ahead. I have learners in our programs who do not see the wisdom of learing English, since on the factory floor and in their homes, Spanish is spoken and they don't "need" English. We try to help them understand that they do need English as a matter of competency in daily life (e.g. telling a doctor about their child's symptoms). The women we tutor seem to be more interested and invested in Literacy lessons than the men. They really want to talk to their kids about school and their lessons.

I wonder if we are creating two tiers of Spanish speaking immigrants: those who want to ascend to the business world where they must learn to speak English and those who wish to stay at the level of lesser level of English, where they only have to interact with other Spanish speakers and do not feel the need to learn English.

This is a quandary.

[XOKCowboy]

36. The quandry..

I wonder if we are creating two tiers of Spanish speaking immigrants: those who want to ascend to the business world where they must learn to speak English and those who wish to stay at the level of lesser level of English, where they only have to interact with other Spanish speakers and do not feel the need to learn English.

I wonder if that might be the price they have to pay for success in America. Of course success is relative. Some measure success as being able to make a living wage to support their families along with having an extensive social structure of people with similar backgrounds. Does this make them bad people. Not in my opinion. I know a lot of Americans (remember I grew up in Oklahoma) who hold the very same values when you think about it. The irony is that it's a lot of these same Americans are the strongest proponents of English Only and The Fence.

[CTyankee]

39. Well, I am a native Texan (3rd generation on one side)

and I have a "Texican" investment counselor, who has done a great job for both my late mother and myself. He is getting ahead as an estate planner and, of course, is a fluent English speaker.

But here in Connecticut, I am learning that some new immigrants do NOT feel it is all that necessary to spend the energy necessary to learn English all that well, because at the level they work, they do not feel there is that big a payoff to learn English. They also have a large enough social network using Spanish to where they don't feel a need to learn English.

My RW co-worker sees this as the end of the world for the U.S.A. in terms of our cultural hegemony. I told her that we are becoming a bi-lingual country and get used to it. She was pretty steamed about that. I don't get what the big deal is. If necessary, I will learn to speak some Spanish. It would probably be a good thing.

[OregonBlue]

41. Perhaps. In general I believe woman are more interested in learning

other languages (especially in a situation like you mentioned where they need it to know what their children are doing) but men who plan to compete have to learn it. I suspect it's not really any different than society overall. Many people want to go to college, get ahead, etc., many just choose to get by. Doesn't necessarily relate to their language/no language, more to their values and motivation. Nothing wrong with people who don't care to keep up with the Jones' but speaking the language of the country in which you are living makes life so much easier on so many levels.

[XOKCowboy]

14. It's a running joke in Europe about Americans...

I've worked with native crews in France, Italy, Spain as well as England, Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Even if the entire crew didn't speak English, I'd say that 75% of them spoke and understood some (or were fluent in) English. I'll always tell them that I'm a typical American. I EXPECT everyone to understand ME and they always get a kick out of it. When they work with other Europeans, the VISITOR usually uses the language of the country they're working in. Not Americans. Most major convention centers around the world have special English speaking staff just to cater to us.

Aren't we special?

[XboxWarrior]

16. I understand......

English is becoming the language of the World!

But why is it that we as a Country, can't find a leader with

the IQ to grasp another linguistic tool?

I know it's hard to imagine.......but a man, or woman that cares

enough to "learn" another language?

peace

[XOKCowboy]

19. It shows that they had a good education...

In America, foreign languages are always electives. Never mandated to so it has a lot to do with WANTING to learn, an attribute that I'd like in my president. Now let's think about Bush in that regard.










Well never mind.

[Spider Jerusalem]

28. Yeah, the joke goes like this:

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual.
And what do you call someone who speaks one language? American (or "English", monolingualism being common in pretty much all English-speaking countries).

[CTyankee]

38. It is a myth that "everyone in Italy" speaks English

I just returned for a trip there and "everyone" doesn't speak English there. My Italian, which is middling, came in mighty handily, I can tell you. Directions are difficult, as the Italians have a way of waving a hand to the left or right to tell you where to go, whereas in the U.S. we expect directions that say explicitly how many blocks, going right or left, etc. None of that for Italians: it is "diretto subito destro" for example. Uh huh.

[XOKCowboy]

52. I didn't say that "everyone in Italy" speaks English

As a matter of fact I had the most difficulty communicating in Italy. It seemed mostly a matter of attitude though and frankly I enjoyed that attitude. They made you work for it. Boy it was worth it though. I'm looking forward to going back next year for the food. OMG what incredible food.

[CTyankee]

57. I knowyou didn't. It was just my observation from what I had been

told and what I actually experienced.

I had memorable meals in Italy when I was there earlier in November. I tried everything: pig cheek, tripe, pasta with rabbit. Great stuff. And the wine was incomparable at the price you paid for it (cheaper than a Coke).

As a matter of fact, I am planning my next trip to Italy around the food of Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, based on a NY Times article comparing the food of the two regions. I found a great restaurant in Lucca this month because of a big NY Times story I read in September. Giglio's is the name of the restaurant. Go there; you will have a wonderful meal.

[enlightenment]

17. Bill Clinton speaks German

Theodore Roosevelt spoke French -- James Garfield was multilingual.

[XboxWarrior]

20. I would guess that...

Bill could talk German, or maybe even French!

But I cant recall a moment on the TV where he ever did?

Do the foreign press keep their leaders "english free"?

My point is that many countries elect leaders with the

capacity for higher knowledge......

not, "I am the prezdent, I am the decider"......

"Just follow my decisions".......

peace

[Art_from_Ark]

18. One of the reasons is that you can often go thousands of miles in America

and still, you can get by in English. You can even cross the border into Canada and travel thousands of miles there, and nearly everyone there will be conversant in English as well. There just isn't the same sort of driving force to learn another language as there is in Europe, where many countries with differrent languages are in close proximity.

[fleabert]

21. DH, his first language is Spanish, says that Shrub is -surprisingly- more coherent

in Spanish than he is in English. His pronunciation isn't the greatest, anyone can hear that, but his grammar is pretty good. Shocking, I know. He also had a pretty good handle on the English language when he ran for Gov. against Ann Richards. Clips of the debates are on youtube, see for yourself.

He's basically fallen apart.

[Alamom]

43. You're right. We watched those debates and heard him speak

not so many years ago......he did not talk or act like he does now.

I've seen past and current clips shown together. There is an incredible difference.

SOMETHING has happened.


Falling apart is as good an explanation as any.

[benddem]

22. Kerry speaks French

We coulda

[XboxWarrior]

24. OK,,,,,,,point remains

Why is it that our Country (America)

can't find a leader with the capacity to learn another language?

es muy problemico?

no pueden hablar un otro?

peace

p.s. or even one that can put together a "freakin" sentence in his native toungue?

[PinkTiger]

25. Well, here's my take on it.

Nos présidents apprendront à parler français quand il les convient, et pas jusqu'à ce qu'il fait. Se rappeler, Jaques Chirac ne parle pas le puits anglais. Le français est juste aussi mauvais qu'Américains quand il s'agit de parler une autre langue.

or, in our official language:

Our presidents will learn to speak French when it suits them, and not until it does. Remember, Jaques Chirac does not speak English well. The French are just as bad as Americans when it comes to speaking another language.

[JP Belgium]

60. Please tell me you used an online translator for this... (n/t)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. I'm fluent in English and profanity.

The second language being especially necessary when dealing with shrink wrap or politicians.

[XboxWarrior]

30. OK, I get the opinion......

No American Prez should be able to speak in Foreign languages.....

I just amazes me that so many other countries find this "niche"

so valuable......

perhaps we are a "stupid" nation.....don't let'em in

come on folks......

Maliki can one up the * in english or french.......

Is that a "good" thing?

peace

p.s. don't let the Limbo's keep you down

[ComerPerro]

27. other countries speak English because we are extremely powerful, and they know

that we don't want to be bothered with getting a translator.

in most countries, if someone speaks two languages, one of them will usually be English. But for Americans, so many choices...

[demosincebirth]

31. Jimmy Carter can also speak Spanish.

[TechBear_Seattle]

33. I speak several languages

I studied Latin for a year in grade school, French for three years of high school, two years of American Sign Language in college, can read and write Esperanto and know enough German and Spanish to talk myself into trouble (but not enough to get myself out, sad to say.) I've tried to learn Dutch, but a friend from Leiden was correct: speaking Dutch is rather like trying to gargle thistles. Dry.

But then, I'm a language geek. I've taken college courses with titles like "The Anthropology of Language" and "Childhood development of Grammar." And I've even created a few languages of my own, just for fun.

[XboxWarrior]

35. I guess the point is TOO deep.....

in caps on purpose!

WHY CAN'T WE ELECT A LEADER WITH THE IQ TO AT LEAST

LEARN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE?

is it that hard to get?

I mean, I see foreign leaders on CCTV9 all the time, chineese, russian, even the bad "arabic" ones, that compose, and reflect, sentences in "ENGLISH"....

I would like a leader of my nation that could do the same.....

just sayin'

[TechBear_Seattle]

37. The answer is simple

Our education system places very little emphasis on foreign languages. Most other countries are small and have neighbors all speaking something different. Students in Europe are expected to master -- not just study -- at least one language other than their own, with many students required to master a second one as well. By contrast, the United States is vast, still largely monolithic in language and culture, and the larger and more prosperous of our only two neighbors speaks the same language we do; foreign languages are not the same matter of survival or cultural identity. As a result, our sadly inferior "educational" system places very little emphasis on learning a different language. Few who do study a second language need only study it and do not need to actually know how to use it.

[XboxWarrior]

46. Very interesting replies.....to this

The point was TOO simple, I guess......

We, as a country find it ample, to elect a fool.

Never mind that the World "is" learning "our" language.

The fact remains that the US.... "American"..... populace

is willing to elect a person with the IQ of an,

well, I'll leave it at that.

It just appears to me that other countries try, and do,

elect folks from the higher caliber of their colective

intelligence.......

Why do we as "Americans" find it necessary to pick Ronald

Reagan,(a b-rate actor) and the likes of the Bush empire......

It baffles my simple mind.

peace

[Igel]

44. Oddly, cognitive ability and language learning aren't

well related. Some versions of IQ are, but that's because the IQ tests are based on vocabulary; and while having a large vocabulary is great, it's also not very necessary.

Even idiots learn a language.

Here, it's need and motivation. I like learning languages; I'm motivated to learn them because I want to read things in those languages (don't ask about Goethe, just don't). Maupassant in French, Tolstoi in Russian, Cervantes and Borges in Spanish, Hasek and Hrabal in Czech. I'm working on Arabic now, and I dabble in Polish from time to time. I used to speak Russian fluently, and my French was tolerable for most purposes; no longer, since I'm around no Russian or French speakers. But even with my piss-poor speaking ability, I can still translate quite well. Just don't ask me to speak them, unless I really, really need to.

[Ilsa]

47. Wes Clark speaks several languages besides English. Spanish is one.

I can't remember if Russian is another one.

[treestar]

49. English is becoming the lingua franca

Which makes it all the more ridiculous when you have people here worrying about its status so much they want laws to make the "official" here.

[XboxWarrior]

51. OK.....709 views.....49 replies

ten of which are mines!

Point stays the same......why do we as Americans elect a fool to drive

our collective car?

I could name a dozen leaders of foreign nations that could drive

this Bus better than Bush........

and yet we as Americans pick the "guy we would have a beer with"?

Is it that simple?

Has our education system failed?

Are the blinders of infant religion really fooling the masses?

I would hope that by the year 2006 (hell even 1999), that we

as a country could find, and elect an intelligent man.

I hope that by '08 we will come to our senses.

signed....give peace a chance

'nuff said

[treestar]

61. A person could be intelligent without speaking another language

And still be dumb while speaking two. Chimpy allegedly speaks Spanish and one can only imagine his mangling of a second language when he does such a number on his first.

But I see your point. It seems the leaders of other nations speak English so fluently, while Chimpy or others never have to learn another.

One of the good reasons is we have a good university system - the symptom being people who are world leaders elsewhere may have been to college here - though we are giving that up somewhat in the name of protecting ourselves from terrorism - you see, Hani Hanjour had entered on a student visa and therefore, it follows, that we have to make it near impossible for students to get over here. That way there will never be another 911. :sarcasm:

[Hosnon]

54. I think the "is becoming" ship has sailed. English is the lingua franca. nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

50. My take on it - I don't think most Americans want a President who speaks a

foreign tongue. I could be wrong, though, about modern-day America. I think in former times, people would have viewed a President who even occasionally spoke in a foreign tongue, especially at official functions, as someone suspicious and possibly un-American. My feeling is that this is because America did not evolve slowly over time but instead had its language transposed to a different and new land where it wasn't native to the land. Unlike most countries, America did not evolve over a long period of time where its people, language, culture, and land came together to form a coherent whole. America was founded on ideas, such as those embodied in the Declaration of Independence, and those ideas were only expressed in English. You could transfer America to the moon and it wouldn't be as big a change or shock as transferring Japan, for example, to the Moon, as long as the English (or American) language was used and the same political system maintained.

I think in former times there was a great deal of pressure on Americans to conform and integrate into the society, particularly because there was the awareness of potential chaos, with so many different languages spoken by new immigrants coming here. I saw a documentary on TV the other night which featured the interview of many Cajuns about the great measures used by the government to eradicate the French language and culture from Louisiana, from the Civil War to World War I. Kids at school were forbidden to use French and had to even ask to go to the bathroom in English or they weren't allowed to go. And physical punishment was imposed for anyone caught speaking French in class and they were also told not to speak it at home. There was a systematic effort to eradicate bi-lingualism. I think the same types of measures, only on a much more hard-core scale were used to try to eradicate Native American culture and languages. Probably Spanish and Chinese speakers were also similarly discouraged from using their native tongues.

That may not be the same mind-set today, with bi-lingual education, but I think the same hostile attitude towards other languages still persists in the subconscious of many Americans.

[liberalpragmatist]

55. Bill Clinton speaks fluent German - nt

[liberalpragmatist]

56. Have you heard foreign leaders speak English?

I know both Jacques Chirac (France) and Angela Merkel (Germany) speak fluent English, but I can't recall any time hearing any of them speak English publicly. And I've tried to find video of Angela Merkel speaking English.

Generally foreign leaders seem to speak in their native tongues, even publicly.

[Bridget Burke]

58. (Outgoing) Mexican President Fox speaks English.

I heard an interview a few years ago. He spoke carefully, but quite well. Better than Bush's English, in fact.

[liberalpragmatist]

62. Cool

I was just genuinely curious - I know lots of foreign leaders DO speak English, but I've not heard too many of them speak English publicly. For example, when Bush was in Germany and he and Angela Merkel held a joint press conference, though Merkel speaks fluent English, she answered all the questions in German.