Dear MarineSkova,



Thank you for these thought-provoking questions. Here are my thoughts, which I hope are useful for your purpose.



> When and under what circumstances should we speak in a foreign language?



I generally find it helpful to speak a foreign language when I try to engage in conversation with someone who does not master my native tongue.



> What do you think about some countries that use two or more officially recognized languages?



They should be forbidden. A UN resolution should make them illegal, and UN forces should invade to restore order. It is ok if they want to confuse themselves, but confusing the rest of the world is hindering progress towards world peace.



> Do you consider it rude to speak English/ Italian/ Spanish/ German or other foreign languages in Geneva?



Needless to say that Swedish is not acceptable, but for the rest all languages can be freely spoken, unless you are speaking to someone who does not understand the particular language you are employing at that moment*.



> What about speaking Spanish in the US?



Yes, that is very rude.



> Do you think everyone has to learn English?



No, only citizens of the United States and Australia, and those who have teaching positions in English and English Literature.





Good luck with your essay.

b



* footnote: language education and emotional moments excepted
bedrock, Jul 28, 08 13:52

How did adults react? Did they think it was disrespectful?
MarineSkova, Jul 28, 08 16:48

Why do you think that bilinguism and multilinguism should be forbidden?
MarineSkova, Jul 28, 08 16:50

I am sorry to hear it :( But I certainly agree that speaking in a foreign language is a matter of respect.
MarineSkova, Jul 28, 08 17:30

Well, the Queen invented English back in 1966, and as everyone knows, the Queen is God's mum.



God is essentially our landlord, and so to avoid pissing him off, everyone should speak English, lest he smite you down with a swift kick in the balls.



Just a thought
chavyboy, Jul 28, 08 19:38

>Just a thought



Not a very good one, but at least you have demonstrated why English is only suitable to express the simplest of thoughts.



For those interested, I encourage you to read "The English language as an obstacle to freedom of expression and self-realization" by François D. Legrand, published in 2003 in the International Journal of Psycho-Linguistics. His findings are based on extensive laboratory experiments.



Below a simplified representation of his conclusions for the benefit of our Anglophone friends:



First, in the beginning, someone wanted to explain others what they were doing, and therefore invented the four basic verbs: sleep, drink, eat, fuck.



Second, someone mispronounced these and thereby accidentally found a way to express what they had been doing, giving birth to the past tense: I slept, drank, ate and fucked. (we can safely assume one of the parties was a man, and made big gestures to indicate size or length).



Third, someone revolutionized the English language by adding other elements to tell someone else what they desired to do: I want to...* (we can safely assume one of the parties was a woman).



Fourth, the English met the French and stole such lovely words as democracy, culture and profiteroles.



* While I agree it is most likely that this addition stems from vocal distortion from sustained frustration, professor Legrand does not provide archeological evidence to sustantiate this claim. A forgivable weakness in this otherwise impressive study.
bedrock, Jul 28, 08 20:21

[quote]>Just a thought



Not a very good one, but at least you have demonstrated why English is only suitable to express the simplest of thoughts.



[/quote]



Indeed, and it would appear you're providing supporting evidence. Much appreciated.
chavyboy, Jul 29, 08 13:38

> Indeed, and it would appear you're providing supporting evidence. Much appreciated.



You're welcome :)
bedrock, Jul 29, 08 14:08

Hello Marina,



Here are my thoughts on the subject:



[b]When and under what circumstances should we speak in a foreign language?

Do you consider it rude to speak English/ Italian/ Spanish/ German or other foreign languages in Geneva? What about speaking Spanish in the US?

[/b]



Let me put the two questions together since they're related.



When we live in a foreign country, we should try to learn and speak the local language. It is a form of respect and at the same time one of integration. I do find it rude when a group of locals talk to each other in their mother tongue when someone in the party doesn't speak it and they make no effort to translate parts of the conversation. It is ruder though when one has lived in a location and has not even made the effort to learn the basics of the local language. Communication is a two way street.



I find it acceptable to speak a foreign language (relative to the local language that is) when it's a language shared by the parties involved then switch to the common language when someone else joins in the conversation. From experience, mixed groups will automatically switch to the language common to all members of the group. When someone else from the group is not so proficient in that language someone else will step in and translate parts. These days, English has become the language.



I've been in parties where German and English became the "official languages". Some German speakers can understand English but are not that proficient and with the English speakers the opposite. The conversations switched fluidly between english or german or a combination of both. In proper company, that should be the case. :)



If I remember right, the USA does not have an official language policy. So speaking Spanish in the predominantly Spanish speaking parts of the US is not rude at all. Those who speak Spanish would know English and use English in the proper circumstances. Although English speakers who are monolingual could speak English in the the spanish speaking communities as English is the common language for the US.



Look also into ghettoization. It is more complex (with social and ethnic factors thrown in), but language plays an important part.





This is a product of historical events. Check out the application of officials language policies in countries with multiple official languages. Suffice to say they answer a need for communication. The Philippines managed to enforce a English and Filipino as officials langauges otherwise with 171 spoken languages and dialectical variations, communication would have been impossible. In a good way it forces people to learn several languages.



The other side of the coin is that two language or multiple language policies could lead to regionalism (although regionalism is not necessarily a bad thing). Read up on Belgium and the Swiss for reference. Language seems to be a factor in regional political views in the above mentioned cases.





English is only second to Chinese as the most widely spoken language but globalisation has brought about the domination of English (and "requirement") in the so called "global village". That said, an alpine farmer in the german speaking part of Switzerland would have no need for the English but perhaps his son/daughter or grand son/daughter who'd wish to market their products to the world would have to learn English. It's all a matter of need.



Good luck with your essay.



Cheers, Edwin.
ed.ch, Jul 30, 08 16:06

[quote]Hello Whovian - I never told you but until recently I lived very close to you - there is an innoncence about you that I feel should never be corrupted !! I am fascinated by your interest in Dr.Who - I did enjoy the Daleks as a child.



I understand what you are saying about languages - some people are more gifted than others at learning severâl languages[/quote]



Lapsus scribae?
Casuistik, Jul 30, 08 16:34