[MD] Language and The Tower of Babel

[Case]

[Arlo]
What harm does it bring "you" (or "me") if our government gives driver's
test in another language? What about a booklet explaining health care rights
to workers? Sometimes *I* have a difficult time understanding those, and I
am a "native speaker". What harm does it bring to publish complex documents
in the "native" or L1 languages of your employees?

I'm not trying to be a prick, here. I just don't see how this hurts you, or
me, or anyone else. 

[Case]
I guess what I am seeking to avoid is the slippery slope of having to
translate all public documents into every possible language. The task of
doing and maintaining this is burdensome and wasteful. If local communities
wish to do this as their circumstances dictate or if businesses wish to do
it to better serve the communities they serve I don't object in the
slightest. But neither do I condemn a business that makes it clear that they
will not do so. I do not think compulsory accommodate should be a broader
part of public policy.


[Arlo]
And those who travel will quickly find the need to speak English. I had to
learn German to travel outside of "touristy" locales. Same in Mexico. And I
had no trouble with that. Nor should anyone.

[Case]
But the fact that need is there encourages the universal language. I just
don't see any need to remove the pressure..

[Arlo]
Guess I don't see the threat. We've always had those among us that "couldn't
speak English" at various levels. Whether Italians or Mexicans or Poles or
Germans. Most learn English to various degrees. Some barely get by. Others
become "fluent". 

[Case]
Ok instead of threat how about erosion.

[Arlo]
Special help, ever? If I can't "communicate properly" I shouldn't be helped
to get a cheesesteak? What if I can speak English fairly well, but still
have trouble with complex legal documents? I shouldn't get any help?

When I travel, I certainly don't expect people to speak to me in English,
but its nice when, despite every effort I make to develop fluency in the
other language, I find myself in situations where I am simply unable to
"communicate". I've never had anyone refuse me service, for example, because
I didn't know how to say "Can I have a cheesesteak?" in German.

[Case]
OK but if you really really want some cheesecake, I think the burden is on
you to figure out how to ask for it. If they really really want to sell it
to you, they will provide whatever help they are able. This kind of
situation strikes me as one in which the natural contingencies will dictate
the outcome.




[Case]
And the idea of conducting public education in anything but English is just
plain stupid. English as a foreign language, Yes. American history in
Spanish,
No. No other group of immigrants has gotten this or expected it. And I don't
think it fosters anyone's long term interests to encourage linguistic
segregation. 

[Arlo]
Germans in my hometown around the turn of the century did indeed demand
public eduation in German. I'm sure this was not unique.

Yet, I do concede your point. And we should strengthen our EFL courses to
handle this. At the same time, I'd suggest (in the interest of better
communication) that Americans also have a compulsory FL throughout their
public education. In Europe, for example, despite "official languages",
citizens must take English and one other language throughout their public
education. So what if we did something like this.

All education is conducted in English. EFL is offered to those learning L2
English. For those not enrolled in an EFL course, they must take Spanish
(since that's our largest non-English minority language in this country).
And everyone, EFL and otherwise, must also enroll and take a third language
of their choice (could choose their heritage language, or some culture they
are interested in, or even sign-language).

Would you be in favor of such a system? Wouldn't that encourage the absolute
best communications among our population?

[Case]
It has been tried in various places in various times. But even colleges that
used to require at least one foreign language started allowing BASIC and
FORTRAN as options. There simply isn't any urgency about this. If you are
asking do I think it would be a good thing to require Americans to learn a
foreign language, well sure, I guess. I mean we make them learn math but
frankly given the requirement I would opt for BASIC.