[MD] Language and The Tower of Babel

[Case]

[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.

[Arlo]
I thought the country was degenerating. Or in danger of doing so, if there
isn't better communication across the population? I'm not sure how you can
go from "urgent crisis" to "simply isn't any urgency" like that.

[Case]
I believe that having a single common language is a good thing. I am
concerned about any official sanction that would erode this. I am unlike to
favor any proposal requiring public access accommodations to non-English
speakers. But I would be wiling to entertain voting for an English only bill
depending on its provisions and intent. Now given the current sentiment and
the motivations of anyone likely to propose such a measure chances are it
would be crap and I would not support it. But I would not rule it out
without a fair hearing.

But my point above is that because English is our common language. Because
it is so widely used it is the de facto common language of the world. Most
students or even educators do not think it is an important part of their
curricula. I know the high schools were I live struggle to fill foreign
language classes. The same is truth at the local community college.

[Arlo]
What I'm trying to get at is, is it "communication" that's truly important
to us, or "other people speaking English"? These aren't really the same
thing when you think about it.

Because if its the first, I'm all with you. If its exclusively the second,
well, I don't see why someone ordering a cheesesteak in Spanish is going to
destroy our communities. If its "better communication", then what's wrong
with moving both sides towards more fluent communication with larger
populations? That way, when someone with weak to moderate English skills
travels across the country, and finds herself in a situation where her
English simply isn't up to the task, the chances of her communicating are
greatly increased if both her and whomever she is speaking with BOTH know
English AND Spanish. No?

[Case]
If people want to accommodate each other out of courtesy or commerce I am
all for it. But if they don't want to do that is fine with me too. As I said
I think the bulk of the burden is on the individual who wants to place the
order. I know in trips I have made to Miami I am appalled that there are
many public places that English is the second language. The situation is
reversed and I am the one at a disadvantage in my own country. This is the
kind of erosion I am talking about. But this may just be the same kind
ethnic diversity you describe in Philly. I am not calling for state laws or
anything of the kind. I do not like it but I do not live in Miami and when I
visit there I eat with bilingual friends.

[Case]
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.

[Arlo]
Do people still use BASIC? Holy cow, that takes me back to my Apple II
days...

[Case]
I guess it has expanded into the Visual Basic. The fact I opted for FORTRAN
which if not a dead language is certainly gasping for breath.