[MD] Language and The Tower of Babel

[Case]

[Arlo]
But you see, foreign language classes are not "valued" in this case because
the dialogue has not been centered on improving communication among the
population, but on making "them" speak "my language". This dialogue is so
prevalent, that most Americans who travel simply demand that anywhere they
go, everyone accomadates them in English. I could fill up scores of posts
with horror stories I've been told from all over where I've travelled. I've
been met with shock more often than not, when people learned that I could
(gasp!) speak there language and am American.

Part of this, to make a brief tangent, is on our view of language. It is not
simply "the same thing said in different words". Language is a very
particular metaphor for seeing the world, and learning a new language is
very much learning a new way to see the world. Language classes have opted
for such pedantic beginning lessons that this is often missed. 

[Case]
Language classes I have taken, and I have taken some Spanish, Russian and
Arabic, do focus on conversational language. The problem for me at least is
that to learn a language I would need constant exposure. In the absence of
that I know full well I will forget what I learn more quickly that I learn
new things. Also I notice that people who do study language do so for years
and still don't seem to feel very confident about using it. One of my
children studied French in high school and college but does not feel
particularly competent as a speaker. In short learning language without some
daily exposure just seems like a waste of time.

I read "The Ugly American" in high school and I am guessing little has
changed. I am also guessing that this accounts for much of our inability to
cultivate effective international relations.

It also occurs to me that the language barrier in this hemisphere is one of
the reasons why we are thinking of building a fence on our southern border
and complaining about traffic delays across our northern border. I have
never understood why it is in our national interest to have third world
conditions on our back door. Wouldn't it be a more effective immigration
policy to give our southern neighbors fewer reasons to leave home? I mean
after all the only reason the Anglos settled in North American is the
Spanish got here first.

I agree that improved communication is a good thing and linguistic barriers
are bad news. Canada with English and French, the whole hemisphere divided
North and South. I just don't think that beyond providing resource like
language classes there is much that can be done about it.

[Arlo]
I don't speak Chinese. Whenever I visit a city, I always make a point to
spend an afternoon in the local Chinatown (recently San Fran). Many of the
people there don't speak English. But I've never felt threatened,
disadvantaged or any negativity in this environment. Sane in Philly when I
am in enclaves where all I hear is Italian. 


[Case]
Personally I am with you here. I am uncomfortable in Miami for lots of
reasons. Spanish is just one of them. I have a friend in Boston who can walk
to Russian, Indian, Jewish and Asian markets I think that is very cool.
Another friend lives in LA and won't ever leave because she loves to see
people of all colors creeds and languages in her daily life. When I was
thinking of taking a trip to Israel I took a class in Arabic. But these are
personal likes, choices and decisions. As Lao Tzu says, "Ruling a country is
like cooking a small fish". The more you mess with it, the more likely you
are to mess it up. This area seems particular vulnerable in this respect.