Comments on: The Case for English Only http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/ Helping People Learn to Read Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:06:58 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tweets that mention The Case for English Only « Articles « Literacy News -- Topsy.com http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/comment-page-1/#comment-3950 Tweets that mention The Case for English Only « Articles « Literacy News -- Topsy.com Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:57:59 +0000 http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/#comment-3950 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Kirk, Ashleigh Grange. Ashleigh Grange said: The Case for English Only: http://su.pr/2GITho "How many languages should we be expected to speak in America?" Talk about a language gap! [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Kirk, Ashleigh Grange. Ashleigh Grange said: The Case for English Only: http://su.pr/2GITho "How many languages should we be expected to speak in America?" Talk about a language gap! [...]

]]> By: Nathan http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/comment-page-1/#comment-3927 Nathan Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:53:52 +0000 http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/#comment-3927 Nobody needs an English Only law. The government already conducts all of its official business in English. By the second generation most immigrants are already bilingual. By the third generation, the native languages are dead. Native American languages are all nearly dead. In essence, we already have English only so there is no need (other than pure xenophobia) to codify it. Nobody needs an English Only law. The government already conducts all of its official business in English. By the second generation most immigrants are already bilingual. By the third generation, the native languages are dead. Native American languages are all nearly dead. In essence, we already have English only so there is no need (other than pure xenophobia) to codify it.

]]> By: S. O. Kincse http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/comment-page-1/#comment-3780 S. O. Kincse Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:42:39 +0000 http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/#comment-3780 It is an exciting point you are making - however, some of the examples, I believe, are mistaken. First of all, I need to point out for you that, in case of airlines, the requirement of multilinguality is pretty much universal. This means that any international carrier will be forced to attend to such expenses - that is because they are conducting active promotion, marketing, administration, etc. in a number of other countries they fly to and have hubs at. Your hospital example is also a bit problematic. The US medical industry is currently the strongest in the world. Huge revenues (and, as a result, taxes) are generated by providing medical services, from medical tourism. This fact alone must outweight concerns for the provision multilingual services in the industry. Other than that I think you should remember that the strength and advantage of the US throughout history has always come from the fact that it was able to quickly accommodate and engage immigrants. The US these days sets an example for international understanding and cooperation, and especially this multilinguality issue is such that we should learn more about here, in Europe. Best Regards, S. O. Kincse It is an exciting point you are making – however, some of the examples, I believe, are mistaken.

First of all, I need to point out for you that, in case of airlines, the requirement of multilinguality is pretty much universal. This means that any international carrier will be forced to attend to such expenses – that is because they are conducting active promotion, marketing, administration, etc. in a number of other countries they fly to and have hubs at.

Your hospital example is also a bit problematic. The US medical industry is currently the strongest in the world. Huge revenues (and, as a result, taxes) are generated by providing medical services, from medical tourism. This fact alone must outweight concerns for the provision multilingual services in the industry.

Other than that I think you should remember that the strength and advantage of the US throughout history has always come from the fact that it was able to quickly accommodate and engage immigrants. The US these days sets an example for international understanding and cooperation, and especially this multilinguality issue is such that we should learn more about here, in Europe.

Best Regards,
S. O. Kincse

]]> By: californiadreaming http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/comment-page-1/#comment-3762 californiadreaming Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:10:43 +0000 http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/#comment-3762 I don't know why you would include Canada as an example of what's happening in the USA, they're doing what you want, providing services in their national tongues. Why insult Canadian sovereinty, wouldn't you expect the government and national agencies of a country to do this ... The situation there is nothing at all like the situation in the USA... when Wolfe defeated Montcalm 400 years ago this summer, the population was split... each group kept its language, church, institutions... Largely due to US and worldwide influence, English is now about 70% of the official Canadian language group. I don’t know why you would include Canada as an example of what’s happening in the USA, they’re doing what you want, providing services in their national tongues. Why insult Canadian sovereinty, wouldn’t you expect the government and national agencies of a country to do this … The situation there is nothing at all like the situation in the USA… when Wolfe defeated Montcalm 400 years ago this summer, the population was split… each group kept its language, church, institutions… Largely due to US and worldwide influence, English is now about 70% of the official Canadian language group.

]]> By: Frank http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/comment-page-1/#comment-3761 Frank Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:17:31 +0000 http://www.literacynews.com/2009/11/the-case-for-english-only/#comment-3761 I'm an Italian-American and after reading this article I will make sure I call myself Italian-American. How dare you tell us what we can and what we can't call ourselves. Articles like this will only spur us on. I’m an Italian-American and after reading this article I will make sure I call myself Italian-American. How dare you tell us what we can and what we can’t call ourselves. Articles like this will only spur us on.

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