Yeah good luck with that.
How many languages do you speak?
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Yeah good luck with that.
america's no more an island than most countries..europe is a slightly different story, but americans don't really understand the relationships and geography there. the closer proximity makes a certain amount of cross-culturalism inevitable. but even in the UK they really didn't start speaking french or spanish until recent generations.
america's no more arrogant than any other country in which i've lived or worked! we mistake our pride for arrogance because americans don't value their differences. too bad really. we also express ourselves differently. we're more outgoing and aggressive. secretly, that's one of the things people actually like about us the most!
lots of americans also don't understand other country's cultures and that their encounters and reactions to american's culture is neither hatred nor disgust, but many times jealousy and what's considered an appropriate response to other's success- they don't assume our counter response will be self-loathing, but you know..we are americans!
i think when americans first encounter different cultures they're shocked by the lack of understanding about world events and other cultures. they are likely to blame themselves for many things. it's a charming attribute, but it's not really accurate about america's place in the world and there's not need for shame!
but some americans because they are a little unaware and culturally limited think the apporpriate response is to attack their own country and culture. pretty sad.
living languages i presume?... 3 in the home and 4 more with a bare modicom of proficiency...oh and kids are learning chinese
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I cannot even get people to listen to me in English, so why should I bother with speaking in other languages? The average American doesn't even speak English very well.
...I listen!I speak English, a bit of Spanish and unfortunately losing both of those because of the new language I have acquired...mentalpause.
america's no more an island than most countries..europe is a slightly different story, but americans don't really understand the relationships and geography there. the closer proximity makes a certain amount of cross-culturalism inevitable. but even in the UK they really didn't start speaking french or spanish until recent generations.
america's no more arrogant than any other country in which i've lived or worked! we mistake our pride for arrogance because americans don't value their differences. too bad really. we also express ourselves differently. we're more outgoing and aggressive. secretly, that's one of the things people actually like about us the most!
lots of americans also don't understand other country's cultures and that their encounters and reactions to american's culture is neither hatred nor disgust, but many times jealousy and what's considered an appropriate response to other's success- they don't assume our counter response will be self-loathing, but you know..we are americans!
i think when americans first encounter different cultures they're shocked by the lack of understanding about world events and other cultures. they are likely to blame themselves for many things. it's a charming attribute, but it's not really accurate about america's place in the world and there's not need for shame!
but some americans because they are a little unaware and culturally limited think the apporpriate response is to attack their own country and culture. pretty sad.
living languages i presume?... 3 in the home and 4 more with a bare modicom of proficiency...oh and kids are learning chinese
raven: I have absolutely no idea what you are saying here. none.
It was not until I studied Latin in college (my only language other than English and that was long ago) that I truly learned to speak and write in English.
On a side note, I was reading a book on early Christian religion last night. The chapter that I happened to be on discussed the concept of literacy in biblical times. In that time only only about 10% of the population was considered literate and that classification consisted only of being able to write one's name. Village scribes were enlisted to sign their names to official documents that they themselves most likely could not read or understand. It made me think that we are not far away from that now, especially when I thought of Amendment 1. I have read the text of the amendment, read the text on the ballot and have read several versions of what people think that it says.
I speak english. and all the bad words in Italiano. the grandparents and other family members used the Italian curse words and color phrases, in part so no one would know what they were saying, and also to keep us kids from knowing. we learned it quite easily and quickly. very funny stuff.
I am sad though that my grandparents and all their huge italian families did not preserve more of their own culture, including their language. the older ones never really learned english. but the younger ones learned only english. too bad!
I am sad though that my grandparents and all their huge italian families did not preserve more of their own culture, including their language. the older ones never really learned english. but the younger ones learned only english. too bad!
raven: I have absolutely no idea what you are saying here. none.
Wow. You took the words out of my mouth. I have no words, even in English.
All I know is English. I want to learn Spanish and Italian.
I want Little IBD to learn other languages b/c I believe that it will be a good attribute for her when she is career hunting. My luck she will want to be a professional DIVA or something...
I however feel very strongly that if you want to live in the USA then you need to learn our language or adapt. I am not saying that you have to use English all the time, just when you need it. For instance, at the nail shop I dont understand a word that they say until the speak to me.
From traveling to several countries in which English is not their language I had to adapt. If I moved there then I would learn the language asap.
I want Little IBD to learn other languages b/c I believe that it will be a good attribute for her when she is career hunting. My luck she will want to be a professional DIVA or something...
I however feel very strongly that if you want to live in the USA then you need to learn our language or adapt. I am not saying that you have to use English all the time, just when you need it. For instance, at the nail shop I dont understand a word that they say until the speak to me.
From traveling to several countries in which English is not their language I had to adapt. If I moved there then I would learn the language asap.
ALL the houses are cute here, and most of them are on the market for some reason. Gainesville, GA is the center of the universe--c'mon up!
It may be the center of the universe but Mr. Tistheseason says it's too far from the airport for us to move there.
