ANTHONY BROWNE: Waste your life, learn to speak a foreign language

The Times ^ | December 23, 2002 | Anthony Browne

[white trash redneck]

It always drives my Spanish-speaking wife nuts when I tell her that if something is important enough to be said, it will be said in English.

;-)

[Republic of Texas]

That's enough for me!

[Cleburne]

Y'all speak English? How come we caint make hide nor hair of it half the time? And I know them Scots aint speakin no English,leastwise not from this century.

[Republic of Texas]

I don't know about the spelling, but try amborgesa con queso. Pappas? Se pappas con bebito media. That's if you want the combo with fries and a drink.

[kitkat]

A guidance counselor at our local university once told me that he spent eight years learning French. A few years later, he and a friend were traveling in Quebec and stopped to help a French-speaking motorist whose car had broken down.

Using his best French, the counselor explained that he and his friend would telephone for help for the motorist. The Frenchman could not understand him. He tried again and again to explain. NADA!

Finally, his buddy took over the conversation, and in perfect simulation of using a phone, pointing to the distressed car, and smiling at the Frenchman, the buddy solved the language barrier.

(The counselor did say that at least he could order from a French menu and impress women with what appeared to be his vast command of a foreign language.)

[crystalk]

Spanish is by far the only foreign language for Americans to learn. It is basically Latin, as it developed over 2000 years, but is simpler, easier to spell and pronounce...and like English has become a "good language to speak badly."

With French and German, there is no level of proficiency that any Anglophone is likely to attain, that will result in anything more than being laughed at and thought pathetic, and having the nearest English speaker called over.

With Spanish, it is useful right here at home, has all the educational advantages of Latin as far as etymology etc...and yet opens a whole new world south of the border, where it often IS really needed...now if they would just make Portuguese more similar to it, so that really it might do even in Brazil...

Oh BTW it seemed to be surprisingly useful even in ITALY! What was I saying about it being basically just Latin?

[End Times Sentinel]

I suffered through six years of Spanish and the only thing I know how to say is "I wish to drink all your beer and make love to your sister". 

I have to say that experience has taught me you're probably better off NOT knowing how to say that.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

I learned more English in Latin classes than in all my English classes combined. For some reason, though, I've never had a chance to use my Latin.

Semper ubi sub ubi!

[Jimmy Valentine]

I love this article!! There is the British lion still.

"We have no fear of the Hottentot, for we've the Maxim gun, and they do not"

Teasing the good old froggy's is such fun.

Regards, and have a great holiday. Hope you get what you want on Boxing Day.

[epluribus_2]

All this is going to sound so silly some day when we hear reports that the FBI and CIA are stretched too thin to be effective in stemming the tide of xyz with the lack of qualified translators/interrogators/analysts with command of the spanish/portuguese/indonesian/malay/chinese/pilipino/etc/fillinyournextterroristbastion languages.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I spent three hours a week for six years learning French, but it has proved a total waste of time.

What an astute observation. I no longer encourage students/adults to learn foreign language as it is truly a waste of time. Mostly, it wastes my time as I have to work too hard to teach them when they don't want to learn.

I would say something about the uselessness of French AND German in the U.S. as we are demographically overrun with Spanish-speaking individuals who have little or no interest in learning English, but I'd get flamed.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

...will not learn English.

Shhhhhh...don't tell anybody what's happening. It will make them angry.

[Desdemona]

So, let's abolish French on the curriculum and put back in Latin and perhaps Ancient Greek.

Finally, something on this thread I agree with. Although, I do like Italian and Spanish. French, OTOH, is a pain.

[KarlInOhio]

Also, studies have shown that American students who learn Latin have higher SAT scores.

That type of effect and cause logic would make any liberal happy. :-).

Through watching foreign films and carefully reading the subtitles, I am making progress on understanding the native language of another country. I'm just confused about why they call their language English. It barely sounds like the language I speak. Fortunately, I am able to decipher some of the words when spoken slowly and clearly.

After three years of high school German, I still remember more German from Hogan's Heros reruns than from school.

[mc5cents]

and Spanish helps you on holiday in Cuba.

or Miami.

[dennisw]

Major props to you! Learning Chinese (Cantonese) is much harder than any European language. Learning a foreign language stretches your thinking capacity the same way learning the violin or piano is supposed to make your math ability better. The above is speculative however many swear by it.

[MadIvan]

*cough*...ahem. And Irish! ;-)

For me, yes, mo mhile gra. But not for everyone. ;)

Love, Ivan

[Doug Loss]

All the French an American needs to know (modify the first phrase for other Anglophone nationalities):

Je suis American--I am an American.

Je pa parle Francais--I don't speak French (Yes, I know it's ungrammatical, but my French-Canadian brother-in-law assures me that it's understandable).

Parlez vous Anglais, le langue du monde?--Do you speak English, the world language? (They're not going to like you anyway, so let's rub it in!)