Posted on 09/26/2010 11:18:39 AM PDT by nuconvert
Georgia is replacing Russian with English as the country's second language, two years after a major war with Moscow.
Two years after the Russia-Georgia war, Tbilisi is aiming to replace Russian with English as the country's second language.
English classes have been introduced in public schools across the former Soviet state and the government hopes all children will speak the language by 2014.
Smart. Business is done in English. Americans will begin universal Spanish and English soon.
“Americans will begin universal Spanish and English soon.”
You may be too optimistic on English...
As for Georgia, they fear assimilation so this is smart move, but you can’t change geography. They are stuck near Russia and no one cares to do a damn about it.
Most (if not all) of the Baltic republics did this also, years ago. I quizzed a Lithuanian high school girl on Shakespeare once, and I was very impressed.
What is their ‘primary’ language there if not Russian? Did I misuderstand the article?
No wait. Wrong Georgia.
*nevermind*
The primary language in Georgia is Georgian—a language not even in the same language family as Russian. It’s classified as a Caucasian language but it isn’t known if it’s actually related to any of the other languages of the Caucasus area. It has its own alphabet with 33 letters, completely unlike the Roman, Greek, or Cyrillic alphabets.
Good move.The world’s English speaking countries won’t be invading Georgia *and* those countries,collectively,just happen to be the most prosperous as well.
I'm not a geography genius but,IIRC,Georgia is in Asia rather than Europe.assuming I'm correct it's a shame because membership in the EU could provide the Georgians some peace and quiet.
Look at the nice chunk of prime tourism land Russia took from them. Eventually Georgia will tire and choose a Russian puppet
And can the Georgians count on the support of any English speaking nations once Russia comes in from the north and from Russian occupied Abkhazia in the west?
Not from the hussein administration, that´s sure.
Fascinating. I had no idea that they had their own language and admit I’m completely unfamiliar with their history. Thank you for letting me know that; I will be doing a little research now.
Did she read it in 1600 English, modern English or Lithuanian? I heard one linguistics professor describing that other countries have an easier time with Shakespeare than we do because they translate the language to their modern version while we try to maintain the 400 year old English and fight the problems and confusion that causes.
Actually,I've done a bit of research since my last post and found two interesting facts...1)Georgia,historically,has been seen as something of a "crossroads" between Europe and Asia and has a long history of contact/association with Europe,,,and 2)Cyprus,which is part of Asia,is a member of the EU.IMO,the EU can very reasonably grant her membership.And EU membership (and money) is known to greatly benefit less well off countries financially (for proof,look first at Ireland).
To make yourself more confused, look at their national epic from the High Middle Ages: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Knight_in_the_Panther%27s_Skin
The main characters are an Arab and an Indian?
That’s a good question: I don’t know if she had read it in 1600’s English or the contemporary version. I remember that her level of knowledge was what I would call comprehensive.
Germany is TIRED of expanding, or paying for welfare for everyone else. They are stuck with some Balkan countries http://www.naic.edu/~pfreire/images/EU_MAP_2007.jpg since they are clearly in Europe, but the rest are screwed. Imagine German money going to improve infrastructure 5000km away, somewhere in Asia and word spreads that at least half of the money is being stolen. By 2018-2020 EU wants Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Montegro in and close the chapter for good. But by then their economies and infrastructure should improve enough that any EU membership will not be as valuable.
Don’t forget that Ireland and Greece are imploding due to cheap EU funds and over development. IIRC, each country must put a % of each road and infrastructure project. It’s great to have EU mostly pay for a 4 lane highway to a small town but maybe a 1.5 lane one with very debt is much better. And then there’s maintenance to EU standards.
Romania for example is near bankruptcy after 4 years of EU.
P.S. Cyprus should have never joined EU, they’re Middle eastern, by blood and habits and they are now causing EU so much trouble by freezing EU’s cooperation with Turkey and NATO.
Wonder if this Georgia will send Senators that are not as pro-illegal alien/anti-American as the two currently from the other Georgia....
Moldova is an economic basket case so it can't be attractive for EU membership--but most of the people speak Romanian and it was part of Romania until Stalin annexed it in 1940. So if Romania is in, why does it remain permanently out?
I read something a while back claiming that within Romania there is still a noticeable difference between the areas that were part of Austria-Hungary and those which were under Ottoman suzereignty.
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