ZHIRINOVSKY SUGGESTS ENGLISH AS SECOND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN RUSSIA, AND RUSSIAN IN USA

RIA Novosti ^ | AUGUST 21, 2002

[HAL9000]

ZHIRINOVSKY SUGGESTS THAT ENGLISH BE MADE SECOND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN RUSSIA, AND RUSSIAN IN THE USA

NEW YORK, AUGUST 21, 2002 /From RIA Novosti Correspondent Dmitry Klimentov/ -- LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky proposes that a visa-free regime be established between Russia and the United States and that English be made the second official language in the Russian Federation and Russian in the United States.

A RIA Novosti correspondent reports that Zhirinovsky, now in the USA on a private visit, had made this suggestion at a press-conference at the Russian Consulate General in New York.

In an earlier RIA Novosti interview the LDPR leader spoke of his intention to propose to US President George Bush that Russian be given the status of an official language in the USA.

Zhirinovsky used as examples Cyprus and Kirghizia. In the case of Cyprus, Russian citizens need no visa to visit the country, while in Kirghizia Russian is the second official language.

"All this is quite real, and it will be so," believes the LDPR leader.

[HAL9000]

Um, nyet.

[AmerRepb]

It might have had a nod of apporval with Klinton but isn't Texican the second offical language now?

[Cacique]

NO F*ING WAY!!!

I had enough problems learning English when I came to America. If I have to learn Russian I'll have to learn the Cyrillic alphabet as well.

Besides English is a better language, more expressive and accurate being as it is an amalgam of almost all European languages.

Also, why adapt Russian? Slovenian is easier to learn, is written in the western alphabet and is the oldest written slavic language. Indeed, some linguists suggest that Russian is a younger slavic language. Slovenian being closer to the west has more western words in it.

[danzaroni]

Just what I needed -- Another subject my kid can fail in.

[RightOnline]

"...and that English be made the second official language in the Russian Federation and Russian in the United States."

Well.............................he's half right. :)

[bok]

I'll be diplomatic and say why not? Spanish is already the de-facto second language of the united states. Actually the language EO the prez didn't rescind applies to hundreds of languages for gov docs and social services.

[marvlus]

Isn't Zhirinovsky the somewhat irrational Russian that likes to stir things up or am I thinking of somewhat else?

[Freebird Forever]

Spanish is already the de-facto second language of the United States.

Is is correct to expect our new immigrants & guest workers to study russian when they haven't mastered english yet?

[eno_]

Also some of the best literature on Earth. A better choice than Spanish.

[JimVT]

Chinese would be more appropriate!

[MarMema]

Russian is beautiful. I had two semesters of it and when I get time intend to study it again.

Btw, the kids in Russia we met were speaking great English by third grade. It was our understanding that English is taught there now as a second language.

It would do most Americans a great good to study seriously a second language such as Russian. Our educational system would benefit from other studies of the Russians - they have tremendous schools.

[MarMema]

Also some of the best literature on Earth

What are your preferences? I am reading Gogol now and a very old book about the Russian intelligentsia called Landmarks.