Languages learned (was: on or about)

From: Stewart Gordon (smjg_1998_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 01/28/05 

Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:25:44 +0000

Evan Kirshenbaum wrote:
<snip>
> I'd guess that the vast majority of Americans children learn

I guess that's one of those constructions like the once debated "women
poets"?

> 1) The language their parents speak
> 2) All official or primary languages of their country
> 3) All official or primary languages of their political subdivision
> of the country
> 4) The main language of their city or region
> 5) The main language of nearby cities and regions

I suppose it's much the same in the UK up to point 5.

> 6) At least one official language of all countries within 500 miles
> of them.

I don't *think* France, Netherlands and Germany have an official
language in common with each other.

My school taught only English and French at the time. French and German
seem to be the most commonly taught foreign languages in British
schools. But I'm not sure how many people do turn out fluent speakers

> 7) The current global and regional lingua francas for diplomacy,
> news, technology, business, and academics.
<snip>

Hmm....

FTM, did Latin fall into one of those categories as recently as the 1950s?

Stewart. 

-- 
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