Re: I don't know what this world is coming to.

From: Eliyahu Rooff (lrooff_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 06/21/04


Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:01:00 -0700


"RaeMorrill" <raemorrill@aol.com.com> wrote in message
news:20040621003443.05622.00000223@mb-m27.aol.com...
> > do you think WASP
> >culture needs some special protection? Are we going to remake
everyone who
> >comes here over in our image like the Borg on Star Trek? What a
boring
> >nation
>
> There are plenty who can barely communicate in our language after
years of
> being here, which is - well - just plain rude. When we go to other
countries
> we expect all to use English: most Americans cannot communicate
fluently in a
> second language. Argue that if you want, but I don't believe it holds
water.
>
Let's not forget that the ability to learn a new language varies from
one person to the next, and is often vastly diminished in adults. My
barber moved here from Korea over 30 years ago, loves this country and
does her best to speak English, but still has a limited vocabulary and
an atrocious accent. She's far from stupid, but lacks the ability to
learn another language and will probably never be a fluent speaker of
English.

eliyahu



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