Barack Obama has offended some with his recent comments this week in front of a Georgia audience on the topic of language. In putting down those who advocate English as the ONE language of the US, Obama used the occasion to point out that we Americans (him included?) are unable to go to another country and speak other languages. He said it was embarrassing that Europeans can come to the US and use different languages while Americans who go to Europe can't say more than "merci beaucoup". He went on to add that American schoolkids should all be learning Spanish.
Why? because the US is being overrun with Spanish-speaking illegal aliens? Is it more important that we learn Spanish than they learn English? Is it more important that we learn Spanish than legal immigrants-of all languages-learn English?
To be fair, Obama added that he supports the idea of immigrants learning English, but that was hardly the theme of his words; he said it only in passing.
Also to be fair, Americans, by and large, are deficient in foreign languages as compared to other nationalities, especially Europeans. There are reasons for that, however, and it has nothing to do with our genes. Put an American in an environment where more than one language is prevalent, and they will be bi-lingual. For example, if you go to the Southwestern border, you will find plenty of Anglos who speak Spanish. You will also find many bi-lingual Americans who are products of a bi-national, bi-lingual family. My own children are an example (my wife is Mexican.)
The two main reasons why Americans tend not be be bi-lingual or multi-lingual is that:
First- The United States is geographically isolated by two large oceans. Europe, on the other hand, is composed of dozens of small countries, mostly with their own languages, English, German and French being the most dominant. As a result, most Europeans with any degree of education have learned the other major languages-or at least one or two. The Dutch, whose language is basically limited within their borders (plus Flemish, a related language in Belgium), are forced to learn other languages. Ditto the Scandinavians.
Second: The English language, thanks to the history of international importance of the British and Americans, has achieved a dominance in international relations. Presently, the whole younger generation of the world is rushing to learn English. I know- I teach English to college age foreign students. They are unanimous on the importance of English to their careers.
Please don't get the impression that I am down on other languages. I have lived in three other countries, Thailand, Germany and Italy for a total of 11 years. I speak those languages. I also speak Spanish, as well as a few others. Learning other languages has been a life-long passion. I certainly support increased language learning on the part of Americans and would support higher language requirements in our schools. Where I draw the line is stating that Americans need to learn a particular language due to increased immigration into our country. What is more important is that we insist that our immigrants learn English-not for our sake-but for theirs. To send them any other message is doing them a disservice.
Obama, notwithstanding his own international background, I think has missed an important point on a very important topic in our society.
I'm pretty much in full agreement with you here, but I just wanted to mention something funny that shows the extreme of the "learn English" camp (which I consider myself to be a part of).
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine had a daughter who was watching a cartoon. I believe it was Dora the Explorer, but whatever - the point is that part of the show teaches the kids Spanish words. My friend's friend said that he thought that it was bad that he would let his daughter see that, because she should be learning "English only".
We joked that my friend would come home one day and tell his daughter to clean her room, to which she would reply, "No comprende!"
How silly. Some people just can't comprehend a nuanced point.
That's pretty nuanced.
ReplyDeleteA really interesting read, thanks. I too am a but of a linguist enthusiast and also lived in Thailand! I have to agree with you - Obama has really missed the point on this one. I praise his efforts for giving people reasons to learn a foreign language, but his context was all wrong. In the example he cites, it should be immigrants who are forced to learn English - it's insane to suggest anything different. Especially to the masses. But that doesn't subtract for the scores of benefits that studying a foreign language can bring, from better understanding of your own culture to better career opportunities.
ReplyDeleteTo UK student,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct. There is an old Armenian proverb which says, "if you know ten languages, you are ten men."
We who speak English as our mother tongue are lucky due to its position in the world. In the US, it is not necessary for us to know other languages in our daily lives. For our immigrants, it is vital that they know English. My mother-in-law was a Mexican immigrant who never learned one word of English since she was a stay-at-home housewife and mother. Everyone in her life spoke Spanish. But it was sad that she never expanded her circle by learning English.
I am blessed to have lived overseas and learned other languages. Each country I have lived in remains a part of me.(I just returned from my latest trip to Germany.)
My point in writing the post was that there should be no pressure on Americans to learn Spanish simply because of the wave of (largely illegal) Spanish-speaking immigrants who, in most cases, don't speak English. I am not sure Obama fully understands this.