A Message to U.S.A.

lol! we might as well dump all of our money into foreign nations too!  Wouldn't that be a great addition!

(oh wait.... we already are... hmm gotta think of something else...)

I was talking about it in terms of an economic context... but I suppose I didn't make that obvious enough :( 

(Doh)

I think you people are taking too seriously what this moron is impliyng,Americans don't actually need to learn another language since the English is the Universal language on planet Earth,this guy is just plain arrogant.Oh and most people  who speak spanish need to speak English in order to have a better future.I really can't believe how arrogant some puertorricans are

I too, would like to see evidence that americans do not speak foreign languages. Sure, maybe not as much as other countries but learn "your stuff" before you say it. As I know, to years of learning a foreign language are required to graduate most if not all high schools in America, and at least three to attend many colleges/universities. I personally speak 3 languages fluently and am learning a fourth.

oh and just so you know this Joe,Puerto Rico is not even a country

χαρετε!

Just to reiterate a few now hoary comments:

The vast majority of US folks don't live where more than one language is spoken (consult a map as needed). The second language (if it's not English) isn't learned from childhood. Learning a second language for a person living in the US is almost entirely an academic exercise, and takes some real determination to pursue in the necessary long run, and in the same context is very difficult to keep honed.

The vast majority of US residents (whose first language is English) have no need to learn another one. Virtually all business where they live will be transacted in English, their prosperity will not be enhanced with fluency in another language, and as there is an imposing mountain of culture ranging from pop to classical created in or translated into English, there is no pressing need to learn another language to have access to the creme of the world's culture.

I spoke Spanish with some fluency 20 years ago, mainly coming from having lived in Central America for a year. Now my Spanish sucks since I've moved back and not made the serious effort it would have taken to maintain my old facility. Some laziness, some disinterest, but most of all: No Need.

So that's it. We don't speak more than English because there's no need and there's virtually no non-academic place in which for it to grow, as a European would pick up and have the chance to use English "all the time".

I really admire the linguists though, and I'd expect to hear better English on the streets of Amsterdam than NYC. Certainly better than many streets here in beertopia.

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