Breaking News: reformed English now only official EU language!

[Heretic_Cata]

I vote for native + English + another one that is anything EXCEPT French which should be banned from schools.

 

[Rossiya]

I want to learn a bunch of languages so that means I must be racist? WTH gave him that idea?

no you said that arabic will become the official language of england or something in sixty years time.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

no you said that arabic will become the official language of england or something in sixty years time.

Perhaps it will, but That was a joke.

 

[Rossiya]

What was that other stereotype about the British... oh yeah, they can't take a joke!

well, there are many things people say about the canadanese.

Perhaps it will, but That was a joke.

no i totally agree with it. seriously.

 

[Rossiya]

double post

 

[Sidhe]

Look, we really need a different thread if we want to discuss this.

Briefly:

Subjunctive: Verb tense used for hypothetical scenarios. If I were (not was) a woman, I would have eighty-three children.

Predicate nominative: Used instead of an object after the verb "to be." Example: Bob is I (not me).

I tends to drift away from perfect grammar on purpose, so sue me, and when it's accidental as long as know that people understanded I have no reason to care.

 

[classical_hero]

One language should suffice: Latin!

You're not Catholic are you?

 

[kryszcztov]

In France, in my school years, IIRC it was like that : either you learn English as your 1st or your 2nd language. In the former case, you then learn German (what I did) or Spanish ; in the latter case, it's because you learn German first. You can also learn Latin and/or Greek besides your 2nd language. Upon entering the lycée (15 years old), you can choose a 3rd (alive) language, such as Italian, or oddities like Dutch, Arabian, etc... dunno really. That's what it was for normal kids (French kids whose only native language is French) who went to normal schools (not European schools and stuff). Today, besides French, I speak English almost fluently (going on an English-speaking forum or Internet sites on a daily basis isn't as good as staying in an English-speaking country for a while). And I lost almost all my German, despite trying to learn it for 5 or 6 years (never reached a good level, didn't like it at the time). Today I'd like to learn the basis in many languages by myself, but the task is big, and I'm a bit lazy.

I think only two languages should be mandatory in the EU today : the country's official language (sometimes 2), and English (same in UK and Ireland). Learning more should be encouraged in some way, but not forced. There's no need to. Better mastering one language than being just fair at two. And every document inside the EU institutions should stop being translated, what a waste !!

In the end, all Europeans should be able to communicate in English with each other as fluently as possible. I am sure this would be hugely unpopular in some countries (yes, I am talking about France )

You must be talking about Chirac. Even though the French are lazy learning other languages, everyone here is forced to learn English. If you don't have a fair level in English today, you're just good to be a worker at the factory. Almost all engineer high schools don't deliver the degree if you don't have a good level.

I know someone whose main subjects were Italian, English, French, Spanish and German!

Probably a football geek !!!

Subjunctive: Verb tense used for hypothetical scenarios. If I were (not was) a woman, I would have eighty-three children.

We learn that at school. Not known as "subjunctive" though (in my years).

Predicate nominative: Used instead of an object after the verb "to be." Example: Bob is I (not me).

Didn't know that. Sometimes I'm clueless as to use "I" or "me".

 

[Leifmk]

You're not Catholic are you?

No, I'm an amateur classicist.

 

[Panda]

How many languages should a union like the EU have?

All languages spoken in the member states, of course.

If they can't afford to pay the translation and interpretation fees, call it quits and dissolve the whole damn thing.