Question for non-Americans (and non-British)
- Thread starter Narz
- Start date
HotDog Fish
Leftist Loyalist
In Canada (Bwhaha! you didn't exclude Canada!) about 93% Speak English to a certain extent (Newfangles's estimate is too high, I go to Quebec often and there are many people especially in northern Quebec who never bothered to learn English) also around 12.5% of Canadians can speak either Mandarin or Cantonese. And over 45% of Toronto (Canada's biggest and most obnoxious city! With a popluation rivaling that of some Provinces) where not born in Canada or who's parents where not born here
Janene
Chieftain
I agree that in Toronto, you will hear more different and varied languages than anywhere else in Ontario.
I do know some French, having taken it to grade 13 (formerly OAC before it was scrapped), but I am hardly fluent.
Perhaps taking this topic to another level -- how many people would like to learn another language, and, if they speak another tongue, do you feel that your native tongue is a dead and dying language due to the influx of English as the language of commerce in the world?
Some thoughts....
Janene
sabo
My Ancestors were Vikings
Wait one second there dude, the reason most Americans don't learn a second language is becuase it's not necessary, from your post it sounds like you live here, open your eyes and look around 99.99% of everyone living here speak English, why should anyone here learn a language they aren't going to use and no one will understand anyway, I think that's a bigoted and predudice remark against Americans, are you a bigot? At least you are one to spout out without knowing all the facts. Who is really closed minded here? I hear the pot calling the kettle black.
I'm so glad there are people like you who can speak for all of us.
By the way, I know English, French and a little German. Why do I know French and German you ask? Because it was "necessesary", I lived in Europe for a year and a half.
Hmmmm, well so here we are, two Americans that know 3 languages each. I guess that invalidates your stupid remark.
Ludovit
ill-minded
Slovakia:
English - 1%-5%
German - 5%-30%
Slovak - 98%
Czech - 97%
Hungarian - 10%
English - 1%-5%
German - 5%-30%
Slovak - 98%
Czech - 97%
Hungarian - 10%
jiml_63
Transportation Guru
Whoa Sabo, get a grip man. I am neither a bigot nor prejudiced and I believe your very attitude is the closed mindedness to which I was referring. You are saying that Americans shouldn't learn another language because it isn't necessary? Well maybe in white bread Minnesota that may be the case, but where I am at right now there are communites of Russians, Mexicans, Japanese and Chinese. When I lived in NJ, it was rare indeed that a day would go by where I wouldn't hear at least four different languages. It has nothing to do with what is necessary and more to do with expanding your mind.
philippe
FYI, I chase trains.
At least 60% maybe even more and its still growing
joespaniel
Unescorted Settler
I have to agree with Jim here.
Seems that some Americans carry the attitude that everyone else should speak English.
Ofcouse that could be applied to other countries as well (France
).
On a side note, I have an odd learning disability and cannot grasp other languages well at all. I failed both Latin and Spanish in school, and failed the theoretical language test for the special forces in the military.
I am stuck being monolingual.
Cool thread Narz.
Seems that some Americans carry the attitude that everyone else should speak English.
Ofcouse that could be applied to other countries as well (France
).On a side note, I have an odd learning disability and cannot grasp other languages well at all. I failed both Latin and Spanish in school, and failed the theoretical language test for the special forces in the military.
I am stuck being monolingual.
Cool thread Narz.
English being the business language in these parts; probably betw 60 to 80% in M'sia have some knowledge of it. However with the quality of public ed and mothertongue language fanatics nowadays, I think that figure is going downhill... 
In S'pore, it's more like 80 to 90%.
Other languages being spoken here are of course, the native languages like Malay, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, Tamil etc.
In S'pore, it's more like 80 to 90%.
Other languages being spoken here are of course, the native languages like Malay, Mandarin and other Chinese dialects, Tamil etc.
Panda
Metal head
I can understand that as far as it concerns the US of A. But going to a foreign country and expecting everyone to speak fluently 'American' (not English, but 'American')...
The worst case I ever heard of happened two years ago. A group of US consultants sent the Finnish parliament a list of name suggestions with which to replace our capital's current one. The reason: 'Helsinki' sounds too nasty to Americans...
And then people wonder why 'everyone hates Americans'...
The French want everyone to speak English?
bobgote
Trousers
At least 10% of people here can speak English at an acceptable level. Our language is much better anyway. Second is probably chinese of some description, but i can't be sure. There is a large asian community, i'm only assuming mostly chinese. Other than that, Greek/Italian i guess. What does annoy me tho is particularly asian immigrants who never bother to learn english. it should be standard to all. they shouldn't be allowed in without english.
Hamlet
Manic Depressive
In my particular part of Britian I think the stats are something like:
70% Geordie
20% English
10% Other.
You know when people say Chinese people who live in one part of China have trouble even understanding a person who may even live only a hundred miles away due to differing Chinese dialects?
Well that's what Geordie is like.
70% Geordie
20% English
10% Other.
You know when people say Chinese people who live in one part of China have trouble even understanding a person who may even live only a hundred miles away due to differing Chinese dialects?
Well that's what Geordie is like.
jpowers
Emperor
You've obviously never been to California.
Darkness
Shadow creature
In Holland:
English: about 85-90%
German: about 30-35%
French: about 5-10%
As for myself, I can get by in German and I know maybe 10 words in French, which is difficult on vacation in France because Not speaking another language but French is sort of a religion in France....
English: about 85-90%
German: about 30-35%
French: about 5-10%
As for myself, I can get by in German and I know maybe 10 words in French, which is difficult on vacation in France because Not speaking another language but French is sort of a religion in France....
funxus
Orange Cycloptic Blob
Was it the english name for Helsinki that was to be changed or the finnish one? In Sweden we have our own names of a few finnish cities, Helsinki is called Helsingfors, and Turku is called Åbo. I wonder why?
Not long ago, a few months or so, there was a discussion in Sweden about not letting immigrants become citizens before they learnt our language. One of the parties in our parliament had a suggestion about a test in Swedish for all immigrants. I thought it was a good idea, since it's hard to integrate people who don't understand each other, but some people thought they were being racist, others thought they were just trying to gain a few votes in the upcoming election.
Panda
Metal head
They reasoned (if that word can be used) that it sounded like a combination of 'hellh and 'sink'.
Yeah, indeed, I wonder why as well.
Zcylen
Moonlight Rambler
Mexico
well, since my city is very close the border and the 2nd in size just after the capitol, the % is should be pretty high, I really dont know exacly but I'd say more than a 30 or 40%
well, since my city is very close the border and the 2nd in size just after the capitol, the % is should be pretty high, I really dont know exacly but I'd say more than a 30 or 40%
Switch625
I don't care.
Originally posted by Panda
The worst case I ever heard of happened two years ago. A group of US consultants sent the Finnish parliament a list of name suggestions with which to replace our capital's current one. The reason: 'Helsinki' sounds too nasty to Americans...
That's the problem in a nutshell: they were CONSULTANTS. Consultants have the attitude that all must listen to them simply because they ARE consultants. Instant arrogance: just add title.
sabo
My Ancestors were Vikings
sorry Jiml_63, it's just I hear alot of "american bashing" out here and I know it's just done because they "follow the crowd" and it's the "in thing to do" and it's "chic" and it pisses me off, can they all say MOO (follow the herd)
I reacted that way becuase you said QOUTE : I imagine not much has changed....except for the closed-mindedness of Americans to learn a 2nd language....
what do you mean when you say closed mindedness? that's the part that sounded like an attack to me. Also I did not say americans shouldn't learn a second language, Most do in highschool as you probably know, I said it is not really necessary for american's to learn a different language, this is not Europe where you can go 5 KM in one direction and it's possible for everyone to be speaking a different language than you. So even if Americans learn a 2nd languag they will lose it because the don't use it.
ps. this is not white bread minnesota anymore. At least not the twin cities area. But you are partially right, 25 years ago you only saw whites and an occasional black here. Now I see Somalian's, Mexican, Asian, puero rican, Arabian (remember the 5th highjacker that was supposed to be on the flight that crashed in PA?) He wasn't participating in that highjack because he was here in jail, he was living here. And the list goes on and on...
please understand I've been a little touchy since 9/11/01
panda I agree that was a stupid thing that american said (there are stupid people all over) so why would everyone hate all americans because of one persons stupid statement? I agree with you, you hate me?
Narz
keeping it real
Funny you say that, I've moving out to California in less than two weeks!
By the way, when I used the 95% figure I meant 95% overall in the United States, in New York city for example (especially the outer boroughs) I suspect the percentage of people who speak fluent English is below 95% as well, most people below 40 though usually know more than enough to get by.
- Narz
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