[Grovenet] ear mark this!

[Walt Wentz]

Eh? You can't find anyone at WCHA who speaks English? that's rather 
hard to believe... unless they've outsourced all the jobs there to 
Bangladesh.

>You're going in circles. An offical single language can not be compared to
>"official" bilingualism and its trying to satisfy everybody, and thereby
>satisfying
>nobody. Unilingualism is not intended to satisfy everybody as obvious that
>you would not be satisfied by it.
>When was the last time you were donw to some county offices? I've found it
>hard to find someone who speaks English at all at the WCHA.
>Then there is the issue of Portland having a Klingonese translator. Where
>does it end?
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>Behalf Of Walt Wentz
>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 8:10 PM
>To: Forest Grove local interests list
>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>
>
>I was just following the lead of your last note. Any government
>dictation of languages is likely to backfire, while a pragmatic
>approach, left up to the self-interest of individuals and
>availability of education, will result in a natural accommodation to
>the prevailing culture. Look at Quebec as an example of the
>government trying to satisfy everybody, and thereby satisfying
>nobody, by declaring "official" bilingualism.  This only creates more
>insularity and resentment between French and English-speaking
>segments of the population. In Southwestern agricultural districts
>where the population is one-third or more native Spanish speakers,
>what sense would it make to decree that all "official" documents
>could only be printed in English?  Wouldn't it make considerably more
>sense for the local government to have some bilingual employees,
>provide some translated documents when necessary, and meantime make
>sure the local schools were teaching ESL? People are not stupid. They
>know they can't hope to prosper in the dominant culture without
>speaking the language.
>
>>Walt,
>>
>>I don't understand why you pose this as an "either-or"  situation. Why
>does
>>adopting an official language preclude the instruction of second
>languages?
>>
>>Steve
>>
>>
>>
>>>America is woefully behind
>>>   the rest of the world in multiple language instruction. Instead of
>>>   huddling behind a pitiful "official" English-only wall, we'd better
>>>   start teaching our grade-schoolers a second language of Spanish,
>>>   Russian, Chinese or Japanese
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Steven" <NoSpam03 at comcast.net>
>>To: "Forest Grove local interests list" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
>>Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:03 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>>
>>
>>>   the babble we currently have is a roadblock to bringing our population
>>>   together. Heck, pick Chinese. But lets have one.
>>>
>>>   -----Original Message-----
>>>   From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com]On
>>>   Behalf Of Walt Wentz
>>>   Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 6:32 PM
>>>   To: Forest Grove local interests list
>>>   Subject: Re: [Grovenet] ear mark this!
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
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