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From: hinsenk@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA (Hinsen Konrad)
Subject: Re: Languages in the EC
In-Reply-To: philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk's message of Tue, 7 Feb 1995 18:13:52 +0000
Message-ID: <HINSENK.95Feb8190724@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA>
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References: <3fdf8r$gqe@nic.lth.se> <3feev2$4df@news.INbe.net>
	<HINSENK.95Feb6120858@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA>
	<792180832snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 00:07:24 GMT
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In article <792180832snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk (Phil Hunt) writes:

   If there was a referendum, there would have to be a big debate about it
   first. I think most voters would take some time to consider the issues
   carefully. Many would not, but expect their votes would cancel each other
   out.

*Most* would not.

   I don't think voters are children who need to be told what to do. They
   are adults and they can make their own decisions. And that includes the
   ability to make their own mistakes. Europe belongs to the people not
   the politicians.

I don't care if someone makes a mistake that concerns only himself.
But I do object to someone making avoidable mistakes that do harm
to a larger group of people. You can't avoid mistakes completely,
but at least do your best.

   > After some time, maybe. Initially many people would probably consider
   > this a violation of the "cultural diversity" policy.

   I don't see why. I wouldn't regard myself as any less English if I could
   speak other languages.

But if you were *forced* to learn another language? While watching your
neighbours enjoy their life without having to do so, and still being
able to claim a linguistic superiority?

   For now, yes, because I have no need to speak it better. If I went to
   live in France I would obviously want to learn it better.

Suppose tomorrow someone offers you the job of your dreams, but in
France. Wouldn't you regret not speaking French better?

   IMO French is an easy language for English-speaking people to learn, so
   yes.

Isn't that a slightly egocentric point of view?

   IMO the two are closely related. It is easier to understand a language
   than to produce it. So if a language was made easy to understand, then
   (for example) people could read newspaper articles in it, or watch TV
   programs in it fairly quickly. Since the people would be doing these
   things anyway (but in their own language), it is fairly effortless to
   learn the new language.

Not at all. You can become fluent in understanding a language without
being able to speak it. I know, because I do. I can read almost
every modern text in French, from newspaper articles to novels
and instruction sheets. However, my everyday communication
capabilities are still weak, and I would have no chance at all
in a discussion about non-trivial topics.
Similarly, I can read Italian, Spanish and Russian reasonably well, but
speak these languages only at tourist survival level.

--
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