Newsgroups: de.etc.sprache.deutsch,nl.taal,sci.lang,soc.culture.french,soc.culture.german,soc.culture.belgium,soc.culture.netherlands,soc.culture.swiss,so
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!bb3.andrew.cmu.edu!newsfeed.pitt.edu!newsflash.concordia.ca!sunqbc.risq.net!rcogate.rco.qc.ca!n2ott.istar!ott.istar!istar.net!van.istar!west.istar!n1van.istar!van-bc!news.mindlink.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!jussieu.fr!rain.fr!news.sprintlink.net!news-dc-9.sprintlink.net!news.comet.net!not-for-mail
From: georgeh@www.comet.chv.va.us (George F. Hardy)
Subject: Re: Why is France systematically excluded?
Message-ID: <8187cc$132a3b.1f2@news.comet.net>
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 00:42:59 GMT
References: <3210EE7F.2B3F@innet.be> <4usomu$cdr@nuntius.u-net.net> <danpop.840109493@news.cern.ch> <4uvbp3$5cf@nuntius.u-net.net> <danpop.840199887@news. <sourisDwnwtw.CGI@netcom.com>
Organization: self
X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.90.4
Lines: 25

In article <sourisDwnwtw.CGI@netcom.com>, souris@netcom.com (Henry Hillbrath) says:
>
>murray@macpro.ca (Murray Kastner) writes:
>
>[snip]
>
>>Some may not be aware of it but we in North America came very close to
>>German as the lingua franca.
>
>There is a very often repeated myth that German was rejected at the 
>"official language" of the U. S. by a single vote. But, it is a myth, 
>and has been much discussed (beaten to death) in the urban legend group.

Sure, first, there is no "official" language in the USA.  There
is much discussion whether there should be one -- and a few 'not
politically correct' idiots even suggest it should be English.

Second, the major German immigration came after the establishment 
of the USA.  The major "minority" at the time of the Revolution
was Scotch-Irish (known today as Northern Irish Protestants).

Germans came in the 19th century, except for a few Hessians who
didn't go home after the Revolution.

GFH

