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From: kanze@lts.sel.alcatel.de (James Kanze US/ESC 60/3/141 #40763)
Subject: Re: Why is France systematically excluded?
In-Reply-To: georgeh@www.comet.chv.va.us's message of Sun, 25 Aug 1996 00:42:59 GMT
Message-ID: <KANZE.96Aug27174533@slsvhrt.lts.sel.alcatel.de>
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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>
	<8187cc$132a3b.1f2@news.comet.net>
Date: 27 Aug 1996 15:45:33 GMT

In article <8187cc$132a3b.1f2@news.comet.net>
georgeh@www.comet.chv.va.us (George F. Hardy) writes:

|> 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.

No official language?  In what language is the constitution written?  In
what language are your laws written?  What language can I use when
pleading in a court case?  What language will my children be required to
use in school?

|> 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).

Who weren't a minority, since they were also British.  What about the
Pennsyvania Dutch?  I believe that they did compose the major
non-English speaking community before the Revolution.  (Which doesn't
mean that I believe the bit about German almost becoming the official
language.)

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

This is true for the second wave of them (which probably significantly
outnumbered the first), but the Pennsylvania Dutch were definitly
present before the Revolution.
-- 
James Kanze         Tel.: (+33) 88 14 49 00        email: kanze@gabi-soft.fr
GABI Software, Sarl., 8 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
Conseils, tudes et ralisations en logiciel orient objet --
                -- A la recherche d'une activit dans une region francophone

