[quote]orangecola wrote:
Does that make him intellectually superior?[/quote]
Probably. I should note that I only speak one language myself…
[quote]orangecola wrote:
2. The other issue I have is when Europeans criticize Americans for not learning other languages (or as you state being a tight ass).
The reality is that European countries are faced with an entirely different geographical situation than Americans. You are not superior to us because you can speak more languages no more than a mechanic is superior to me because he understands my car better than I do. [/quote]
Look at it this way; The more languages you speak, the more open you’ll be to other cultures. Doesn’t make you superior, but it expands your mind and makes you view things from different view points.
Plus, you increase the chances of hooking up with chicks…
[quote]lixy wrote:
orangecola wrote:
2. The other issue I have is when Europeans criticize Americans for not learning other languages (or as you state being a tight ass).
The reality is that European countries are faced with an entirely different geographical situation than Americans. You are not superior to us because you can speak more languages no more than a mechanic is superior to me because he understands my car better than I do.
Look at it this way; The more languages you speak, the more open you’ll be to other cultures. Doesn’t make you superior, but it expands your mind and makes you view things from different view points.
Plus, you increase the chances of hooking up with chicks…[/quote]
That is a completely flawed assumption.
-
Knowing languages doesen’t automatically make you know the culture behind the language… in ANY way… Even making that statement makes you look dumb as batshit. Ok? Try to write things that atleast make remotely sense… please.
-
You don’t seem to understand how markets and prices work. I would recommend you to look at the period when sweden had a very active rent-control to assure low prices for people with low incomes… how was the housing situation then?
Check this up, and then read about how the market worked around the problems arising when the rent-control stopped. It will be a learning experience for you… 
[quote]lixy wrote:
Plus, you increase the chances of hooking up with chicks…[/quote]
That’s all the persuading I needed.
Furoba wa doko desu ka?
[quote]Adamsson wrote:
That is a completely flawed assumption.
- Knowing languages doesen’t automatically make you know the culture behind the language… in ANY way… Even making that statement makes you look dumb as batshit. Ok? Try to write things that atleast make remotely sense… please.[/quote]
Chill, buddy. All I said was that learning the language made you more open to learning the culture. Doesn’t imply an “automatic” connection, but you can’t deny that it predisposes you to go and dig.
[quote]2) You don’t seem to understand how markets and prices work. I would recommend you to look at the period when sweden had a very active rent-control to assure low prices for people with low incomes… how was the housing situation then?
Check this up, and then read about how the market worked around the problems arising when the rent-control stopped. It will be a learning experience for you… :)[/quote]
I’m confused. What’s economics gotta do with what we’re discussing here?
[quote]lixy wrote:
Adamsson wrote:
That is a completely flawed assumption.
- Knowing languages doesen’t automatically make you know the culture behind the language… in ANY way… Even making that statement makes you look dumb as batshit. Ok? Try to write things that atleast make remotely sense… please.
Chill, buddy. All I said was that learning the language made you more open to learning the culture. Doesn’t imply an “automatic” connection, but you can’t deny that it predisposes you to go and dig.
- You don’t seem to understand how markets and prices work. I would recommend you to look at the period when sweden had a very active rent-control to assure low prices for people with low incomes… how was the housing situation then?
Check this up, and then read about how the market worked around the problems arising when the rent-control stopped. It will be a learning experience for you…
I’m confused. What’s economics gotta do with what we’re discussing here?[/quote]
“All I said was that learning the language made you more open to learning the culture.”
Which is wrong. Simple and easy…
And I didn’t bring the “market forces” witty remark into the discussion, I just acted on it…
[quote]Adamsson wrote:
lixy wrote:
“All I said was that learning the language made you more open to learning the culture.”
Which is wrong. Simple and easy… [/quote]
Simple and easy? That’s your argument.
Cultural linguistics? Sociolinguistics? Linguistic anthropology?
You do realize the French have a handful of words for wine, the Arabs a dozen words for the desert, Inuits more than 30 words for snow and Americans, well, a lot of words to refer to money.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying knowing a language necessarily implies knowing the culture, but it sure makes it a more natural process.
???
Now you totally lost me. Where on Earth did I say ANYTHING about ANY “market forces”.
On a side note, you seem to confuse wit with something else; A head’s up:
Witty \Wit"ty, a. [Compar. {Wittier}; superl. {Wittiest}.] [AS. witig, wittig. See {Wit}, n.]
[1913 Webster]
-
Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; skillful; judicious; clever; cunning. [Obs.] “The deep-revolving witty Buckingham.” --Shak.
[1913 Webster] -
Especially, possessing wit or humor; good at repartee; droll; facetious; sometimes, sarcastic; as, a witty remark, poem, and the like. “Honeycomb, who was so unmercifully witty upon the women.” --Addison. [1913 Webster]
If you’re using it in the “sarcastic” sense, bear in mind that such usage is outdated.
No offense meant towards your otherwise, very good English.
[quote]lixy wrote:
Adamsson wrote:
lixy wrote:
“All I said was that learning the language made you more open to learning the culture.”
Which is wrong. Simple and easy…
Simple and easy? That’s your argument.
Cultural linguistics? Sociolinguistics? Linguistic anthropology?
You do realize the French have a handful of words for wine, the Arabs a dozen words for the desert, Inuits more than 30 words for snow and Americans, well, a lot of words to refer to money.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying knowing a language necessarily implies knowing the culture, but it sure makes it a more natural process.
And I didn’t bring the “market forces” witty remark into the discussion, I just acted on it…
???
Now you totally lost me. Where on Earth did I say ANYTHING about ANY “market forces”.
On a side note, you seem to confuse wit with something else; A head’s up:
Witty \Wit"ty, a. [Compar. {Wittier}; superl. {Wittiest}.] [AS. witig, wittig. See {Wit}, n.]
[1913 Webster]
-
Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; skillful; judicious; clever; cunning. [Obs.] “The deep-revolving witty Buckingham.” --Shak.
[1913 Webster] -
Especially, possessing wit or humor; good at repartee; droll; facetious; sometimes, sarcastic; as, a witty remark, poem, and the like. “Honeycomb, who was so unmercifully witty upon the women.” --Addison. [1913 Webster]
If you’re using it in the “sarcastic” sense, bear in mind that such usage is outdated.
No offense meant towards your otherwise, very good English.[/quote]
There is no automatic or propotional correlation between knowing a language and knowing the culture where the language is used. The fact that SOME people like to discover both culture and language, doesen’t make it a rule. Lots of norwegian and swedish elderly people learn basic spanish beacause they want to buy beer more effective on their “syden ferie”, but most of them know jack shit about spanish culture…
when it comes to “witty remarks”:
I don’t think that my use is outdated or doesen’t fit the context, but thanks for the heads up!
[quote]Adamsson wrote:
There is no automatic or propotional correlation between knowing a language and knowing the culture where the language is used. The fact that SOME people like to discover both culture and language, doesen’t make it a rule. Lots of norwegian and swedish elderly people learn basic spanish beacause they want to buy beer more effective on their “syden ferie”, but most of them know jack shit about spanish culture…[/quote]
Absolutely. I don’t claim it’s an automatic correlation but from my own personal observations, it usually correlates with - at least - an interest in learning more about said culture.
[quote]when it comes to “witty remarks”:
I don’t think that my use is outdated or doesen’t fit the context, but thanks for the heads up![/quote]
From the tone of your posts and your apparent disagreement with whatever I say, I assumed compliments were the last thing you’d pay me. Now that we’re clear on what “wit” means, thank you.
You do know that in many countries, you have to press 2 for English?
It’s matter of quantity. There’s a lot of Spanish people in the US who speak very little English. We accommodate that. Like if you decide to take a flight from Germany to Greece, and they make announcements in German, Greek, and English (because it;s the common international language for the most part).
For me, it’s not the fact a lot of immigrants can’t speak English that bugs me. If I moved to Germany I could’nt speak German in a day…but I would try my best to learn German as fast as I could. It’s the immigrants (usually illegals) who don’t even try and learn the English language that bug me.
you are faced with outright capitalism rather than racism every day.
the hispanic population is an ever increasing market segment so businesses are starting to cater to them so they can tap in to their money too.
[quote]grrrsauce wrote:
For me, it’s not the fact a lot of immigrants can’t speak English that bugs me. If I moved to Germany I could’nt speak German in a day…but I would try my best to learn German as fast as I could. It’s the immigrants (usually illegals) who don’t even try and learn the English language that bug me. [/quote]
very few actually do not try to learn english.
90% of them come here to better theirs and their family’s lives. some people in mexico and central america literally live in shanties made from tin siding and even cardboard.
there is no industry, farming is typically nationalized and they do what they can to survive and to provide better lives for their children.
when they get here, they are undoubtedly overwhelmed, scared, lost and have no idea about what to do next.
most do try to learn english as it is necessary to further their lives.
how many hispanics have you met that didn’t speak english that you kept up with to see their progress in a few months/years? probably zero.
the “northern invasion” fuckers bother me, but i can’t blame most of them for what they do as i’m sure i’d do the same had i been born in their predicament.
[quote]Lorisco wrote:
Bro, get a grip! Almost 50% of the population in the US is Latin or comes from countries where Spanish is the major language. So it only makes political sense to make things easier for this population.
It’s not discrimination, it’s butt kissing! Entender?[/quote]
dear, douche:
the number is about 15%. the last census gave the number at 14.4%. but, i guess 50% is close enough for you.