Yep Yvonne, I'd say they're petrified. Not only by the prospect of appearing inept, but also by the strong chance that their presumed social underlings (local and overseas) would expose their pampered insularity and therefore their quite undeserved power and privileges.

They'll find any excuse to avoid language study and the scrutiny it compels. From my own experience, languages have been consistently one of the greatest levellers. All the expensive private schooling, posh accents, family status, rank, and other symbols of superiority crash and burn in a classroom of free discussion in a target LOTE.

Then, like their very selective rush into relativist territory, they scream “elitist” when pressured to change.

Consider the hilarious comparison: Downer vs Rudd. Which one couldn't cut it in language study, resorted to personal attacks against the other because the other mastered a LOTE, and yet (the real punch line for diplomatic circles) which one got to be foreign minister? oh, and which of the two featured in a butt-kissing ABC doco called “Dynasties”?

Oi, oi, oi...oy vey.

PS - I think Keith is an exception, though. I would not be surprised if he has at least one non-native language mastery under his belt. His struggle here seems more that of a political networker-cum-culture warrior, with serious payback in mind.

Some stats -

http://www.photius.com/rankings/languages2.html

There are also some who believe that, at the current rate of immigration and integration of Latinos, Spanish may eventually overtake English as the dominant language in the USA. It is certainly regarded as a second language in that country.

Then again, that may just be racial and cultural paranoia - a little like some of the posts above perhaps?

I have to agree with all, you're stating undeniable facts on both sides.

"there's a joke doing the rounds..."

Around where exactly.

Pretty narrow perspective that article. It reads like the self flagelation of an individual ridden with the imagined guilt of his first world, white breaded, english speaking self identity.

Maybe, english is the new Latin. Another 1000yrs of this new, english speaking, dark age thats apparently squashing us and maybe it'll go the way of Latin too.

As history clearly demonstrates, the useful and important stuff eventually gets translated. There's always the narrow mindedness born of fear that holds knowledge down or back. Thats not unique to the noise people make with their vocal chords. Eventually, it comes thru though. Its virtually impossible to hold back the constant expansion of human consciousness.

In any event, hard copy books are becoming redundant with the internet and with automatic language translation of its content, the article seems exaggerated.

Ignorance anyone?

Hi Yvonne,

'Do you realize that in that great list of yours there are very few English speaking authors?'

Yet all have been translated into English. That was the major point I was making.

The author of the article maintained English speakers ignore ideas from other language groups. The authors and works I cited above most definitely disprove all those grandiose assertions. He went on to say we were ignorant because of the use, of the commutative form, English. He then assumed English speakers ignored ideas from other language and cultural groups.

I've maintained western culture’s inclusiveness is it's greatest strength. It takes all the best ideas of cultures it encounters. You've shown both of us probably recognise that as a fact.

To expand a little further the medium of English is irrelevant. If the Western World had had the development of it's communications technologies, from the pen through the printing press, radio and now satellite and computer, concentrated in the hands of the Germans, French, Irish, or Japanese these ideas would have been translated into those languages and would still have been developed and carried into the future. Just as many of the ideas were passed to us in Hebrew, Greek, Roman, Old English and now modern English. I've stated in other places I believe many of these ideas passed to us from parts of the Arab Empire and originally they were probably in Arabic.
My point is that English is, as were the other languages, merely a custodian of these ideas. It is quite possible Chinese might become the custodian in future, but that would lead to a seismic change in Chinese culture.

The ideas are the foundation of our culture and the basis of all Western knowledge. It’s this sense I think the ideas 'are the veins through which the blood of our language and culture flows.'
eg. Mathematics. Contributions came from many language groups and the ideas are still applied in lecture halls today, and no longer just in Western universities. They are applied in all areas of our developing technologies

Mil, I have to agree with you. I was surprised at Keith's stance. I've known him to be a great reader previously. Generally those who enjoy reading are interested in the usage of language and therefore I would have thought also interested in other languages.

Arjay, there is ab-so-lu-te-ly NOTHING elitist whatsoever in knowing other languages. It is the one thing that has nothing to do with a person's status in society. The poorest educated person in India, or Africa speaks more than one language. The idea that only English is sufficient is arguably the elitist stance. ‘You make sure I can understand you, I can’t really be bothered with what the likes of you have to say’

Trade, you have the narrow perspective. Anybody who has conversed with MichaelK on this forum would know the severe limitations of automatic language translation. It is an aid at the very best.

All of you who so readily depend on others to translate for you forget that you hand over power to another. You leave it to others to determine what will be translated and how for you. And how what you have to say is translated to another.

Rache, yes Spanish is increasingly widely taught in American schools. Not least because it is spoken by many, but very much so because in America there is a big body of research that demonstrates that learning another language, any language, significantly increases children's educational achievements in maths and sciences and command of English..
Here's only one link for bibliography: http://www.doe.state.la.us/Lde/uploads/2599.pdf

So if for no other reason, children should be taught another language because it makes them smarter. It teaches problem solving and critical thinking skills and the bonus is that that comes without any hidden political agenda!

In this day of the world wide web, keeping up and improving foreign language skills is the easiest thing and cheap as chips. The web is chockers with information, newspapers, discussion threads and chat rooms on any subject in any language.

There is not one rational reason not to teach children another language.