Why does America change country names?

[zapper]

wrong wrong and err...wrong..

there is no law that says there should only be one official language per country. Gaelic had been spoken in the celtic lands since before the domination of the English language....dont you believe in keeping a traditional language alive?

Should the French give up Breton and the English give up Cornish?

No, i am a believer in tradition and i support the minority who still wish to speak in the traditional tongue.

I am not fred and I didn't mention laws...I'm talking logic here...For example...I'm in a hurry and I want to extract money from my account on my way to some event...I drive up to the ATM and before I put in pin number I have to select if I want the menu to appear in "English" or "Spanish"...What a crock. This didn't happen to me but I know of an elderly woman who select "spanish by mistake" and it took her 20 minutes to get her freakin card back out of the machine cause she couldn't read freakin spanish...So, I say again...ONE lanuguage is not only logical it is also economical...No need print tax code and other official information in more than one language...So tell me how have the Gaelicians gotten on so far? Seems they survived so why change now?

 

[MountainPro]

So tell me how have the Gaelicians gotten on so far?

? the who ?

you mean the Gaels.

if you only have one language on the cash machines but live in a multicultural environment, how does that work?

what if someone prefers to transact his/her business in Spanish and the only option is for Italian?

Surely that is more inconvientent for them having to deal in a language they do not understand that it is for you to select a language from a menu that takes only a second to decide.

What is you are on holiday in Spain and all the cash machines were in Spanish, every citizen spoke to you in spanish and no one even offered to converse in English (as most Spaniards can). You would be shouting blue murder at them. And the same would be in Japan or whereever...

No, we live in a 'global village' these days, its time to accept that and move on instead of the old ways of 'learn my language or get out' mentality.

 

[dmskin]

? the who ?

you mean the Gaels.

if you only have one language on the cash machines but live in a multicultural environment, how does that work?

what if someone prefers to transact his/her business in Spanish and the only option is for Italian?

Surely that is more inconvientent for them having to deal in a language they do not understand that it is for you to select a language from a menu that takes only a second to decide.

What is you are on holiday in Spain and all the cash machines were in Spanish, every citizen spoke to you in spanish and no one even offered to converse in English (as most Spaniards can). You would be shouting blue murder at them. And the same would be in Japan or whereever...

No, we live in a 'global village' these days, its time to accept that and move on instead of the old ways of 'learn my language or get out' mentality.

Im a English guy living in Amsterdam. Even though I'm learning Dutch at the moment, most of the services be it cash machines, internet web sights offer a English/German/French version.

Companies are finding out that if you offer multi lingual services, then people would actually use their service over a company who doesn't. - market forces.

 

[MountainPro]

Companies are finding out that if you offer multi lingual services, then people would actually use their service over a company who doesn't. - market forces.

That makes good economic sense. We are all different.

 

[zapper]

? the who ?

you mean the Gaels.

if you only have one language on the cash machines but live in a multicultural environment, how does that work?

We've been multicultural for a few hundred of years...The only difference is our forefathers and mothers were not lazy and did not rely on the government to give them a handout and learned to speak ENGLISH...by printing federal and local business and government literature in other languages etc it discourages our new American citizens to learn English. Just the other day, there was news story involving an American family that happened to be Spanish....and....the woman interviewed had to speak through a freakin interpreter...Completely absurd!...We send our kids to school and encourage them to learn a second or third language and yet citizens coming to this country can learn freakin English...why? Because they program other languages into the ATM machine...I tell you it is a huge conspiracy!

what if someone prefers to transact his/her business in Spanish and the only option is for Italian?

Surely that is more inconvientent for them having to deal in a language they do not understand that it is for you to select a language from a menu that takes only a second to decide.

What is you are on holiday in Spain and all the cash machines were in Spanish, every citizen spoke to you in spanish and no one even offered to converse in English (as most Spaniards can). You would be shouting blue murder at them. And the same would be in Japan or whereever...

No, we live in a 'global village' these days, its time to accept that and move on instead of the old ways of 'learn my language or get out' mentality.

Right..I've seen the bloody french play like they don't understand English....I'm not saying that you shouldn't learn another language but having more than one standard is a waste and a contradiction in terms...How can you have more than one standard? Ok mr. Scott, to qualify for entrance into this university you must be tri-lingual...absurd!

 

[zapper]

That makes good economic sense. We are all different.

I can see where it makes sense economically for business purposes...I understand the concept of reaching more potential customers...My issue is with all those "CITIZENS" who can't speak freakin english...For goodness sake at least make an attempt! I can tolerate the occasional visitor...

 

[MountainPro]

We've been multicultural for a few hundred of years...The only difference is our forefathers and mothers were not lazy and did not rely on the government to give them a handout and learned to speak ENGLISH...by printing federal and local business and government literature in other languages etc it discourages our new American citizens to learn English. Just the other day, there was news story involving an American family that happened to be Spanish....and....the woman interviewed had to speak through a freakin interpreter...Completely absurd!...We send our kids to school and encourage them to learn a second or third language and yet citizens coming to this country can learn freakin English...why? Because they program other languages into the ATM machine...I tell you it is a huge conspiracy!

Right..I've seen the bloody french play like they don't understand English....I'm not saying that you shouldn't learn another language but having more than one standard is a waste and a contradiction in terms...How can you have more than one standard? Ok mr. Scott, to qualify for entrance into this university you must be tri-lingual...absurd!

Thats your view and you are entitled to it.

In the UK we have Indian and Pakistani families living here for generations and the women folk have never learned english. They are elderly now and were born in the UK. Thats pretty strange but they stay home and look after the family while the men go out to work. The men know English but there simply is no need for the women to learn (in thier opinion).

Just look at the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk) this bastion of Britishness have 43 language options on thier website and are introducing radio stations and TV channels specifically for Asian and Arabic people al the time.

The world is indeed changing fast and i fully support multiculturalism but i just would prefer to keep my own culture alive which seems to be dying all around..

 

[zapper]

Thats your view and you are entitled to it.

In the UK we have Indian and Pakistani families living here for generations and the women folk have never learned english. They are elderly now and were born in the UK. Thats pretty strange but they stay home and look after the family while the men go out to work. The men know English but there simply is no need for the women to learn (in thier opinion).

Well that isn’t the case here..Men, women kids etc...not motivated to learn English especially in places like Texas etc...Which BTW, for most if not all jobs dealing with the public down there I am told that you must know both English and Spanish...To me, that's a crock! I must cover this statement by the caveat that I heard this from a friend who lives in TX...I could be wrong but it sounds credible.

The world is indeed changing fast and i fully support multiculturalism but i just would prefer to keep my own culture alive which seems to be dying all around..

The world isn't changing just our wills have become weak. We are so worried about hurting someone’s feelings or concerned about being sued by some poor disenfranchised individual that just doesn't have the motivation to learn the freakin language...The one word to describe this trend that you elude to is "LAZYNESS"!

 

[bcbob]

...nothing to do with changing names but a few years back speaking to an american while sitting by the pool down in deepest florida somewhere, when i told him i was from the UK he said " ah you must know dave, you know Dave from London!". What could i say but "Oh yes i know dave, didnt know who you meant until you said he lives in London" With a big nod and grin.

 

[FredC]

Im a English guy living in Amsterdam. Even though I'm learning Dutch at the moment, most of the services be it cash machines, internet web sights offer a English/German/French version.

Companies are finding out that if you offer multi lingual services, then people would actually use their service over a company who doesn't. - market forces.

Well done for learning Dutch, I can assure you that you will get lots of extra brownie points for it. I was forced into it by some Dutch pro riders, half of whom spoke English and the other half who didn't. They threatened to boycott me if I didn't speak in Dutch for 15mins in a given time. The raceday arrived 'Ronde van Mittel Zeeland' and true to their word it was all down to me. Did it, and carried on studying. They were as pleased as me, and it has always stood me in good stead and amazes the Dutch that someone should take the time to learn their little known language.
Lisa Stansfield's dad, Keith, worked in Holland during the week for years, and used to come in the local pub at weekends, he never bothered to learn it, she is the image of her dad, but not quite as tall. Lovely people, lovely family.

 

[Dweezle]

Speaking of Scotland, anyone have any idea why broadcasters in the U.K. call Bush "President Boosh"?
I must be the only person who pronounces "Bush" and not "Boosh".
Which is the correct version?

Don't worry about it. George Bush is a guy from an upper class family (with roots in Connecticut.) He was sent to fancy private schools in the Northeast, and Yale University, and still somehow is the only person in his family with a Texas Accent.

Since Bush has learned to deliberately mis-pronounce the English language in order to try for a popular "folksy" appeal, you should feel no guilt whatsoever in pronouncing his name in any way you see fit.

 

[limerickman]

Well that isn’t the case here..Men, women kids etc...not motivated to learn English especially in places like Texas etc...Which BTW, for most if not all jobs dealing with the public down there I am told that you must know both English and Spanish...To me, that's a crock! I must cover this statement by the caveat that I heard this from a friend who lives in TX...I could be wrong but it sounds credible.


The world isn't changing just our wills have become weak. We are so worried about hurting someone’s feelings or concerned about being sued by some poor disenfranchised individual that just doesn't have the motivation to learn the freakin language...The one word to describe this trend that you elude to is "LAZYNESS"!

The above polemic about learning to speak english and accusing others of being in it for an easy ride, loses it's entire credibility, in the posters spelling (mis-spelling) of the last word (see it above).

LAZINESS.

 

[zapper]

The above polemic about learning to speak english and accusing others of being in it for an easy ride, loses it's entire credibility, in the posters spelling (mis-spelling) of the last word (see it above).

LAZINESS.

Wow..burning the midnight oil and this was your best shot? A typo? Sad..very sad...

 

[limerickman]

Wow..burning the midnight oil and this was your best shot? A typo? Sad..very sad...

No, merely illustrating how incompetent you are.

 

[zapper]

No, merely illustrating how incompetent you are.

Right and staying up late at night to do it? Thanks for the entertainment. Say, isn't Mrs. Limerickman getting jealous? BTW I could go through your posts and find more than one typo but I'm not going to ignore my wife to do it...Poor limerickman....You better pony up with some flowers for Mrs. Lim...

 

[unicos]

I was in queue at a railway station in Paris, France. The man in front of me got to the window. 'A wanna return ticket to Laons.' The girl looked down her screen. 'Sorry sir, she said'. 'Laons'. he shouted. 'Sorry sir, we have Lens.' 'A said Laons. France'. 'Sorry sir.' with that he stormed off calling the French rude names, and we saved ya. So I said to the girl, in French, that he probably meant Lyons ( pronounced Leon). Mmm, she said 'Why didn't you help him? I replied that I thought he was very rude. 'Yes, he was' she said and smiled.

You are right it is very funny to see heavy accented Brits, and others for that matter, in rail stations in РОССИЯ (Russia) getting on the wrong track when they pronounce a city wrong like Без перевода (Makhachkala). I always wonder what they think when they get off the rail car and are in the wrong place.