Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id VAA02625; Mon, 10 Nov 1997 21:17:51 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 21:17:51 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <01BCEE93.78155B40@cjsllit.f-edu.fukui-u.ac.jp> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Charles Jannuzi <jannuzi@edu00.f-edu.fukui-u.ac.jp> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:1486] RE: The issue of English Only X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO Content-Length: 2612 Lines: 56 This is a fascinating thread, but so utterly dispiriting that it even has to be discussed. One similar came up on JALTCALL earlier this year. It might be the case that Hispanic/Latino Americans face a lack of empathy for their cause because so many of American families have over several generations lost their immigrant ancestors' languages. So many Americans just have no idea of the advantages of being bilingual. My grandparents on my father's side spoke dialects of Italian. Their children (raised in the 1920s and 30s speak no Italian. My German and Scots-Irish ancestors on my mother's side have been speaking English longer than the Queen of England's. There is also the danger of confusion of terms: bilingual programs (even the subtractive type) and/or immersion programs don't necessarily go with English Only. I could see subtractive programs being used to enforce English Only, however. I think the best way to get the right-wing and xenophobic elements off of Spanish-speakers' backs is for language teachers to articulate this message: Spanish is an international language that already rivals English. Well, rival sounds adversarial. How about 'complements' English internationally. Since both the Republicans and Democrats now agree about one thing--the business of America is business--it's just plain stupid for the US to ignore Spanish (and Chinese) as an important international language that needs to be (1) taught in FL programs in the US and (2) encouraged and supported in the present bilingual population of Spanish-English speakers. Given it's location, there really is no very good practical reason why Spanish should not be the "second" language of the US. But it is more than just semantics that it is taught as a FL in the US. Isn't that ridiculous, absurd, utterly unbelievable, given the country's long history of contact with Spanish-speakers and all of the Spanish-speakers who have been Americans ( whether they wanted to be or not)? If English is to become the official first language of the US, then Spanish should be the official second language of the US. If countries all over the world logically enough choose English to teach to their children as the foreign language of choice, so too Americans should be able to choose Spanish. Appeals to reason directed toward the racists, the xenophobes, the populists, the know-nothings--do they ever work? But such appeals can persuade the majority sitting on the fence. Toward a true multi-lingual USA. Charles Jannuzi Fukui University Japan jannuzi@ThePentagon.com ----------
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