Besides Switzerland, what other countries have more than one official language? Do you believe this is a good thing or a bad thing?
Also besides the US, what other countries do not have an official language? Again, is this good or bad?
2006-09-25 05:40:06 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Philippines have Filipino and English as official or primary language and medium of intruction in schools but have numerous other dialects according to regions, about 170 languages.
Canada has English and French as official language.
South Africa has Afrikaans, English and other languages.
Singapore has English, Malay and Tamil
India has 23 official languages
Belarus has Russian and Belarusian
Afghanistan has Dari and Pashtu
Finland has Swedish and Finnish
Belgium has Dutch, French, German
Pakistan has Urdu and English
Bolivia has Spanish, Aymara and Quechua
Paraguay has Spanish, Guarani
Spain has Spanish, Basque, Aranese, Catalan and Galician
East Timor has Tetum and Portuguese
Papua New Guinea has English and Motu
US do not have an official language but English is almost considered as its national language thru a reform bill that is recently passed to the Senate.
Eritrea has no official language as well.
2006-09-25 06:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by jj'sB-tfrz01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ireland has English and Gaelic, Belgium has Flemish, French, and German, Luxemburg has Letzemburgisch and French, South Africa had 11 the last time I looked, and India has plenty, I don't know the number.
I suspect, but can't tell for certain, that quite a few African and Asian states also have more than one official language.
I think it's a good thing when none of two ore more language groups get the advantage of their language being the only official one.
And I don't know of any other country with no official language.
2006-09-25 09:25:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Belgium there are 3 official languages: Dutch (or Flemish) 60%, French 38% and German 2%
It's just a bit difficult around the language-border... people get official papers in the wrong language, or when they get official papers they have to apply for the same stuff in their own language... It's not easy but that's just the way it is! People have learnt to live with it (although it's brought up at every election).
2006-09-25 06:00:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anna-Lisa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
india has 24 official languages and the no. keeps growing every year.
we have around 424 languages in our country. so essentialy 424 different cultures. people in the north do not understand what people in the south are speakin. But still most of us feel india as our common identity.
so it's not a question as to whether it's good or bad. it's a practical necessity for us.
this is the reason why u can find all world problems right here in india. right from the problem of plenty to the africa like poverty. from terrorism to seccesionists.
yet where there are so many problems there's growing a unique
society that will help the world at large.
2006-09-25 05:49:36 · answer #4 · answered by psychic being 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ability to communicate in different languages is a + for anyone.
Languages must not be used as a point of division in a society, rather a point of unification. If you live in a country with an official language, then learn that language with no questions asked. If there are multiple languages, then learn as many as you can. Communication is of supreme importance to peace and tranquility
among humanity.
2006-09-25 06:09:24 · answer #5 · answered by bpflyguy1990 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about Canada?
And I think there should be one official language. With Canadian example, we all know that French speaking Canadians hate English speaking ones. This is not a way to go. The country needs to unite under one language and not divide under multiple.
Besides, in U.S. case - English is not such a hard language to learn. I did.
2006-09-25 05:45:26 · answer #6 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well supposedly Canada has two official languages : English and french. but outside the province of québec, I've rarely heard any french elsewhere except from quebecers who moved or travelled in other provinces.
i believe its a good thing to have diversity but still people that are in minority (french) have to learn English if they wish to have better chances of success in their work (usually, headquarters of big companies are in Toronto, or in the USA and they don't speak french out there). we also have to learn English for travel and sometimes to communicate in our own province. cause even if québec is over 2/3 french speaking, some people have lived here all their lives and never tried to learn a damn word of french. having 2 languages or more means that we should develop more tolerance over other languages group and even though, we must find some unity if we want to understand each other.
2006-09-25 10:34:04 · answer #7 · answered by valy_4 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know a small island in the Indian Ocean..called Mauritius...the official language is English, French, Creole and Hindi..
I do think it is good as this would attract tourist and furthermore the economy of the country would be better!!
2006-09-25 05:47:15 · answer #8 · answered by Mazx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Canada- English and French
2006-09-25 06:24:20 · answer #9 · answered by moglie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Belgium. Nothing wrong with it!
2) I think in US the official language is US english!!!!
Ciao......John-John.
2006-09-25 11:26:55 · answer #10 · answered by John-John 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋