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?
just curious to see peoples responses.........
2006-09-25 05:43:17 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
US has been called the most uneducated first world country....People here fear LANGUAGE differences, its no wonder we are called this! Since when is knowing more than one language a bad thing???? Only in this country!
2006-09-25 07:05:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most countries just have the one official language, but I believe Belgium and India also have more than one as well. Most countries have declared an official language long ago, the U.S was, til recently one of the few that had not. If you follow legislation, you will note that English was recently passed as the official language and also as the common, unifying language of this country. Incidentally, I also speak more than one language. It is just until recently we have apparently realized the need to have people who are willing to assimilate at least in this way.
2006-09-25 12:48:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish I had a comprehensive answer for you, but I can tell you that they "getmycountryback" idiot is a complete fool. The US, as you correctly state, has no official language. If you check out www.state.us, there are info sheets on every country including official and other languages.
2006-09-25 12:51:04 · answer #3 · answered by Mark 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Finland has two official languages, Swedish and Finnish. It's good, seeing as I am one of the swedish speaking minority... Though I speak just as well Finnish and English.
I think it's advantageous in a way that most people know three languages, like me, and that affects positively to broaden their thought patterns. Too often, if a person knows only one language it is hard for him/her to think of a matter in a new way other than what he has previously thought, without exerting conscious effort, of course.
In other words, the persons thoughts go along the same patterns, kind of like the process of learning reflexes, without actual cogitation of the new information. It is just fit in to the old paradigm, and a response is spat out.
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Wasn't there a state that wanted German as their official language?
2006-09-25 12:50:44 · answer #4 · answered by dane 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some (of the many) countries that have more than one official language:
India
China
Canada
most countries in Africa
I don't know what countries don't have official language(s).
Multi-languages is good (and essential) in my opinion.
2006-09-25 12:49:42 · answer #5 · answered by Sincere Questioner 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in the united states because of the reason for immigration. all government information is in english, spanish and creole.
the only countries besides switzerland that i know where different languages are spoken are africa, canada.
i honestly dont worry about this. when i came to this country (u.s.a.) in 1974, i had to learn english. and i did. now i know both spanish and english fluently and it helps out in the line of work i do. i think the more languages one can learn, will be good for them, not bad.
2006-09-25 12:47:20 · answer #6 · answered by lasalle_1986 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, each country should have their own official language. If you come here to live you are the one who must adjust, not the rest of us. People should not attempt to live in a country without learning the language.
"When in Rome, do as the Roman's do" Don't try to change others to meet your own particular needs. That was not what was meant when immigration began.
2006-09-25 12:54:44 · answer #7 · answered by Heidi 4 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Switzerland is an Official Trilingual Country while the US is still monolingual ! something is wrong right? The US is homeland of millions of Spanish Speaking citizens, but our educational system is monolingual.
2006-09-26 00:51:15 · answer #8 · answered by Yussef 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WE DO HAVE AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, it is English!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's funny that most people don't seem to know that, because everything is half English, half Spanish. But the fact is, the national language it OFFICIALLY English. Congress tried to pass a bill not that long ago to change the official lannguage to Spanish and there was a huge deal, one of the Congressmen said absolutely not it is un-American, and he was bombarded with racist comments and people accusing him of being racist. Nevertheless English remained our national language, despite Mexico's attempts at changing it.
2006-09-25 12:46:55 · answer #9 · answered by getmycountryback 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I heard that Canada does...English and French. I think it is great, but we dont NEED any official language. Lets keep it the way it is.
2006-09-25 13:10:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋