Why is there so much opposition to learning a second language in the USA?

Question

English is the most widely used language because of its simplicity and efficiency, which is good when writing scientific reports or conducting international trade.

Yet English sorely lacks in the esthetics area, because a verbal language doesn't have the means to express the nuances in feelings and descriptions. English lacks adjectives and adverbs, when compared to most other languages.

Also, while the syntax of English as is used now is simple and easy to learn, it becomes limitting when trying to express complex ideas. And it doesn't even have a proper subjunctive tense, the tense of dreams, projects and wishes.

Not to mention that phonetically English has a sound akin to grunts, when compared to more melodious tongues.

Wouldn't it change the mentality of the Anglophones, a mentality of efficiency, greed and war, into a more amiable one, more giving to collaboration instead of competition and peace instead of invasion, if they learned a second, less warlike language?

Answer 1

A less warlike language? Like Russian, German, Farsi?

Answer 2

its funny but I'm here to do both: criticize and defend.
I think you're wrong calling English a warlike language. I particularly prefer to speak English rather than my own. It's more practical and for routine conversations it does the job really well. It's also known to be the universal business language. in other words, unless you are a philosopher or one of those arrogant, prolix talkers-nobody-wants-to-be-around-with English is maybe the best way to go and since American already speak it why would they bother learn something else?
On the other hand, culture cannot be measured by dollars and learning another language is an enriching experience Americans don't value much (but should). People who criticized you just because you proposed that are really ignorants who could not learn anything else anyway....

Answer 3

The English language is very complex! Where did you get your info? We have made it simple to use by not using it correctly. Your statement was not quite as eloquent as you had hoped. Most enjoy the prospect of learning a new language, but don't decided for me what my second language will be. We let everyone decide what second language they would like to learn. I live in the United States of America and my spoken language is English. Wasn't our language derived from Latin? People who come to this country need to learn our language, not the other way around. I have lived abroad 3 times and have learned my host countries tongue. Did that change the fact they they still taught about war, or still had greed? You are mistaken that language carries that kind of weight. I believe that what you are referring to is called literacy and has nothing to do with the language that we speak. Unfortunately foreign countries still have poverty stricken areas and the people that live there are not taught to speak properly, even in their own tongue. You are way off base and need to further your studies about the English language. This really was a waste of my time and a waste of your time trying to act as if you had some unseen answer that would cure the world of everything that ails it. Unfortunately the English language isn't the evil of all things.

Answer 4

I speak several languages.I am an American,I travel all over the world in my business.The international language is money,money speaks English.This moronic BS about melodious and war like language is simply asinine.
Here in the USA we speak English as the primary language.When I go to Japan,I will speak Japanese,the same with other country's.I expect that if you live in the US that one would learn the language,and not expect the 85% of English speaking people to learn Spanish or what ever.I found Spanish a simple language to learn. Immigrants should learn English.If an American desires to learn another language that is their choice.After all this is America we are a free people.

You seem to be able to express your views very well in our warlike language.

Answer 5

If you want to live in the United States, long-term, then you need to learn english. If you like your mother tongue better, then move back where that language is spoken. But, you need to either assimilate, or get out...besides, your argument is baseless. There's over 100 languages already commonly spoken throughout the United States, but the common language of business and government and communication is english. English is quick and easy to learn, if you've ever heard an auctioneer then you know it can be spoken VERY rapidly,
you can get lost in your esoteric references all day long, but to get your meaning across rapidly, correctly, and clearly, english does the job very nicely. So, practice up, and you'll be selling other people's furniture at auction speeds in no time! LOL

Answer 6

English, with whatever accent spoken, is THE language of the United States of America, and I have no qualms in someone learning another form of tongue. What I personally have a problem with, is people that want to force Americans to learn another language. I only speak two, English and Profanity. You want to be in the great USA, learn to speak English. You write quite eloquently by the way.

Answer 7

Anything we need we can borrow from other languages, as we always have. You said 'English as is used'. Part of the Beauty of English is its mutability. There isn't just American and British English, but you also have Caribbean English, Australian English, Hawaiian English, Indian English, African English, and when you combine them we have all kinds of interesting words. You don't truly speak English if you don't understand it from Chaucer to Taragore to Achebe to Marley. I recommend that you watch the series and read the book 'The Story of English' and it will give you a better perspective of the true nature of English. As for the sound of English, well at least its not Dutch. As for learning a second language, of course we should. I don't think learning another language will keep us from being ambitious and mercantilistic, it will just make us worse. I speak twelve languages which sets me apart from other Anglophones, but am planning on teaching English to foreigners abroad when I graduate. America is overrated, and Americans do not own the English language. If you are Latino a non-native speaker, and as articulate as you sound, do something different. Learn to speak with the Received Pronunciation, the Queen's English. Then when you speak to Americans they will do one of four things:
(A) Mistaken you for an East Indian.(B) Feel like you are talking down to them (C) Actually take what you are saying seriously (D) All of the above. I've had fun speaking to Mexicans with an Argentine accent before and messing with their heads. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

There is no opposition to learning another language. Many if not most do take a foreign language. I don't know if it's still a requirement but you used to have to take one in order to go to college. The problem is having a group of people tell me a specific foreign language I must take in order to function in my own country just so they don't have to learn English. I don't like feeling like I'm in a foreign country in my own country. I liked being able to order a hamburger and have someone actually understand me. I shouldn't have to carry a backpack of a variety of foreign language translations in order to shop at the mall.

Answer 9

well I am a Hispanic original from Guatemala, I am American, Let me tell you wherever you say about English language that is so poor etc..I say not second language like or not you are and the people that comes here should learn English if they don't so that is their problem...I believe they should even pay for taking English classes Lucky is free here... I pay to learn all the 6 language that I know ...I say not second language You live here in the States so go and learn English....I can't never understand how lazy and luck of knowledge to wanting to learn another language...

Answer 10

Learning a second language is great. However, we should not have to learn a specific foreign language because a group of people coming into our country does not want to learn our language,and instead expects us to learn theirs.
If I were to move to another country whose language was Spanish and expected English only from serivces, education, people, etc- I would be disappointed sorely.