I know
two languages -- Chinese, and the language in which I'm typing this message now. And I'm
very glad I know these two languages, not just one of them, because each of them grants me access to an entire universe of meaning and thought
which simply cannot be entered from the other side through translation, and I'm very much the richer for it. I mean, you can't really taste the flavor of, say, the T'ang poems in English translation. Or Wordsworth in Chinese translation either.
I can sympathise with those who feel that what language the individual wishes to learn should be his/her own business, but I reckon sometimes the political climate in which a nation or sociocultural milieu finds itself would make it suicidal
not to learn certain languages. Certainly this is true of English. Like it or not, there's now this supergiant monster in the sky with powers that would make Sauron look like a wimp, with stars and stripes on its body [img]tongue.gif[/img] , that's saying to everyone:
Speak English -- or DIIIIEEEE!!!! Dunno about other countries, but the gentlemen in power here in my country
Singapore said 'okay' to this around forty years ago. Now English has become so predominant here that our mother tongues, such as Chinese, are almost in danger of being wiped off the scene.
No doubt this will greatly please my dear Anglo-Saxon friends here on this board...
[ 11-03-2002, 05:09 AM: Message edited by: K T Ong ]