docdan

Oh . . I assume if the correspondent's name is "Vlada" perhaps the statement about the typical unilingual American doesn't apply.

PalenQ

Most Swiss will be fluent in at least 3 languages>

I have not found that to be generally true amongst the average Swiss - I've noticed many times them using English as a common language. I tried to use French in German areas and few seemed to speak it.

and no one speaks Romanesh or whatever they call the Latin-dervied tongue outside of that area I believe.

neckervd

Most people with Rumantsch as mother tongue speak German too. Most (Swiss, NOT Italian) inhabitants with Italiahn as mother tongueof Switzerland speak also either German or French or both.
Swiss people with German as mother tongue who live in bilingual cantons (Valais, Berne, Fribourg) understand usually French too. Among the other Swiss Germans, not all speak another Swiss language (it depends on the job, the relationship and the cultural level).
Same remark for French speaking Swiss people concerning their knowledge of German.

docdan

Interesting observations.

PalenQ

Someone can study a language in school for years and not be able to speak it well (France is a good example) unless they use it and come in contact with it a lot. So what neckervd days makes sense - those in bi-lingual Cantons may be able to be more fluent in it - thought being fluent can mean many things.