Just curious Dave, How many languages do you speak? I speak 3 and understand 4, and when traveling always try to speak the native language, even if I fumble, which happens fairly often!<BR><BR>I will add, however, when I get a call from a telemarketer, or ask a question of someone working in a business in America, that I don't think it is asking too much for that person to speak English!

I think one problem with our schools is that they do not start a foreign language until (in most cases) high school, or at best Jr. High. They have found (though (I can't dredge up the citation right now) that the earlier you begin the study of a foreign language, any foreign language, the brain's "wiring" changes and it becomes easier to learn it, and others as well. Case in point, I can remember the Spanish I learned in elementary school, but very little of the French I had in later years, and I admit I am not a good language student, though I have tried. On the other hand, my daughter who began foreign language study in Kindergarten is great at learning languages, and can get along in three other than English (and two are non-roman alphabet languages). She's minoring in Chinese in college, spent four months in Beijing while in HS, and plans to return next year for a college program. You have to start kids early to really get them going in a foreign language. This seems to be lost on US Public schools for the most part.

In the areas of the US where there is a high concentration of a non-English speaking population, you WILL find MUCH more bi-lingual people. When you consider that the enclyclopedias approximate the size of most other countries to the size of a STATE in the US, that makes a huge difference! If the next state to you spoke a completely different language, you would find that many citizens of both states would be bilingual.<BR><BR>When I graduated high school, I could read and speak Spanish. 25 years later, I'm lucky to understand even the most rudimentary grammar (Spanish). <BR><BR>If you are not exposed to multiple languages on a regular basis, you won't retain it (unless you are specially gifted). If you are exposed to the multiple languages regularly, you will learn strictly by the process of osmosis. (Sorta like we initially learned English)

Robert - I'm struggling to understand your point about the Irish. Do you really think that the Irish only speak English? Are you aware of the Irish Gaelic language? Are you aware that the English in the 17th and 18th centuries forbade it being spoken in an effort to control and subdue the Irish population? Are you aware that despite the efforts of the English, the language survived in remote areas and is still spoken as a first language in these areas (such as the Dingle Pennisula and the Aran Islands)? Are you aware that Ireland has two national languages and that school children are required to pass tests in both in order graduate? Apparently you are ignorant of any these facts or you would not have made such a strange observation.

Biggest waste of my time was studying Spanish in high school and college. Never, ever use it. Should have learned a programming language!

I took Ebonics in high school and I be a better person for it.

I think all peoples regardless of what country we are talking about should speak the language of the country where they live. If they can speak additional languages, all the better, but not as important. <BR><BR>I hate it that some people who immigrated to the country some time ago still don't speak the language. If you are visiting that's one thing but when you have lived in the US for say 10 years (or more) you should be speaking the national language, ENGLISH. I liove in a large and diverse city where many people do not speak English and it drives me crazy! If you move here from Mexico, it is wonderful that you speak Spanish, but learn to speak ENGLISH! If I lived in another country for many years and started a family and brought my kids up there, we would speak their language as well as our own.<BR><BR>Americans don't have to learn another language which is why many don't. I speak French and can understand a lot of written Spanish because it is similar to French. This is not a necessity for me though, just trying to broaden my horizons. The trick is learn English first.

It is ironic that people are so quick to criticize Americans for not learning foreign languages that most will never need, while ignoring the fact that many people immigrate to the U.S. and never learn to speak English.

I agree with several posters above that 1) we Americans are basically lazy and 2) most of us will never need to use a second language, because English is spoken worldwide. That said, I still get annoyed with people who have immigrated to the US and refuse to learn English. I live in South Florida and have met scores of people who never bothered to even try to learn. Many have lived here for decades....more than half of their lives, but still use hand signals for even the most basic phrases. I find that insulting!

I couldn't resist this one- English is my native language, I speak Spanish (I'm not Hispanic) and I have taken German, French, and Chinese. I agree that the earlier a language is taught the easier it is to learn- because you don't have anything to compare it to, therefore less confusion. I've never been overseas (not for lack of want)- language is just something I enjoy learning. I also think that to be bi or multi lingual is also to be bi or multi cultural. My point is that learning another language is never a bad thing- it opens more doors to new things and people, and can help you understand your first language a little better.

It's a question of geography. If people from Georgia spoke English, South Carolina spoke German, Floridia spoke French and Mississippi spoke Hebrew you'd see how quickly those learned a second or third language. As it is, we really have no day-to-day use for one. Even if we spent money to learn French, by the time we actually used it we would have forgotten most of it.

Man I've gotta work on my proofreading.<BR><BR>Originally it said Floridian, but in changing it to Florida I forgot the 'i', hence Floridia.<BR><BR>And of course it should read, "you'd see how quickly THEY (not those) learned a second or third language."<BR><BR>People like me have enough trouble with one.

I think the reason that many immigrants do not learn English is the same reason why most Americans don't learn a foreign language. They find that it's not necessary for their day to day life. In the larger cities, there are so many ethnic neighborhoods where a foreign language is the predominant language and you don't need to speak English. I'm not defending it, simply pointing out that the reasons are very similar. I think people in general aren't very motivated and will try to "get by" with what they can.

So it's not just Americans who are lazy....everyone is lazy! I think you are 100% correct.

any truth to the theory about KG-type mental or emotional blocks to language/ :~&lt;

Ummm... I don't know who that was at the top on 2/10, but it wasn't me.<BR><BR>Without reading this entire silly thread, I will say that many people today are complaining that Americans don't speak English (or, not enough Americans). Oh yeah, maybe that should be USians instead of Americans (but that was another old thread).<BR><BR>Kak vui tam?<BR><BR>

The original question:<BR><BR>Why don't Americans speak more languages?<BR><BR>My contribution:<BR><BR>Why don't Canadians speak more languages?<BR><BR>Why don't Australians speak more languages?

well, don't you get it?<BR>it's more fun to bash americans.<BR>all the while you mass consume american tv, movies, fashion, ect.<BR><BR>Nowadays it's more useful to learn a computer language.

Hey Americans contribution...um Canadians do speak more languages, as probably a good 25% of its population is at very least bilingual.

But, of course, Dave.....most of them live in Quebec....you know....that silly province that wants to sever itself from the rest of the country.

Actually "Americans" DO speak a lot of languages...Americans come from all over the world and speak different languages. The United States is full of people who are from everywhere...haven't you noticed?

Ol&eacute;! Agree with ThinkAbout It. What we Americans may lack in polyglot facility (due fewer opportunities to practice) we make up in our ethnic diversity are and in our encompassing sense of who we are. <BR><BR>Hay muchos aqu&iacute; que hablan una, dos, o tres otras lenguas. Il faut disputer l'assumption que les Americains sont les seules avec lapreocupation d'&eacute;tre situe&eacute;s dans le centre de l'univers. C'est n'est pas &ccedil;a l'attitude Fran&ccedil;aise? <BR><BR>I need to practice! Are there any polyglot travel chat rooms?

People in other countries speak other languages because in most cases it's the only sensible thing to do, not because they're more virtuous or smarter or open-minded than Americans. Belgium has three official languages--French, Dutch (Flemish) and German (can you imagine Connecticut having three official languages?). Switzerland has four! These are not big countries. And more languages doesn't make them more efficient--if anything, it's the reverse. <BR>Americans can drive 3000 miles and still be in an English speaking country. Someone from France or Italy can't do the same.<BR>Europeans and Asians speak English because it's to their financial benefit to do so. And they want to learn American English, not British English. <BR>By the way, living in Europe, I've found that expat or visiting Americans make far more effort to speak another languague or try local customs than the Brits. Brussels is full of Brits who almost always go to Irish pubs rather than putting a foot into a Belgian cafe or restaurant. They shopped for food at the local Marks & Spencers (until it closed). <BR>And Canadians? Again, those who speak more than one language do so because they have to (and many do so grudgingly). There are plenty of people in BC and Alberta who are clearly monolingual. <BR>I probably shouldn't have responded to what is obviously a trolling post. <BR>

Americans have such a broad ethnic mix that the number of languages spoken regularly here probably exceeds 90% of all the countries in the world. If you are referring only to Americans born in the USA, they are really no different than most other countries, and better than some countries. Europeans are no more intelligent or diligent than we are - except that it's more natural for them to experience different countries & languages due to geographic proximity, in the same way we experience different States, which all happen to speak English. Secondly, when most of them learn one foreign language, it is likely to be English because of its international use in business and tourism. We don't need to learn English (Well maybe I take that back, after reading some of the grammatical horrors on these boards!)now do we? Nonetheless, most US high schools and college liberal arts programs have a foreign language requirement. Students often don't continue with it afterward, though, because the usually don't really need to speak it.<BR><BR>The above is not apologetics or defensiveness by an only-English-speaking person. Je parle francais couramment et je suis autodidacte. It is just clarifying a generalization that is inaccurate about Americans.

First of all we are in North America. Canada to the north speaks predominately English and French. Every thing to the south, with the exception of Brazil speaks predominately Spanish.<BR>Canada and the US cover quite a bit of miles geographically. It all has to do with development over the years out of necessity and culture. First of all I speak Spanish as that is what was taught when I was growing up. You also had the option of learning another language. I go to different countries in Europe and try to speak some phrases. But lets see how many languages are spoken within Europe? QUITE A FEW AND I AM SUPPOSED TO KNOW EVERYONE OF THEM??????????? I am sick of traveling to countries where they expect me to speak their language fluently. Consider how many languages are spoken in the world. Right now I am learning Russian. I do not want to learn French, Italian, German,Dutch etc....Original Poster is trying to take European standards and apply them abroad. Sorry but I don't buy your argument.<BR>

Why don't the Europeans learn English? <BR>I've encountered many of traveler in the US that does not speak English. Hmmm<BR>gee I wonder why that is so........

How 'bout those non-Americans! Look at them go! Putting men on the moon, breaking the genetic code! Would that all non-Americans were as "stupid" ...