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!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Originally it said Floridian, but in changing it to Florida I forgot the 'i', hence Floridia.

And of course it should read, "you'd see how quickly THEY (not those) learned a second or third language."

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/ :~<

Ummm... I don't know who that was at the top on 2/10, but it wasn't me.

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).

Kak vui tam?

The original question:

Why don't Americans speak more languages?

My contribution:

Why don't Canadians speak more languages?

Why don't Australians speak more languages?

well, don't you get it?
it's more fun to bash americans.
all the while you mass consume american tv, movies, fashion, ect.

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.