Comments on: Musings #2 http://mylittlepail.com/musings-2/ from a Promise to you..... Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:38:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Niki http://mylittlepail.com/musings-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Niki Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:06:20 +0000 http://mylittlepail.com/?p=198#comment-9 Interesting topic. I think this social obligation holds in several settings, but not all. If the 1-language person is spending time in the 2-language person's native land, I think there is some reciprocal responsibility to attempt to learn the second language. The whole thing gets messier, I imagine, when the one language is English. I imagine some may feel resentment that it is English which has become the lingua franca, and resist speaking it. (This gets even more compounded with British or American English-speakers, because these societies generally have made a point of expecting everybody to speak English.) This does not absolve people from simple manners, according to which it is gracious and polite to speak in a language you know your conversation partner can understand, but I can feel some sympathy for those who (immaturely?) refuse the path of politeness. Interesting topic. I think this social obligation holds in several settings, but not all. If the 1-language person is spending time in the 2-language person’s native land, I think there is some reciprocal responsibility to attempt to learn the second language.

The whole thing gets messier, I imagine, when the one language is English. I imagine some may feel resentment that it is English which has become the lingua franca, and resist speaking it. (This gets even more compounded with British or American English-speakers, because these societies generally have made a point of expecting everybody to speak English.) This does not absolve people from simple manners, according to which it is gracious and polite to speak in a language you know your conversation partner can understand, but I can feel some sympathy for those who (immaturely?) refuse the path of politeness.

]]> By: Tony http://mylittlepail.com/musings-2/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Tony Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:57:26 +0000 http://mylittlepail.com/?p=198#comment-7 I don't think either has a responsibility to speak a common verbal language but, in the situation your describing, one person has immediate control over a potential verbal connection. Not a responsibility but decisive choice. I don’t think either has a responsibility to speak a common verbal language but, in the situation your describing, one person has immediate control over a potential verbal connection. Not a responsibility but decisive choice.

]]> By: kleer001 http://mylittlepail.com/musings-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2 kleer001 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:17:51 +0000 http://mylittlepail.com/?p=198#comment-2 that's ethically true, but I've found the real world sadly different. In Morocco, says my cousin-in-law who is native, they may know French, but if your french is lacking they'll pretend to not understand just for the egotistical thrill of it. that’s ethically true, but I’ve found the real world sadly different. In Morocco, says my cousin-in-law who is native, they may know French, but if your french is lacking they’ll pretend to not understand just for the egotistical thrill of it.

]]>