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Old Wednesday, January 19th, 2005
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Default Re: Spain and Germany Against an English-Speaking Only Europe

One of the issues is that people in Europe tend to learn other languages and speak them, if not fluently, then are at least able to communicate in them to a reasonable degree. Whereas in the UK most people don't. The only compulsory language is French and even then it is only compulsory for the first three years of Secondary School (11-14 year old). Then most people tend to drop it as a subject as soon as they can. Thus most people in the UK are monolingual, and as most places speak English, most films and media are in English, etc then they don't have much incentive to change.

Observe your average British tourist on holiday in Europe, who think they can speak Spanish or German by SHOU-TING-ENG-LISH-SLO-WLY at the natives and you get an idea of the extent of the problem.

I've heard in France that some people simply refuse to speak in English (even if they can), and this is probably a reasonable attitude. If vistors are not interested in learning their language, then why should they learn someone elses?
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The Irish are one of the most ancient nations that I know of at this end of the world, and are from as mighty a race as the world ever brought forth.
For it is certain that Ireland hath had the use of letters very anciently and long before England; that they had letters anciently is nothing doubtful, for the Saxons of England are said to have their letters and learning, and learned men, from the Irish.
- Edmund Spenser (writer, and British Government Official in Ireland, AD 1596).

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