In America we speak more than just English!

[umbertino]

by: Emile Schepers

October 13 2015

 

 

 

Donald Trump made the news recently by criticizing his fellow Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish at a campaign event.

 

Trump does not speak any other languages than English, and apparently does not think anyone else should either. He is not the only one who thinks like this. The idea is that people whose first languages are not English are foreigners, speaking foreign languages.

 

Perhaps he thinks they can't understand his speeches. I've been speaking English all my life and I can't understand them either.

 

But consider the following:

 

In the United States today, approximately 120 to 130 indigenous languages are still spoken by at least a few people. Many of these historic tongues are down to a handful of elderly native speakers (people for whom the language in question was learned since early childhood) each, but others have thousands or tens of thousands of native speakers of all ages.

 

Navajo has the largest number, estimated at 171,000, followed by Cherokee with perhaps 22,000. Others that have more than 10,000 speakers include Western Apache, Choctaw, Dakota, Keres, Tohono O'Odham and Yupik (of the Inuit-Aleutian language family). Some of these languages have printed publications (the venerable Cherokee Phoenix still publishes some stories in that nation's distinctive script), and radio stations.

 

In addition, a number of indigenous languages have more than 1,000 but fewer than 10,000 native speakers in the United States: Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ojibway, Crow (Apsaalooke), Havasupai-Hualapai-Yavapai, Hawaiian, Hopi, Inupiatun (Inuit-Aleut language family). Jemez (also called Towa), Lakota, Mohawk, Muskogee (Creek), Ottawa, Shoshoni, Tewa, Tiwa, Tsimshian, Yupik (Inuit-Aleut language family) and Zuñi.

 

And there are efforts in some other Native American communities to revive languages that currently have few or no fluent native speakers.

 

All told, there are at least 370,000 people in the 50 states who speak these languages, all of which preceded English within what are now the borders of the United States. The vast majority also know English and express themselves in both languages, as the situation requires.

 

These are not "foreign" languages and could not be more "American." Yet some years ago I met a woman from a Western European country (which, for the sake of not offending its hard working inhabitants, I will not name) who asked me how long this country's indigenous language speakers have been here. I replied " at least 12,000 years, some think much longer, even 40,000 or more." Her reply: "They've been here 40,000 years and they haven't learned English yet?" That's the blinkered mentality we have to deal with: Ignorance combined with sheer bigotry.

 

Mr. Trump was angry, specifically, about public figures speaking Spanish, because he says that English is the language of this country. He regards Spanish as not an "American," but a "foreign" language. But Spanish was spoken in what is now the United States before English was, because Spanish settlement in the Southwest (and in St. Augustine, Florida) preceded English settlement in Virginia and Massachusetts.

 

Currently there are about 41,000,000 people in the United States whose first language is Spanish. True, most of these are more recent immigrants and their descendants, but the same could be said of English speakers, who are not all descended from the Mayflower and Jamestown colonists either.

 

So if Spanish is a foreign language in the United States and hence not "American" so is English.

 

Furthermore, there are several European language communities in the United States whose presence here precedes U.S. independence: French and several varieties of German. There are people in the 50 states who come from U.S.-controlled territories such as Guam and speak languages from these places.

 

The United States constitution and federal laws do not specify English as the national language. That is a good thing. To repress someone for use of their ancestral language is an abusive and tyrannical practice.

 

Older Native Americans tell of a time when, as children, they would be severely punished in school if staff heard them say a single word in an indigenous language. An older Cherokee woman told me that the punishment for her for being caught speaking Cherokee when she was a child was to make her sit in the corner with her nose pressed up against the wall for hours on end. Her experience was not unique or unusual. It was part of a concerted, officially sanctioned effort to wipe out Native American languages.

 

Do we really want to return to those practices, which have not entirely disappeared in some parts of the country?

 

 

Map: Early Localization Native Americans USA by USGS - 1970 USGS map. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons.

 

 

http://www.peoplesworld.org/in-america-we-speak-more-than-just-english/

[jg1]

Isn't it important that we all understand each other. Or should we not integrate together and break up into separate countries. What ever happened to the US melting pot.

[bohica]

I do not believe that I should have to press one in my country.  In any other country you are expected to know the language of the people.  People are trying to divide America more than unite.  I do not see anything wrong with having English as the national language.  

[RVWITHME]

I was once told by a couple of my English buddies that I spoke broken English.

 

I told them I didn't speak English, I speak AMERICAN.

 

Then I started throwing in some Spanglish (just for good measure) and they really had no idea what I was saying.

Uno, dos, three, four cinco. Choo lika salsa es mas hot?

 

Confounded those Brits that day.

 

Good thing I didn't toss in some Ebonics..... Gnomesayin?

[Shabibilicious]

I have an old friend from Texas of Mexican decent.  He doesn't speak English or Spanish......he speaks Texican.  Very weird indeed.    

 

GO RV, then BV

[dog53]

I have an old friend from Texas of Mexican decent.  He doesn't speak English or Spanish......he speaks Texican.  Very weird indeed.    

 

GO RV, then BV

 

 

Yes there is a difference between true Spanish and tex/mex

I am not fluent (shame on me) In the Cree dialect but know enough to get by.

Cree is one of the largest of the first nations.  But with that being said

If you live in america you need to know the language. Its OK to be bi-lingual  

But anyone living in a different country should know the language of said country.

 

It just makes sense. 

[SnowGlobe7]

Dog...that is perfect!!

[Shabibilicious]

Dog, does this mean I should learn to speak Injun?    

 

GO RV, then BV

[dog53]

Dog...that is perfect!!

 

 

Oh no

 

Your the one that

 

Purrrrrrfect  

[SnowGlobe7]

Cherokee is most prominent here in the Northeast of Oklahoma...I have been to a ceremony where there is dancing and paying homage to past relatives and the only thing spoken is CHerokee...it was quite moving and beautiful.

 

Then we went to the casino..(true story)

[dog53]

Dog, does this mean I should learn to speak Injun?    

 

GO RV, then BV

 

 

 

hahahha  maybe.

 

Hey I just had a epithamy 

 

If injuns called Whites paleface

Then what did they call blacks back then.

 

Blackface  

 

HMMMMMMMM

makes ya wonder dont it.   

Cherokee is most prominent here in the Northeast of Oklahoma...I have been to a ceremony where there is dancing and paying homage to past relatives and the only thing spoken is CHerokee...it was quite moving and beautiful.

 

Then we went to the casino..(true story)

 

 

I used to drive my ex-inlaw`s crazy. When we would go to the casino`s.

They would be inside gambling and I would be in the parking lot getting looped with the indians

and telling hunting storys. 

[Shabibilicious]

If injuns called Whites paleface

Then what did they call blacks back then.

 

Blackface  

 

HMMMMMMMM

makes ya wonder dont it.   

 

Same as today.......Athletes.    

 

GO RV, then BV 

[umbertino]

I was once told by a couple of my English buddies that I spoke broken English.

 

I told them I didn't speak English, I speak AMERICAN.

 

Then I started throwing in some Spanglish (just for good measure) and they really had no idea what I was saying.

Uno, dos, three, four cinco. Choo lika salsa es mas hot?

 

Confounded those Brits that day.

 

Good thing I didn't toss in some Ebonics..... Gnomesayin?

 As for me personally... I've always loved and appreciated and truly enjoyed speaking English ( a language I really like) the  American way ( rather than the very  English Eton-style way with that accent)

 

American is so creative , dynamic , easy going & ever-changing....Gotta love it.

Edited October 14, 2015 by umbertino

[dog53]

 As for me personally... I've always loved and appreciated and truly enjoyed speaking English ( a language I really like) the  American way ( rather than the very  English Eton-style way with that accent)

 

American is so creative , dynamic , easy going....Gotta love it.

 

 

 

****  a nay 

[SnowGlobe7]

American is so creative , dynamic , easy going....Gotta love it.
 

 

 

JUST LIKE YOU!!!!

[umbertino]

American is so creative , dynamic , easy going....Gotta love it.

 

 

 

JUST LIKE YOU!!!!

And you're the kindest Lady...

[Thaiexpat]

Actually, if we go far back enough, historical findings show that both northern and southern Americas were first populated by Chinese explorers. In fact, many native-American words are a spin-off of ancient oriental languages. Galvin Menzies' books explain the whole idea of the first peoples of both continents arriving by boat and not the so-called Bering Sea land bridge. There is even a modern example of Apache language being understood by a Chinese traveler back in the 1930's. it is estimated that inter-change between Asia and the Americas has been going on well past 4,000 years ago.

But as many have said, the majority of people speaking a particular language over a long-period of time should be the predominate language of the people in that area. Here, I am learning. It takes time and effort. I desire to integrated to some level in the society I CHOOSE to live in. Living in SE Asia, I have chosen to learn the various languages found here: Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, etc. I don't choose to isolate myself, but meld in to society as best I can. My son is fluent in the local language and 2 dialects (Yeah, a LOT smarter than his papa!). So, if you move to another culture, the goal should be to have some level of integration to that society, at least, to some level. Dunno, just saying....Cheers

Edited October 14, 2015 by Thaiexpat

[umbertino]

Actually, if we go far back enough, historical findings show that both northern and southern Americas were first populated by Chinese explorers. In fact, many native-American words are a spin-off of ancient oriental languages. Galvin Menzies' books explain the whole idea of the first peoples of both continents arriving by boat and not the so-called Bering Sea land bridge. There is even a modern example of Apache language being understood by a Chinese traveler back in the 1930's. it is estimated that inter-change between Asia and the Americas has been going on well past 4,000 years ago.

But as many have said, the majority of people speaking a particular language over a long-period of time should be the predominate language of the people in that area. Here, I am learning. It takes time and effort. I desire to integrated to some level in the society I CHOOSE to live in. Living in SE Asia, I have chosen to learn the various languages found here: Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, etc. I don't choose to isolate myself, but meld in to society as best I can. My son is fluent in the local language and 2 dialects (Yeah, a LOT smarter than his papa!). So, if you move to another culture, the goal should be to have some level of integration to that society, at least, to some level. Dunno, just saying....Cheers

Interesting and agreed, Thai....

[Shabibilicious]

Actually, if we go far back enough, historical findings show that both northern and southern Americas were first populated by Chinese explorers. In fact, many native-American words are a spin-off of ancient oriental languages. Galvin Menzies' books explain the whole idea of the first peoples of both continents arriving by boat and not the so-called Bering Sea land bridge. There is even a modern example of Apache language being understood by a Chinese traveler back in the 1930's. it is estimated that inter-change between Asia and the Americas has been going on well past 4,000 years ago.

But as many have said, the majority of people speaking a particular language over a long-period of time should be the predominate language of the people in that area. Here, I am learning. It takes time and effort. I desire to integrated to some level in the society I CHOOSE to live in. Living in SE Asia, I have chosen to learn the various languages found here: Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, etc. I don't choose to isolate myself, but meld in to society as best I can. My son is fluent in the local language and 2 dialects (Yeah, a LOT smarter than his papa!). So, if you move to another culture, the goal should be to have some level of integration to that society, at least, to some level. Dunno, just saying....Cheers

 

This explains why....."another order of Crab Rangoons" rolls effortlessly off my tongue every Sunday evening.    

 

GO RV, then BV

[SnowGlobe7]

I might on gotten carried away a little......

[umbertino]

Wow ..The only thing I knew about Rangoon is that is the Capital of Burma....

[Lutie]

Speak your own language in your home but if your going to work with the public learn good english! It's great for kids to be bilngual but we have people here in my community who have been here a long time and still speak only spanish to their children because they never learned english. 

Edited October 14, 2015 by Lutie

[Thaiexpat]

Not any more, Umberto. Naypydaw is the capital of Myanmar (no longer called Burma), but the people speak Burmese among other languages. "Crab rangoon" sounds totally asian to me, Shabs. Good call!

I wrote 4,000 years ago when I meant 40,000 years ago. Sorry for the misprint. Cheers

[umbertino]

Not any more, Umberto. Naypydaw is the capital of Myanmar (no longer called Burma), but the people speak Burmese among other languages. "Crab rangoon" sounds totally asian to me, Shabs. Good call!

I wrote 4,000 years ago when I meant 40,000 years ago. Sorry for the misprint. Cheers

Hello Thai...Grazie for letting me know.. I admit I was aware of the actual name being Myanmar  ( Burma is the old name)  but forgot it..My bad

 

I instead did not know the capital is now Naypydaw...Is that still Rangoon with a new name or a totally different city?

 

I have always loved geography ( and travelling whenever I could afford it)

Edited October 15, 2015 by umbertino

[ollyowl]

:butt-kicking:Well I hate to bring you guys back to reality, the date is 2015 and if you live in a country whose  major language

is ENGLISH, and you want to live there, you should learn to speak it. Here in Australia we are having trouble with home grown

MUSLIM TERRORISTS. A 15year old murdered a police worker the other day. The head of the MUSLIM community ,

The Muffty has been in AUS for 18 years and can't speak ENGLISH. He is suppose to be the roll model for the rest of the MUSLIMS, and he is also their spokesperson, but nobody knows what he tells them!!!!!!!!

 

Why would they bother to learn ENGLISH if he doesn't. There has been over 200 MUSLIM FIGHTERS left AUS. to fight with isis

Our Labour Govt. let in 50,000 boat people from the middle east with not knowing who they were or where they were from.

 

We are now seeing the result of this stupid decision. They all were let loose in our community and none of them have assimilated.

Also over 90% of these people whom have been here for almost 5 years are still on welfare.

 

There is to many do gooders that have their head stuck that far up their A-se they can't see what is going on or they don't care.

Labour and the Greens have been slowly destroying our life style in this country and we are at a loss to understand why.

So as far as making it compulsory to learn to speak the language of the country, as long as that is not happening

we will only sink lower into this war with the MUSLIMS.

 

We have had no problems with any other race that has come here, go figure