TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Appalling English From:Jo Francis Byrd <jbyrd -at- byrdwrites -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 31 Oct 2000 12:31:46 -0600
Unfortunately, there is a tendency for native English speakers, especially here in
the U.S., to think English is the only language we need to learn. Not true! It
creates an impression of arrogance - we've Americans, you need to learn our
language, we don't need to learn yours, even if we're visiting your country. Maybe
it's just me, but that strikes me as rude.
We really should place more emphasis on learning other languages in our schools -
teach our children when they're young and their inquiring minds are like sponges
which haven't already been bombarded with too much information to absorb.
My opinion.
Jo Byrd
Bruce Byfield wrote, in part:
> ...I wonder if we'd feel so accepting if most of us weren't native
> English-speakers in unilingual North America? While a universal language is
> often convenient, and English's dominance has obvious historical reasons, the
> domination of English causes considerable resentment in some circles.
>
> <snipped>
>
> I'm a very poor linguist myself - I can understand a lot of French, and read a
> little German - but I feel my lack of ability something to be ashamed of, rather
> than to accept. On the whole, Europeans and Japanese put North Americans to
> shame in linguistic abilities.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Learn how to develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver!
Dec. 7-8, 2000, Orlando, FL -- $100 discount for STC members. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Your web site localized into 32 languages? Maybe not now, but sooner than
you think. Download ForeignExchange's FREE paper, "3 steps to successful
translation management" at http://www.fxtrans.com/3steps.html?tw.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
