Most all would know that I was raised in the US. As well, most will see that I have recently returned back out to western Canada. I loved my trip to Montreal, I wish that things would have been nicer yet I found that I missed Western Canada. I guess in many ways Montreal is a great place and some of the people that I met were great however there still is that French vs English amongst some small percentage of Canada. To no hear what is going on in the world and as well with a few people not wishing or wanting to speak English I found that there still is dissension within Canada. Most know I love cultures yet when you run into a few that will not speak English yet they know it. I feel that Canada missed the boat in some manners. The US did it right as there is one standard language throughout the land. Whereas in parts of Quebec there literally that stand back - unless you said you were a tourist. I will expand on this as I love Canada as much as I do the US I learned a something with regards to cultures and languages...I love cultures but I never really enjoyed literally feeling like I was in another country.
Just a mention...
Yet people will be people but again if there is one thing that United States as well as a few other countries...the language of the land is English. I found that some within Quebec still live thinking that they are there own country.
I agree with you Jack, English is the universal language. I like different cultures too.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is the universal language? Since when?
ReplyDeleteI love the diversity of languages used in the U.S. However, I do expect people from other countries, when in any kind of business that requires communication, to use English with me.
Within families & their own communities, I think they should continue to respect & maintain their culture...which includes their language, of course.
I love cultures and in no way do I have a distaste for them however this is what I found within Canada, Quebec was great yet there still was that prejudice against the english yet only with some....Cath.
ReplyDeleteOh it's been the universal language ....for a long long time. Yet in what you say I could not agree more Lucija...Quebec is kind of a country of it's own within Canada. Take California and declare it's official language of the United States and it just never would happen. There is a difference and it's something I kind of found with my own country here. Yet here and in so many places you have a variety of people that speak two languages yet they communicate within work and literally they come to learn English....yet in Quebec there is a little dissension...but we can blame it on the Queen :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the diversity of languages. With that said, some of my friends have mentioned that they were turned down for jobs due to not speaking Spanish. The jobs they applied for were not Spanish businesses, yet Spanish seems to have become a prerequisite for many employment opportunities here in the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteJack, I'm not being disagreeable, believe me! Who declared it the universal language, & how? I'm really interested.
ReplyDeleteJust a little note: I've always noticed just a nuance of difference in your English than in say, mine. Could this be from the time you spent in Canada?
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L-O-V-E is the universal language, in my opinion. Just sayin'! :)
ReplyDeleteThat simply isn't fair. Spanish people MUST learn English! This our country, we speak English, why should we accommodate those who don't want to learn our language?
ReplyDeleteSo. Then, why is it that many 'foreign' people we have to deal with, in stores, banks, on the phone, have jobs that don't require them to speak ENGLISH? What nonsense.
I like that !
ReplyDeleteSometimes Silence is a better Language.
ReplyDeleteI believe I mentioned that in Jack's first blog?
ReplyDeleteI am in Canada and I just arrived back from Quebec a few days ago as I was there for three months Lucija...and I did not write that much so getting into the jest...
ReplyDeleteSmiling yeah :)
ReplyDeletescootch2 wrote today at 6:22 PM
ReplyDeleteHmm. I thought you might have meant something more spiritual, the language of loving, caring, pleasure & so on.
This was my response after Jack answered my question regarding what he meant by "universal language."
My apologies...
ReplyDeleteExactly my point. It is said that Spanish is the 2nd language in the US, but to disqualify someone from a job for not speaking (Spanish) is wrong. Frankly, I get so annoyed when I call my bank, phone company, or internet provider, for example, and I have to constantly ask them to repeat what they've said. Oftentimes, they become annoyed because I cannot understand them because of their pronounced accents. Sometimes I think I'm the one in a foreign country.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree. You reminded me of a little poem I wrote to theme on a web site:
ReplyDeleteThe Language of Love
…lucija jovanovic ©
The language of love has far greater depth
Not spoken in words, but seen through the eyes
Felt by one's touch, gentle and comforting
Laughing, sharing moments together
Sensed over distances, thoughts intertwined
Warm in one's heart, peaceful and sweet
Memories cherished, coming to surface
At the most unpredictable times
Love is silence rich in its tapestry, carefully
Woven with beautiful colours
Sensitive to the loved one's moods
Honest and unconditional
Words fly to winds, written on slips of paper
The language of love needs no words
(It looks, & reads much better centered, but oh, well.
To whom, & for what, Jack??
ReplyDeleteI've seen nothing to apologize for! :)
@ Scootch, Thank you, that is such a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteI was talking with a technician about a Norton problem, & we simply could not understand but a few words from each other. I finally said as nicely as I could, "Sweetie, I'm sorry, I only speak English, could I please speak to an English speaking person?" She hung up on me! Yikes.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU. Your "silence' is so true & I thought you might like to see how I feel.
ReplyDeleteJust stepped outdoors and came bank and this is a great poem to say the least!
ReplyDeleteOk well it's a decent thing to do...yet the poem was tremendous.
ReplyDeleteI am just getting back into writing and it's been a while..
Thank you, Jack. It's not one of my best, (as to form & flow), it was the thought...
ReplyDeleteI can relate to what you're saying. When this happens I try my utmost to be polite, but at a certain point after becoming totally frustrated, I have blurted out "Could you please put someone on the phone who speaks English?" The problem is, very often they don't have anyone at the help desks who speaks English. Yet these very same individuals get the jobs that English speaking people are being denied.
ReplyDeleteYeah the wording did kind of come out wrongly.....I love cultures but I found something within my trip but for the most part there were great people. And even here within Canada there is a galore of different languages. I need not be politically correct as I have always believe in cultures and certainly still do. I was raised that way, and am that way...the world would be a very strange place if we were all alike...that is what is so unique.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is something to be learned from everyone we meet. The possibilities are endless in this great big Universe of ours! :)
ReplyDeletewhen wars were lost in europe---germany for example---the people were left with their language---when the war was lost in america----the people were forbidden their language and their chidren were taken to boarding schools and taught to speak english----hence english became the language of america---there were once 500nations and 500languages and 500cultures-----in what is now known as america---ellis island stands as a reminder that most are from another land ---welcomed by the lady of the harbour------a great experiment---a great testimony to the humanity of this land we call america----language is important to one's identity----communication is important to one's humanity-----both are equally important to america lest we repeat the mistakes of the past.............
ReplyDeleteLanguage is important to ones identity I fully understand that, this went the wrong way. I was probably much too tired at the time and should have opted out from writing but here is one cutie that was adopted from two friends within Montreal there daughter which came from China actually went to school - grade one and did a write on here new friend. I didn't know it was me till her father (great guy) explained it too me. Yet I never have place there picture on but this one was the silent type yet was smart as a cookie......She is on the bottom left and she came home to her mother and wrote on "her new friend Jack". Now both of these children where adopted and came from China and that is a large adapation yet I was very surprised yet I knew that she was smart as can be - yet needed a little more to adjust with things and how she and they did it well.
ReplyDeleteThe main point is to communicate. Refusing to speak when one understands is not seeking to communicate. Language and culture are alive and therefore change. Personally I believe we should all try to speak several languages.
ReplyDeleteLiterally I do as well and I am not covering my behind....one whom leaves all without regard is one that is empty but look above and you will see a family that literally was of great communication as many are - it's beyond language. It's more about the people that we do communicate with and realize that there is worth within it. Languages I came to find were one in which I had lost yet dialogue is much different. As you know.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the photo, Jack. The little girls in the picture are so adorable, and I bet they're gonna be showered with a whole lot of love from their new parents! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are tremendous people Maryann...and will keep in touch with them - definately.
ReplyDeleteYes, they certainly sound like wonderful people know!
ReplyDelete