Language Divide

Most countries are divided by language. In the cities, most inhabitants speak English in addition to their national language. English was recognized by all countries as the language of “business” decades ago. 

In some European countries, city inhabitants speak English, their national language and another language or two based on their closest neighbors. In Brussels, many city-dwellers speak English, French, German and Dutch.

In the suburbs and rural areas in all countries, inhabitants speak their national language. They live in villages and work where their national language is spoken.  If they own or work in a business that deals with tourists, like a bakery, restaurant, hotel or retail shop they speak English.

So, most countries have two groups. Those who don’t deal with foreigners only speak their national languages. Those who deal with foreigners speak several languages. These two groups relate to each other in their national languages and most speak their national language in their home.

The schools in all countries teach the languages that are useful to their students. Learning other languages in the US is rare, because we don’t usually have to learn them. I took Latin in high school and German in college. When I had to travel to Germany on business decades later, I was able to speak a little German again. I appreciate the fun in conversing in other languages, but living in the US makes it unnecessary.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader