Pax, excellent response. Content is what is important.
Keith Wheeler, many, many Americans know more than one language. You are accepting the European view of the ugly American. I have a good friend who is a Brit. He explained to me that Brits are often not multi-lingual, and that makes other Europeans mad. He says "hey, if most business was conducted in Chinese or Spanish, then I'd learn it. They're just jealous." Way back, most people learned French because it was the langauge of international business. It no longer is, it's been replaced by English. In the future it could very well be Chinese (and then I'll be in good shape, although my Cantonese will have to move over for Mandarin).
Please don't insult multi-lingual Americans with cliches.
Keith Wheeler, many, many Americans know more than one language. You are accepting the European view of the ugly American. I have a good friend who is a Brit. He explained to me that Brits are often not multi-lingual, and that makes other Europeans mad. He says "hey, if most business was conducted in Chinese or Spanish, then I'd learn it. They're just jealous." Way back, most people learned French because it was the langauge of international business. It no longer is, it's been replaced by English. In the future it could very well be Chinese (and then I'll be in good shape, although my Cantonese will have to move over for Mandarin).
Please don't insult multi-lingual Americans with cliches.