On or about 10/20/03 5:11 PM, Anna Silliman ever-so-carefully typed: >Previously, chris wrote: > >>they at least know enough words to have gotten themselves past the >>citizen exam... but I also heard recently that Newark is now offering >>that exam in multiple languages lest we offened someone who moved to the >>USA but decided it wasn't worth the effort to learn the local language). >> >Not to continue an OT thread, but.... > >My great-grandfather was a naturalized citizen of the U.S., >a hard worker and a successful businessman. He was born >in Germany and never spoke or read much English. In Wisconsin >at that time, you could even buy newspapers in German. > >This is a normal process; a historical fact. The first generation >to come here often never quite makes a complete adaptation. But they pave >the way for their children to succeed. > >The second generation typically adapts so eagerly that they don't >want to speak their parents' language. My grandmother didn't speak a >word of German. I have worked with refugees and immigrant families, >from many countries, and communication problems between the generations >is a big issue for them. > >--Anna
My Great, Great Grandmother and Grandfather were part of a French-speaking (maybe Freedom-speaking, too, now that I think of it) community in Illinois. The next two generations grew up there, speaking French. The church records were kept in French. It was a very cohesive community. In fact, that community focussed its energies and wealth to build an amazing church - a Cathedral on the Prairie - in the tiny town of Beaverville, Illinois. By all accounts, it was a wonderful example of what a community can be. My Grandmother's generation was the first to begin speaking English. >From that time on, for good or ill, that community lost its cohesiveness and its focus. The little towns have shrunk, and that fabulous church has fallen into disrepair, with too little money or energy to care for it. We have always had foreign-language communities living among us, many who have given strong support to their language and traditions. I can't bring myself to think of this as a bad thing. I agree that it might be better to learn English as well as the language of the "old country", but I'm greatly saddened when I see or hear of people shaming children (or adults for that matter) for maintaining a foreign language, or even just urging them to give it up. We are in many ways the richer for having it in our midst. Roger Borg do not consider giving technology away, only assimilating it. -- Seven of Nine ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a mail message with a SUBJECT line of "unsubscribe" to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
