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Americans are lazy Go Americish
Debate Score:3
Arguments:12
Total Votes:3
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 Americans are lazy (3)

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shoutoutloud(4303) pic



Americans are amazed by bilinguals ?

This debate will concern an article I just read, you can find it here

 

Americans seem amazed by people who are bilingual .. which is surprising to me, since most of danes speak three languages fluently, some more. I'm pretty sure this goes the rest of the world too.

This  source here tells me only 18% of americans speak a language besides english, I'm not sure who is included in this, or if this source is trustworthy.    Of the few countries I googled, this was the lowest I could find - if you find anything lower, feel free to share.  In brittain there are 38% who speak languages other than english, which is also quite low compared to many other countries, but still twice as high compared to US.

This  source here tells me almost all danes speak english, many speak german and one out of 10 speak french - you can google translate it, if you feel the need to do that.

 

Should americans pick up their lazy asses and learn some languages (maybe you should learn your own properly first), or is one enough?

 

Studies show people who speak multiple languages have a big practical advantage at work.

Americans are lazy

Side Score: 3
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Go Americish

Side Score: 0

Although I do agree that Americans need to place more emphasis on learning second languages. and that we display a disturbing amount of linguistic egocentrism, this isn't entirely without explanation.

The US has borders with two countries. This is notably fewer than your average European or African nation. On top of that, one of those two countries speaks primarily English. All of this with the growing prominence of English (not to mention the ease of finding English speakers in business) means there is less incentive to learn other languages than in a country that is surrounded and linked to numerous other nations.

We're still arrogant and lazy when it comes to language though.

Side: Americans are lazy
shoutoutloud(4303) Clarified
1 point

The US has borders with two countries. This is notably fewer than your average European or African nation. On top of that, one of those two countries speaks primarily English.

Denmark only borders germany, there is of course a bridge between Denmark and Sweden but it is very new. only 15 years I think.

Also neither Sweden or Germany has english as their native language, even though that is the most common second language amongst danes. I don't really see this as an excuse :)

Side: Americans are lazy
MuckaMcCaw(1970) Clarified
1 point

A: In Europe, borders have a different effect than over here. You may only border Germany, but how many countries could you visit in day? How many languages spoken in an area of a similar size to the US? How long has this been going on?

B: Well, yeah. English is much more dominant than Danish, particularly as a second language, so its easier for an English speaker to find someone to talk to.

Side: Americans are lazy
1 point

There are two types of Americans, the other is called Mericans, Mericans are the ignorant rednecks bible thumping Obama hating coffee drinking overweight McDonald eating bigoted slobs that gave us all a bad name.

I myself speak two languages and even I was told by some ignorant Merican to stop speaking spanish this is Merica lol.

Side: Americans are lazy
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