The foolish things that people say

I have subscribed to google alert for a variety of terms including "language learning". As a result I was able to read the comments of Sacha Trudeau, son of Pierre Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada. Sacha Trudeau was giving a speech at the University of Western Ontario and said " not speaking more than one language can make you myopic, just look at the United States" and that Canadian blingualism was worth as much to Canada as the Tar Sands".

I have no problem with silly people saying silly things. Why are they invited to talk at universities and why are they reported on in the newspapers?

I speak 11 languages and have never assumed that people who do not share my interest in languages are less intelligent, myopic or otherwise to be looked down upon. I do not know if all the violin virtuosos, skilled artisans, research scientists and successful entrepreneurs are multilingual.  Some are and some are not.  I know some pretty outstanding people who are unilingual, and some pretty stupid people who speak more than one language, like Sacha Trudeau.

Comments

[joseph palmer]

Kudos to you for not boasting too much of the 11 languages, but the point here is probably more that just one foreign language gives you a certain insight into the nature of language, culture and life generally.

Having said that Canadian bilingualism is not so very widespread, and the US does have a few bilinguals!

[Steve Kaufmann]

Right Joseph, I have no idea if Americans are more or less bilingual than English Canadians, but I suspect there is not much difference. The same is undoubtedly true for the degree of narrow mindedness in the two countries.

[Albert Romo]

Great post Steve! There are many unilingual people who do great stuff and are brilliant in their own field of study. There is no possible way that unilingualism makes you myopic.

However, I do make an exception for those who refuse to respect other cultures and languages, and demand that all things within the US (or any country) be English, basically showing a myopic view on culture.

[Vincent Pace]

Beautiful zinger in the last line!

[Ed Fobes]

Meh, his brother represents the Liberals in Papineau (Montreal). He is probably just promoting the family brand first and foremost

[Jason Sharp]

Haha great post! It is one thing to promote language learning, and another to feel superior to those who choose not to do it.

@Joseph. Sure another language has a lot of benefits, but isn't it true that choosing to learn ANYTHING has benefits? We could start bashing people for not choosing to study science, because science helps you learn more about the natural world around you, or for not learning yoga because it helps calm your mind and improve your health.

Even if his point was that learning another language is a good thing, he makes it seem as though it's a rudimentary necessity to being intelligent.

Steve hit this right on the spot here :)

[Friedemann]

Steve,

Sometimes I find your language a bit too abrasive. I've always enjoyed watching your Youtube videos, but that kind of language was something that I didn't like back then. I don't really know how to put a monetary value on bilingualism, but isn't that your mantra to say that speaking foreign languages is indeed an asset and something that should be encouraged? Why is Mr. Trudeau stupid for saying what he said?

Friedemann

Friedemann

[Steve Kaufmann]

Of course I encourage people to learn languages, Friedemann. I do not say that people who do not learn languages are unintelligent or myopic.

Sacha Trudeau is stupid for implying that people who speak only one language are narrow minded. Having lived and traveled to many countries and met many people who only spoke their native language, I have not found that to be the case.

Sacha Trudeau is stupid for implying that Americans are uniquely monolingual and uniquely myopic, and for hoping to get a laugh from students with this cheap anti-Americanism.

Sacha Trudeau is stupid for comparing Canadian bilingualism to the Tar Sands. Most English Canadians are not bilingual. Bilingualism for them is either irrelevant, or an irritant, or an obstacle to a good government job, or an enormously expensive opportunity for government waste.

The Tar Sands is, rightly or wrongly, a favourite whipping boy for environmentalists and has nothing to do with languages. It is a complex subject and not one that lends itself to simplistic comments like this one by Trudeau.

As to my style, it is not meant to please everyone and is also not about to change.

[Friedemann]

I don't have any transcript of his speech, I can only judge from the newspaper article I found on the net. I can tell you though that I've found more than a grain of truth behind many clichees and stereotypes about Americans. Whether it has something to do with them being monolingual or multilingual, I don't really know.

It might be only a minor difference to some, but I'd rather say that I don't agree with someone's argument or even call an argument stupid, than calling someone stupid unless he has convincingly prooved that he really is (I think G.W. Bush would qualify).

I don't agree with some of your arguments, but I would not call you stupid. I think a less strident tone makes one's arguments much more convincing.

Friedemann

[Maite]

Who likes to be stereotyped?

I'm American and I can certainly converse in several languages, but I don't mind if a physician only speaks English. It's enough.
We shouldn't expect everyone to be a polymath.

[Steve Kaufmann]

The thing about national stereotypes is that they all have more than a grain of truth in them, or at least it seems that way to us as we choose to only remember the people who confirm our prejudices. And all nations harbour stereotypes about other nations, no nation is exempt.

[Oldboy]

"As to my style, it is not meant to please everyone and is also not about to change."

It pleases me a great deal; while that is easy for me to say (I have yet to disagree with you), I respect your opinions, and enjoy the way you deliver them.

To everyone else: Steve is always thoughtful and never unclear; let him articulate his thoughts with the same passion he holds them with. Why should he walk on eggshells? He actually believes what he says; deal with it.

And notice how Friedemann is uncomfortable with judgmental swipes... unless they are directed at Americans and _their_ politicians. Give me a break. Either let Steve call it like he sees it and deal with it, or lead by example and hold your own tongue.

Personally, I find that Friedemann's behavior holds more than a grain of similarity to cliches and stereotypes about Europeans.

[Friedemann]

Oldboy,

would you like to be called stupid by me because I disagree with what you just said?

Friedemann

[Steve Kaufmann]

Friedemann,

You seem comfortable with gratuitous national stereotypes but have trouble with the word stupid. I have explained why I found Trudeau stupid. Surely you would have to explain why you found Old Boy's statement stupid. I disagree with lots of people and do not find what they say stupid. I find Trudeau's statements stupid, all the more so because he is potentially a person of influence speaking to school children, and promoting prejudice and the unquestioning acceptance of preconceived ideas.

He is, in effect, saying "You are in French immersion. School kids not in French immersion are myopic. Your parents, who probably do not speak French, are myopic. Best of all, Americans are myopic, all because they do not speak French like you and me"

As a person of influence asked to speak to school children, there are many things he could have said. "You guys are a model for Canadians, you are strengthening national unity, you have lots to contribute to our country, you are lucky to gain access to another culture with a rich tradition, you should learn more languages and enrich your lives..." and on and on. I could have given that speech.

Instead he chose to gratuitously take pot shots at Americans and, in passing the Tar Sands. These things are not only irrelevant to language learning, but also not true, just silly, and just designed to appeal to prejudices that many of these school kids' teachers have no doubt been trying to indoctrinate in their students, which is another abuse of power and another subject entirely.

Definitions 1 and 3 apply to Trudeau.

Stupid.

1 given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner c: lacking intelligence or reason
2: dulled in feeling or sensation : torpid
3: marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting : senseless
4 a: lacking interest or point

[Maite]

"he is potentially a person of influence speaking to school children, and promoting prejudice and the unquestioning acceptance of preconceived ideas."

Thank-you for writing this. There is wisdom in it.