How much I miss the English language.
For years I lived in a country in which
English was my private world
Where I taught my children the language of my youth
Where I laughed at the jokes that did not make it into the translation
Where I believed that one day I would again feel at home
In a country in which English was spoken as the main language.
What a shock it was to return to the United States
And to discover that English no longer rules
To find that the language I knew is barely understood
To hear a street patois I can scarcely comprehend
And to hear other tongues that I understand not at all
Being spoken all around me in great abundance.
It seems that in my absence, the country has changed
And it is now my fate to remain an eternal expatriate
For all time to come, with English being only a souvenir
From a time long past, recorded only in publications
And spoken on rare occasions by persons in the media
And when necessary, by persons in the government as well.
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Comments: 40
And it will continue to change, even for the languages you referenced.
I apoligize for the generic post, but I am trying to get to everyone who has posted. I came and saw, be it an article or an image, and I have given you a ten for your great works. I recieved an email saying Gather extended the tripple points another day, so here is to more points for you!
Thanks for answering my Christmas Question #3 of the 25 Days of Christmas Questions! As promised, I always reciprocate comments made to my articles/pics!
Merry Christmas Comments
"I lived in South Carolina most of my life and was a teacher/librarian. At one point we were told to ONLY correct written language and not to correct spoken language as this was a violation of the student's culture."
The Gulla there is almost the same as my Creole here in Jamaica. Tell your authorities that it is unkind of them to insist that you not correct spoken English. Without a good grasp of spoken English, you are limiting yourself. Regardless of where you are or what your native tongue is, mastery of English (spoken and written) is key to your academic and economic advancement. Ask the Chinese; ask the Japanese, ask the Singaporeans.
"Her English is too good, he said,
Which clearly indicates that she is foreign.
Whereas others are instructed in their native language
English people aren't."
Americans are also not taught English well, as Donna indicated. I remember when I was growing up in North Carolina, people who spoke good English were ridiculed and regarded as "not belonging".