Would You Learn Polish Or Urdu?

[vortex]

How far would you go to help integration?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4130410/Brits-learn-Polish-says-university-professor.html

[vortex]

Islay,that wasn't a criticism.I am sure you work very hard.I was just wondering on a general point if you felt strongly about the issue whether you would sacrifice something else?

[vortex]

Just to add to that and I know everyone's circumstances differ, but Naomi24 for example said she would be willing to give up some time to volunteer.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

/// As I went to a Secondary Modern school, languages were not even considered suitable or necessary for us cannon fodder. ///

So you think that our education system only educates our children to become 'cannon fodder', do you?

You hold your country in such low esteem, I wonder why you continue to live here.

[anotheoldgit]

Islay

/// Its double standards that we expect immigrants to learn our language but make no effort to learn theirs. ///

It is not double standards at all, they have chosen to come to an English speaking country so it is their duty to speak our language.

Besides English is the international language, for example spoken buy all airlines, even used by all the countries taking part in the Eurovision song contest, that is all but France who seem to hold a certain objection to speaking in English.

[vortex]

AOG,regarding Eurovision,not quite! The Austrian young woman sang in French too ;-)

[aelmpvw]

///// Its double standards that we expect immigrants to learn our language but make no effort to learn theirs. ///

english speaking people living in multicultural areas are going to be very busy at nightschool learning languages

[-Talbot-]

Some very insincere answers on this thread.

[-Talbot-]

Btw ... I would learn Polish and Urdu but I fear it would interfere with all my charity work. I only have so many hours in the day to do great things.

[EcclesCake]

I wouldn't mind knowing some Polish as I like a lot of the food but struggle to work out if I'm buying the right thing.

Probably wouldn't bother with Urdu as there is little guarantee that it would be the right language should I need it. An Indian couple I know speak English between themselves as it is their common language, neither has ever grasped the others language/dialect.

I'd like to improve my Dari, not that I envisage much opportunity to put it to use but the language construct is fascinating.

[Eleena]

No.

[anotheoldgit]

How many Welsh people can speak their language?

[vortex]

...and Irish.

[ummmm]

I think Irish, like Welsh, is spoken in certain parts. I'm Irish and only know a handle of people that speak Irish fluently.

[ichkeria]

Polish is not too bad if you master the pronounciation.
And given English sentences like 'That has not been thought through thoroughly though? Tough!'
... it's a piece of cake.
Peterpedantish now that's a different matter.

[NellieMay]

No

[ichkeria]

Irish is a nightmare. The greatest Irish joke is the claim that there are only 11 irregular verbs. If ever there was a case of 'that's only part of the story'!

[-Talbot-]

Would a handle of people be just the one ummmm?

[ummmm]

I'm from Thiobraid Árann (Tipperary) and it's pronounced Tipprodawn

[ummmm]

*ful...lol

[ichkeria]

Irish scrabble must be very frustrating. No j, no q, no w, no k, no x, no v, no y, no z :-)