Actually, "Language, Truth and Logic" is a fairly interesting book by
A.J. Ayer, who chose to discuss the elimination of Metaphysics from
certain levels of argumentation.

It may or may not have a true bearing on the argument which has been
going on in the referenced thread. I will leave that to you, after
you have carefully considered the merits of the book.

A cogent point, though, is that Nations do not survive the dissolution
of their language base.

Rome declined more so on the lack of common language than from the
assaults from the Goths.

China, prior to the unification under the Chin's was enfeebled by a
lack of common language; solved by the introduction of Mandarin as the
point of commonality which could be written, albeit not universally
spoken.

The use of language as a tool of either unification or subjugation is
written throughout history.

The Germans would not be called so, were it not for the forced
unification of language under the unification of the principalities.

England, under Cromwell, thought so highly of the concept of national
language as to forbid its use in Ireland; thus eliminating a State,
Nation, and Culture in one blow.

To introduce a current reference; Canada suffers, almost to the point
of dismemberment, from the existence of two strong language/culture
bases within her confines.

The United States of America, which I truly believe was intended, and
continues to intend, the assimilation of all cultures into its weave,
must not confuse inclusion with assimilation.

We must include with the intention to assimilate. We must maintain
our Nationhood, according to the accepted definition of same, as
involving a unity of Culture, Policy and Language.

The move to teach those whom we would seek to include, in a language
other than the core language of the culture, is misguided. It has the
potential to ghettoize those whom we would seek to help.

We speak English because it was the dominant language of the time of
the incorporation into what has become the United States of America.

It really is that simple.

English should not become the Mandarin of the USA.

It should not be only the cognoscenti who can speak the lingua franca
- it must be the general citizenry - or the whole experiment is
finished.

And, it is a grand experiment. And, I believe it is not finished.












Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)