Tiba, I agree with you that Haiti's down fall is not language
Tiba, I agree with you that Haiti's down fall is not language per se but poor administration is the true culprit.
However, I have to disagree with you with French usage in Haiti.
True, French is spoken mainly by very few as a main language.
Everybody speaks Haitian Creole everywhere on the Island.
French is being used by everybody in public from stores to government offices.
As a matter of fact, one is categorized by how pedantic one's French capacity, no matter how frivolous the content is....
Yes, French language has its place in Haiti.
Haiti's public schools population would not have a job in the private sectors as white color workers and in government offices if the workers did not have some proficiency in French.
Homes where French is widely used, one needs to know Haitian Creole to communicate with the service workers.
Both French and Haitian Creole are necessary in Haiti.
A third, fourth language (s) certainly could help individuals as we are approaching a global village.
People who speak many different languages are sought after in the business world.
You are wrong about China and Japan.
They are both avid language users and appreciate other cultures.
I know, I made a small fortune by teaching French and English in Japan and China.
Both China and Japan are fiercely conservative about their culture but they also appreciate and are interested about other people's culture.
In fact, the western joke about Japan is that Buddha is not Japanese supreme being but Japan IS.
Nothing personal, Tiba, but I, too, am having second thought on using this site for I can't take anymore the level of communication that is going on in here.
I wish everybody luck and hope things work out for the best.
I am very sorry that Linda decided not to blog anymore.
She was one of the POTO MITAN on this site.
On my part, this is pretty much an ADIEU.
Bernadette Shiels
The topic is: French should not be official
This is a reply to Msg 22728
Posted by Bernadette S. on June 27 2010 at 10:16 PM