General Discussion

eppur_se_muova

(41,489 posts)

5. For most of history, in most parts of the world, a polyglot population has been the norm.

Reply to generalbetrayus (Original post)

Thu Feb 12, 2026, 10:32 AM

Feb 12

Last edited Thu Feb 12, 2026, 12:17 PM - Edit history (1)

People who believe otherwise have not read enough history. The US is something of an exception in this regard.

It is estimated that at the time of the French Revolution in 1789, only half of the population of France could speak French, and as late as 1871 only a quarter spoke French as their native language.[7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_France

ETA: I could also have mentioned that modern Spain, formed by the union of Aragon and Castille, has a greater variety of languages than most Americans are aware of (hey, them Yerpeens is weird, huh?) -- the Barcelona Olympics brought a lot of attention to Catalunya (Catalonia) and its language. Rick Steves has also discussed Catalan culture on some his shows.

I'm not very good at learning languages, but I've tried learning other alphabets so I can understand some of what protest signs in foreign countries are saying.

If you're considering learning the Cyrillic alphabet, let me save you some trouble & tell you that many protest signs in Russia say "Putin Nyet", which I believe needs no translation.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

7 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

druidity33 generalbetrayus PatSeg erronis RockCreek Easterncedar love_katz

45 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Words of wisdom from my awesome son-in-law on Facebook this morning. My daughter is a very lucky woman. [View all] generalbetrayus Feb 12 OP

Great attitude. badhair77 Feb 12 #1

Oh, the butt hurt boys are always getting pissed off at being laughed at Walleye Feb 12 #2

I'm 100% with your Son-in-Law. MineralMan Feb 12 #3

It could make some people feel excluded PatSeg Feb 12 #4

Most people aren't being talked about by others in public. haele Feb 12 #6

This is true PatSeg Feb 12 #7

For most of history, in most parts of the world, a polyglot population has been the norm. eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #5

I'm too lazy to provide a link(s), but from my reading of the Middle East at the time of Jesus Christ, I have learned generalbetrayus Feb 12 #8

That's interesting about the French PatSeg Feb 12 #9

I know that Occitan/Provencal was actively spoken in the south. Probably German in the east. Dutch to the north. erronis Feb 12 #11

An Occitan author won a Nobel Prize in Literature. eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #20

Thank you, that was helpful PatSeg Feb 12 #29

Click on the link to the Wikipedia entry; it's pretty thorough. eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #18

Thank you PatSeg Feb 12 #30

This message was self-deleted by its author eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #19

What bothers me the most? otchmoson Feb 12 #10

Had an incident many years back in a Walmart rurallib Feb 12 #12

And I was sitting on a flight from Seattle to DC with a bunch of burly men speaking a strange language. erronis Feb 12 #31

It was a long time before English-speakers first showed up Seinan Sensei Feb 12 #13

I am pleased to send you a DU heart for this wonderful post. NNadir Feb 12 #14

Thank you! generalbetrayus Feb 12 #40

The GOP members LittleGirl Feb 12 #15

Exactly 👍👍💙 TommieMommy Feb 12 #16

I was six years old when we left Budapest I. 1956. ChazInAz Feb 12 #17

A very healthy attitude! You got a good one in that son-in-law. hamsterjill Feb 12 #21

I hear him. As for people who 'love to hate'. They are projecting their self-hatred onto others. Sick fucks. Joinfortmill Feb 12 #22

"Conservatism" isn't a coherent political philosophy; it's just a bad attitude William Seger Feb 12 #24

I prefer to hear people talking to each other in languages other than English. tanyev Feb 12 #23

I like hearing the other languages because they are beautiful and remind me that we are multi-cultural. erronis Feb 12 #32

Echo this! ihaveaquestion Feb 12 #25

Your son-in-law is a good person LetMyPeopleVote Feb 12 #26

Thank you, I agree. generalbetrayus Feb 12 #41

You know what irritates me???????? popsdenver Feb 12 #27

Yep, I get really ticked off about that too ... hard not to take it out on the operators, but not their fault ... eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #33

Yea popsdenver Feb 12 #39

That new name would be more fitting. The states aren't that united these days. raccoon Feb 13 #45

I grew up with relatives speaking Italian around us kids... Historic NY Feb 12 #28

Wow, thanks for that ! nt eppur_se_muova Feb 12 #34

I'm very impressed. He knows a lot of words and is willing to learn more. Better than most Americans. erronis Feb 12 #36

The guy is brilliant! Easterncedar Feb 12 #42

that was WONDERFUL Kali Feb 12 #43

I always feel guilty that I lost all of my Spanish vocabulary from mis-use kerry-is-my-prez Feb 12 #35

just curious Skittles Feb 12 #37

My daughter had a spanish speaking care giver, at her day care. My daughter was her favorite, cksmithy Feb 12 #38

growing up in NYC, that was one of my very favorite things Javaman Feb 13 #44