Comments on: Language, communication and freedom http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/ Politics and economy commentary from Spain and the world. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:41:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: psr http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1189 psr Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:48:04 +0000 http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1189 Dear Joe: When I say that I disagree that language is culture, I am not saying this is an argument for anything. I am saying this is my opinion... sorry if this was not clear from my writing. I did not deliberately leave out anything. The article talks about Spain nowadays, not under the dictatorship of over 30 years ago. You are absolutely right, though, that the language policies during that dictatorship are absolutely equal to the policies that are in effect today in several regions of Spain, only the situation is reversed. It used to be that the use of regional languages was restricted, and today we have the opposite situation: People are being forced to not use the Spanish language. Both policies are equally wrong. People should not be forced to use one or the other. Today in Spain, like 40 or 50 years ago, there is language oppression and curbing of freedoms (granted, we do have some more freedoms now than then, but not in relation to language use). And to answer your other comment: Why would it be wrong for a CEO to challenge a Government (regional or not)? Are Governments untouchable? Are they always right? Not always, and anyone should be able to challenge them, whether it is an individual, a corporation, or a CEO. Cheers, Dear Joe:

When I say that I disagree that language is culture, I am not saying this is an argument for anything. I am saying this is my opinion… sorry if this was not clear from my writing.

I did not deliberately leave out anything. The article talks about Spain nowadays, not under the dictatorship of over 30 years ago.

You are absolutely right, though, that the language policies during that dictatorship are absolutely equal to the policies that are in effect today in several regions of Spain, only the situation is reversed. It used to be that the use of regional languages was restricted, and today we have the opposite situation: People are being forced to not use the Spanish language.

Both policies are equally wrong. People should not be forced to use one or the other. Today in Spain, like 40 or 50 years ago, there is language oppression and curbing of freedoms (granted, we do have some more freedoms now than then, but not in relation to language use).

And to answer your other comment: Why would it be wrong for a CEO to challenge a Government (regional or not)? Are Governments untouchable? Are they always right? Not always, and anyone should be able to challenge them, whether it is an individual, a corporation, or a CEO.

Cheers,

]]> By: Joe http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1188 Joe Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:54:46 +0000 http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1188 "The reaction of Air Berlin’s director, Mr. Joachim Hunold, was perfectly correct." Yeah, a CEO challenging a (local) Government. Perfectly correct... “The reaction of Air Berlin’s director, Mr. Joachim Hunold, was perfectly correct.”

Yeah, a CEO challenging a (local) Government. Perfectly correct…

]]> By: Joe http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1187 Joe Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:53:40 +0000 http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1187 "Language is often considered to be an aspect of culture. I dissent." Yeah, that's a strong argument "Nothing further from the truth: Spain, despite being a Democratic state, is a prime example of language oppression and curbing of freedoms." did you deliberately leave out of the picture something? Hope this helps to improve your otherwise excellent article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_politics_in_Spain_under_Franco “Language is often considered to be an aspect of culture. I dissent.”

Yeah, that’s a strong argument

“Nothing further from the truth: Spain, despite being a Democratic state, is a prime example of language oppression and curbing of freedoms.”

did you deliberately leave out of the picture something? Hope this helps to improve your otherwise excellent article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_politics_in_Spain_under_Franco

]]> By: Trist http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1185 Trist Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:11:06 +0000 http://www.megaspora.net/en/2008/06/08/language-communication-and-freedom/#comment-1185 All this is concequence of the catalan language not having a state to back it, and thus considered as a second rate language an as nuissance by those would rather see it disapear. All this is concequence of the catalan language not having a state to back it, and thus considered as a second rate language an as nuissance by those would rather see it disapear.

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