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From: wes@ukecc.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.lang
Subject: Multilingualism and the Military
Message-ID: <816@ukecc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Nov-86 11:45:52 EST
Article-I.D.: ukecc.816
Posted: Fri Nov 21 11:45:52 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Nov-86 02:33:00 EST
Organization: Nuke the Gay Whales, Inc. @ UKentucky, Lexington
Lines: 43
Keywords: I know - I was there!!!


   Mark has made some statements based on his experiences as both a soldier
stationed in Asia and as the husband of a Japanese-American.  I intend no 
insult to his wife; I dated a Korean lady for a while myself.  However, my
experiences in the military were quite different.
   Most soldiers in Asia tend to be 'Asia-phobic' due to the simple fact 
that most of Asia is still 'American-phobic'.  Soldiers stationed in Germany,
for example, have no such problem; they readily take part in the local 
economy.  This is due to several things.  The German society does not 
class Americans as some outside group; there are no parallels to the
Japanese 'gaijin' attitude.  Secondly, the German language is much less
of a barrier to Americans than Japanese.  Thirdly, the Germans, while 
treasuring their privacy, do not adhere to a strict class culture. (I
have not been in Asia, so I cannot comment on the class structure there.)
I will grant the point that many Germans, especially those living around
US military bases, are fluent in English.  This 'slice of home' is defi- 
nitely a contributing factor to American involvement in the local culture.
   One could expect an American in Japan to have much the same reaction/
culture shock as a Japanese in America.  Again, we have come full circle 
to one of the major factors in any culture; language.  This culture shock
is best dealt with in what manner?  It is dealt with through expanded
knowledge of the new culture.  What, then, is the first priority in learn-
ing about a culture?  It's simple: Learn the language!!!
   Many people on the net have told of their difficulties in other countries.
They all seem to have resolved whatever problems they may have had with
one major gesture: LEARNING THE LANGUAGE!!!!

Can we expect any sort of coherent society in the future if we do not
presume our new Americans to do the same??

I've received several reponses via e-mail; all have been answered.
Keep those flames and kudos coming!!!!


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    Wes Morgan           UUCP:       !cbosgd!ukma!ukecc!wes
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    " Disclaimer? Huh? You mean this was supposed to be *MY* opinion?"