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SamIam · 10-03-2007, 07:06 PM

I live right on the boundary of the Navajo Nation or the Rez as some folks call it. There are oodles of people speaking Navajo around here, and everyone seems to survive the experience. I disagree with Bruce's scenario of the Spanish speaking dog doing its number on an English speaking yard. Being polite can work wonders with the language barrier. For example, I was in the local Walmart this morning, and got distracted trying to figure out what steering fluid I needed to buy for my car. There I was, lost in rapt contemplation of the automotive products, inadvertantly blocking the aisle with my cart. An ancient Navajo lady brought me back to the world when she gently tapped my cart, and said, "You move, please," followed by something in Navajo. I quickly moved aside for her and apologized in English. She nodded, smiled, and I don't beleive they're planning on any war councils in Shiprock tonight.

Live and let live. There's lots worse things than having part of our population speak Spanish. Its a beautiful language, and I love the poetry of Pablo Naruda in the original Spanish. I think if the US went bi-lingual it would add more to our culture than detract from it.

10-03-2007, 07:06 PM	#42
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	I live right on the boundary of the Navajo Nation or the Rez as some folks call it. There are oodles of people speaking Navajo around here, and everyone seems to survive the experience. I disagree with Bruce's scenario of the Spanish speaking dog doing its number on an English speaking yard. Being polite can work wonders with the language barrier. For example, I was in the local Walmart this morning, and got distracted trying to figure out what steering fluid I needed to buy for my car. There I was, lost in rapt contemplation of the automotive products, inadvertantly blocking the aisle with my cart. An ancient Navajo lady brought me back to the world when she gently tapped my cart, and said, "You move, please," followed by something in Navajo. I quickly moved aside for her and apologized in English. She nodded, smiled, and I don't beleive they're planning on any war councils in Shiprock tonight. Live and let live. There's lots worse things than having part of our population speak Spanish. Its a beautiful language, and I love the poetry of Pablo Naruda in the original Spanish. I think if the US went bi-lingual it would add more to our culture than detract from it. Last edited by SamIam; 10-03-2007 at 07:23 PM.