How did we end up with a POTUS who speaks not a lick of a foreign language?

[jimbo]

It doesn't really bother me that Trump only speaks one language, I don't recall any President in my lifetime speaking another language. It would be nice though, I would prefer a President who could speak more than one language. I do think these days American culture focuses on "speaking English". It's looked down in some parts to speak another language.

I think Bush spoke fluent Spanish. I don't think that had much effect on his ability as President.

Since Obama was schooled in Indonesia, I'd guess he spoke some form of Indonesian.

I don't consider either to be among the best presidents in my lifetime.

 

[azgreg]

Of all the things to gig Trump on this one is waaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down the list.

 

[Carleen]

That has been discussed to death and didn't make much of a dent.

Yes, pretty sad.

 

[americanwoman]

Well, that's why the OP has the linked content it does.

I don't consider Obama's elementary understanding of Indonesian and Bush's conversational Spanish to be any kind of significant indication they were bilingual or had a level of mastery of another language.

 

[Winston]

The title question is straightforward enough.

• Thirteen of the first twenty U.S. presidents spoke multiple languages.
• All of Trump's family members are multilingual.

Of course, unlike Europeans of whom over half are bilingual, only about a quarter of Americans can hold a conversation in another language.

This is, after all, the 21st century. Airplane travel is cheap and common. I'm almost 60, and even when I was in school, mastering a modern foreign language was required. Hell, we were required to study one as far back as what was then called "nursery three," if I recall correctly, but many places these days call it "preschool." In my day, it was fun, and there was plenty of "playing," but there wasn't any "pre" about it. It was school....we were writing, counting, and singing in two languages. Hell, we were even graded on our performance. Even my nonagenarian mother speaks French and Latin along with English. Trump went to a good school (academically), yet he speaks English, which, no less, he speaks poorly.

cause this is 'murica damnit, we speak 'murican and if anyone lookin' funny starts speakin' one of them funny languages, they can get out!

 

[americanwoman]

I think Bush spoke fluent Spanish. I don't think that had much effect on his ability as President.

Since Obama was schooled in Indonesia, I'd guess he spoke some form of Indonesian.

I don't consider either to be among the best presidents in my lifetime.

Jeb is more a fluent Spanish speaker than George, whose Spanish is more basic textbook phrases.

 

[Xelor]

Perhaps most Americans don't speak more than English is that they don't have to. In my Army career I traveled all over the world and most people did speak English. There wasn't really any need for an American to learn another language unless their job required it. If one is a tourist, I imagine learning another language is even less needed than being a GI who at times interacts with the host nations military personnel.

It really doesn't matter where one goes in the world today. Hotel clerks, taxis, shop owners, you name it. All seem to know English. I can remember when French was the language of Diplomats. But that changed in the 50's or 60's to English. It's completely unnecessary for most Americans even if they travel the world to learn another language. Now in the Army I dealt with a lot of Thai and Lao troops back in the day and I picked up their language from them. I can still hold a daily conversation in those languages. Now they use scrip, so writing in their language is completely out of the question.

But outside of those two languages, I never had a desire to learn any other. I think that most Americans don't have that desire as today it isn't very useful unless one's job requires it.

As for Trump, he's an obnoxious, egotistical, uncouth oaf of a president in which speaking good English isn't required in name calling, creating needless feuds on top of another, insulting any and everyone, behaving and acting very unpresidential. His persona is that of a reality TV show host than a president, politician, diplomat etc.

Perhaps most Americans don't speak more than English is that they don't have to.

Be that as it may, I asked about only one American, Trump.

Now in the Army I dealt with a lot of Thai and Lao troops back in the day and I picked up their language from them. I can still hold a daily conversation in those languages.

Exactly. You found yourself in a place and picked up the language. Now you have a partial mastery of Thai/Laotian. Would that Trump had a partial mastery of any language other than English, and this thread would never have existed. (See the center section of post 19.)

As for Trump, he's an obnoxious, egotistical, uncouth oaf of a president in which speaking good English

Well, that he doesn't even speak his native language well is a different matter. Truly, one who pays attention to Trump's tweets can tell when he wrote them and when he delegated the composition to someone else.

Let me be clear. I don't much care that his English is inarticulate. I care that it is and he's our POTUS.

 

[X Factor]

Nice Strawman, point to where I said he should know ALL languages. Or you can just admit your comment is just pure partisan hackery.



Attending a foreign national meeting without an American Translator present and only relying only on the foreign interpreter is idiotic. Now run along and go hug your Trump cutout you have in your bedroom.

While you go stab your Trump doll with more pins.

 

[Mycroft]

Nice Strawman, point to where I said he should know ALL languages. Or you can just admit your comment is just pure partisan hackery.



Attending a foreign national meeting without an American Translator present and only relying only on the foreign interpreter is idiotic. Now run along and go hug your Trump cutout you have in your bedroom.

shrug...

You didn't specify a particular language. You said he shouldn't have to rely on some translator. He talks to a lot of people who speak a lot of languages.

But hey...perhaps you have a suggestion for a single foreign language he should learn?

 

[Praxas]

While you go stab your Trump doll with more pins.

Wow another useless comment from you, I'm shocked :roll: Now explain to me why I am wrong in what I said.

 

[Praxas]

shrug...

You didn't specify a particular language. You said he shouldn't have to rely on some translator. He talks to a lot of people who speak a lot of languages.

But hey...perhaps you have a suggestion for a single foreign language he should learn?

I said he shouldn't have to rely on a FOREIGN translator, i.e. a foreign national. He should have an American translator with him. Jesus man, are you having a hard time with reading comprehension today or what?

 

[jimbo]

Jeb is more a fluent Spanish speaker than George, whose Spanish is more basic textbook phrases.

I looked it up after I posted. It seems you are correct. Also Obama apparently didn't learn a language while in school.

I'm 0 for 2 today.

 

[Mycroft]

Seriously, dude? Did you at all click on the links in the OP?


The issues, as I see it, and as I indicated in my title, is that Trump speaks "not a lick" of a foreign language. Our past three POTUSes have had some measure of mastery of a second language. And truly, were this the 1980s, I wouldn't mention it. But it's not the '80s. It's the 21st century. People routinely make friends and acquaintanceships with folks in other countries. Even Trump does. People travel to and do business in other countries. Trump most certainly has. Hell, the man's had two wives from Eastern Europe and he's buddies with Russians. One'd think he'd have picked up some sort of basic conversation skill in at least one of the two (if not three) Slavic languages to which he had to have had routine enough exposure and an able helper -- either of two of his wives -- to learn it. And yet he's not even got a partial mastery of either.

Hell, I wouldn't call myself fluent in any language other than English, but I can hold an intermediate level conversation in French, Spanish and a very basic one in Mandarin, and I can't read or write Mandarin. Remember, in my title, I wrote "not a lick." I wrote that because (1) I know that Trump's educational background, exposure to foreign language speakers and mine are similar enough that it's not unreasonable that he'd have, had he made any effort at all, acquired a "partial mastery" of some language other than English, and (2) I'm not expecting of him more than I accomplished "by osmosis" and formal education. I'm well aware of how much and how little effort I put into picking up each language I can speak to any degree, and because I do, I know it doesn't take much to pick up a language; it mostly takes just trying to do it.

• Tu quoque
• Relative Privation

Maybe you should have been President, since you have a way with languages that Trump doesn't.

 

[Perotista]

Be that as it may, I asked about only one American, Trump.


Exactly. You found yourself in a place and picked up the language. Now you have a partial mastery of Thai/Laotian. Would that Trump had a partial mastery of any language other than English, and this thread would never have existed. (See the center section of post 19.)


Well, that he doesn't even speak his native language well is a different matter. Truly, one who pays attention to Trump's tweets can tell when he wrote them and when he delegated the composition to someone else.

Let me be clear. I don't much care that his English is inarticulate. I care that it is and he's our POTUS.

Trump being president could have been easily avoided if the Democrats nominated a decent candidate. I view 2016 as a good news, bad news election. The good news, Clinton lost. The bad news, Trump won.

 

[Xelor]

That is by far the least question when it comes to Trump. How about truth, honor, morals, and empathy.

I will hit those topics plenty. I'm new here. Give it time. LOL

Trump strikes me as a contemptible orgy of vulgarity masquerading, with the natural grace of an intoxicated beluga whale, as a human being who, when it comes to deep public policy awareness and integrity, is all hat and no cattle, and who surrounds himself with people who, when he lies, they swear to it, he believes it, and has, moreover, the temerity to presume the rest of us are too myopic to tell he's anything other than a miserable scoundrel and a naive maladjusted libertine delinquent overcome with delusions of adequacy.

I'm not a Democrat. I merely object to Trump being the POTUS because he's, quite simply, an ineffably banal debauched conglomerate of intellectual constipation. There is nothing about his character that I am willing to forbear.

 

[X Factor]

Wow another useless comment from you, I'm shocked :roll: Now explain to me why I am wrong in what I said.

I replied to you in pretty much the exact way you addressed him. What exactly was the utility of your statement that he has a Trump cut out that he hugs? Does failing to fault or hate this president for something that was true for multiple other presidents have to include a cut out of Trump to hug?

 

[Mycroft]

I said he shouldn't have to rely on a FOREIGN translator, i.e. a foreign national. He should have an American translator with him. Jesus man, are you having a hard time with reading comprehension today or what?

So, if something happens and he doesn't have an "American translator" around, what should he do? Learn the language real quick? Use a translator that's available? Or use Microsoft?

Or, are you just trying to derail a member's thread...which happens to be about "Trump not speaking foreign languages"...into "Trump is an idiot for not having a translator"?

 

[Xelor]

???

You don't know what the word, important, means?

I know what the word means. I want to know what you consider important such that after reading the OP and linked content you felt compelled to ask, "Why is this important?" That information will allow me to answer your question vis-a-vis your frame mind.

What I think is important about it is expressed in the OP. That obviously didn't resonate with you; thus I've asked you to explain what you think is important.

 

[X Factor]

So, if something happens and he doesn't have an "American translator" around, what should he do? Learn the language real quick? Use a translator that's available? Or use Microsoft?

Or, are you just trying to derail a member's thread...which happens to be about "Trump not speaking foreign languages"...into "Trump is an idiot for not having a translator"?

As long as it's anti-Trump it's always on topic. :lol:

 

[Praxas]

I replied to you in pretty much the exact way you addressed him. What exactly was the utility of your statement that he has a Trump cut out that he hugs? Does failing to fault or hate this president for something that was true for multiple other presidents have to include a cut out of Trump to hug?

Failing to criticize the president pretty much is being a Trumpbot. Instead of calling out that Trump should have had an American translator and not relied on a foreign national for some other country is a valid complaint yet excuses were made.

As for doing the same are you seriously pulling the "But MOMMMMMMMYYYYYY he did it too" excuse?

 

[Mason66]

Perhaps most Americans don't speak more than English is that they don't have to. In my Army career I traveled all over the world and most people did speak English. There wasn't really any need for an American to learn another language unless their job required it. If one is a tourist, I imagine learning another language is even less needed than being a GI who at times interacts with the host nations military personnel.

It really doesn't matter where one goes in the world today. Hotel clerks, taxis, shop owners, you name it. All seem to know English. I can remember when French was the language of Diplomats. But that changed in the 50's or 60's to English. It's completely unnecessary for most Americans even if they travel the world to learn another language. Now in the Army I dealt with a lot of Thai and Lao troops back in the day and I picked up their language from them. I can still hold a daily conversation in those languages. Now they use scrip, so writing in their language is completely out of the question.

But outside of those two languages, I never had a desire to learn any other. I think that most Americans don't have that desire as today it isn't very useful unless one's job requires it.

As for Trump, he's an obnoxious, egotistical, uncouth oaf of a president in which speaking good English isn't required in name calling, creating needless feuds on top of another, insulting any and everyone, behaving and acting very unpresidential. His persona is that of a reality TV show host than a president, politician, diplomat etc.

In government translators are employed, so I don't see what the OP is getting at here.

 

[Praxas]

So, if something happens and he doesn't have an "American translator" around, what should he do? Learn the language real quick? Use a translator that's available? Or use Microsoft?

When meeting with a foreign national you should ALWAYS have an American translator that is trained in that language. Not sure what's so hard to grasp about that concept.

Or, are you just trying to derail a member's thread...which happens to be about "Trump not speaking foreign languages"...into "Trump is an idiot for not having a translator"?

There is a nice little feature in this forum if you think my comment is off topic. But you are not a mod so you can go pound sand cause I will post what I want regardless of what you say.

 

[jimbo]

So, if something happens and he doesn't have an "American translator" around, what should he do? Learn the language real quick? Use a translator that's available? Or use Microsoft?

Or, are you just trying to derail a member's thread...which happens to be about "Trump not speaking foreign languages"...into "Trump is an idiot for not having a translator"?

I'm not real sure why the nationality of the translator should matter. Their president says something, the translator repeats it to our president. Why would the translator change the statement?

I think both this poster and the OP are just looking for today's Trump bash.

 

[X Factor]

Failing to criticize the president pretty much is being a Trumpbot. Instead of calling out that Trump should have had an American translator and not relied on a foreign national for some other country is a valid complaint yet excuses were made.

As for doing the same are you seriously pulling the "But MOMMMMMMMYYYYYY he did it too" excuse?

The valid complaints get burried in tripe like this. Calling him names isn't valid criticism. It's just name calling. What is valid is pointing out the double standard of blaming/faulting/hating Trump exclusively for something that's been true of many other presidents. It goes to show it's a personal thing, not a principled thing.

 

[humbolt]

In government translators are employed, so I don't see what the OP is getting at here.

I believe the OP intends to portray Trump as an idiotic and very bad person, which is a completely novel approach to the subject here at DP. There's only about 1,000 threads here on that subject, which is far, far too few. The conclusion you are supposed to reach is that if you don't criticize Trump for existing, you're a Trump-bot and rabid supporter. This reflects the highest level of thought possible here, apparently. Anything else is uncivilized.