Quote

[Andre Cramblit]

other than the fact that english is a universal language and not that  
of a particular ethnic group

Now it said you have to speak english to be a true Australian  
descendant or criminals deported from England then maybe you have  
something

On Mar 29, 2007, at 3:53 PM, Greg Dickson wrote:

Note that if you apply the sentiment to a dominant language/culture,  
it becomes highly offensive to most of us... e.g. you have to speak  
English to be Australian... only the most rightwing people could  
tolerate this sentiment.

Greg Dickson
Linguist
Ngukurr Language Centre
CMB 6
via Katherine  NT  0852
Ph/Fax: 08 8975 4362
Email: greg.dickson at kathlangcentre.org.au
On 29/03/2007, at 6:26 PM, Rudy Troike wrote:

I've read similar sentiments from a Puerto Rican and someone from  
Africa,
but in the form of a question. "Can one not know Spanish and still be a
Puerto Rican?" The African was speaking of some distinct tribal  
language,
and said "Can one not speak [language X] and still be a [member of a  
tribe]?"
I was struck at the time by the parallelism of the sentiment.

   Rudy Troike