Correction request. Should we learn other languages if we are going to be understood anyway?
Pure arrogance or sheer negligence?
"I dont see much point in learning other languages since I am going to be understood wherever I go anyway."
Does such an assertation ring a bell? As for me, it certainly does, frequently accompanied by a hoity-toity air and condescending tone of someone who knows better. Yet, haven’t we gone too far in our own arrogance?
First of all, some people's attitude along the line of this issue still <s>buffles</s> baffles me. As tourists we <s>got</s> have become accustomed to being treated with outward respect. We are quite aware that the infrastructure of many cities, towns and at times even the whole country is based on tourism. That means that locals rely heavily on it as the main source of their income. We are so full of ourselves, knowing for a fact that the locals are bound to go out of their way to fit in with our expectations <s>So</s> that we simply take it as a given that the entire world must speak English by proxy. However, <s>should we shake our eyes through open</s>, if we open our eyes we will find to our own surprise that by no means everybody is ready to <s>sacriface</s> sacrifice their cultural identity, including their mother tongue.
Another factor worth consideration is that we can hardly view ourselves as well-educated people, confining ourselves solely to English. If we want to explore other cultures and broaden our own horizons in general,<s> the language</s> languages/foreign languages are the first thing we should start on. Besides, it is a great memory <s>exerciser</s> exercise.
Even though we have become rather spoiled by the common belief that English is the international language and <s>set great store by it</s>, not sure of exact sentiment here, maybe it is the time to finally dismantle this stereotype.
well done! I assumed what you meant at some points and tried to offer an appropriate phrase but I may have misinterpreted you meaning :)
