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Immigrants must speak Shakespearean English

Ethel_FredEthel_Fred Posts: 34,127
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in Politics #1
I know the Tories like to look back - but the 16th Century?????

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11457877/For-their-sake-immigrants-must-speak-the-language-of-Shakespeare.html
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    Steve_CardanasSteve_Cardanas Posts: 4,188
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    #2
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    I know the Tories like to look back - but the 16th Century?????

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11457877/For-their-sake-immigrants-must-speak-the-language-of-Shakespeare.html

    WTF.....

    Maybe just learning english would be ok but shakespeare english is too far.
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    angarrackangarrack Posts: 5,493
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    #3
    The 'language of Shakespeare' is not the same as 'Shakespearean English'.

    Perhaps you need a knowledge of English to understand that. :)
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    tahititahiti Posts: 3,273
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    #4
    Ken Livingstone cannot come back too son.
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    exlordlucanexlordlucan Posts: 35,375
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    #5
    OP how did you get that from this said of our native language?


    'This is our language, the language of Shakespeare, the King James Bible, the language that has been spoken in London for centuries; and in the face of the vast migratory influx we have seen, we must insist on English if we are to have any hope of eupeptic absorption and assimilation'.
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    David TeeDavid Tee Posts: 22,833
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    #6
    Oh Ethel :D

    Fail, I'm afraid...
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    Boo Radley75Boo Radley75 Posts: 13,308
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    #7
    Maybe we should worry that a lot of British people don't seem to have mastered English first but seem to speak some kind of half text talk, half profanities hybrid language.
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    SULLASULLA Posts: 149,789
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    #8
    Not a problem if they come and live round here.
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    TeeGeeTeeGee Posts: 5,772
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    #9
    Pity the OP did not read the entire article in full before posting but have to admit surprise that some socialists read the Telegraph for their ammunition.
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    TeeGeeTeeGee Posts: 5,772
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    #10
    Boo Radley75 wrote: »
    Maybe we should worry that a lot of British people don't seem to have mastered English first but seem to speak some kind of half text talk, have profanities hybrid language.

    You give your location as "Essex". Should one be surprised?! ;-)
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    deptfordbakerdeptfordbaker Posts: 22,368
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    #11
    If migrants apply for British citizenship and live in England then they should speak English. My main concern though is that they do not require taxpayer funded translations.
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    Michael_EveMichael_Eve Posts: 14,461
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    #12
    One touch of nature makes the whole world Kin.

    Man. :cool:
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    Diamond HeadDiamond Head Posts: 517
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    #13
    Hey nonny nonny.
    Gadzooks.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 9,720
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    #14
    Boris for PM.
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    grassmarketgrassmarket Posts: 33,010
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    #15
    "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"

    Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2

    Who could object to that?
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    AnnsyreAnnsyre Posts: 109,504
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    #16
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    I know the Tories like to look back - but the 16th Century?????

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11457877/For-their-sake-immigrants-must-speak-the-language-of-Shakespeare.html

    You are wrong. What he actually said was

    That is the dilemma I wrestled with – and yet there are several reasons why I reject the libertarian approach. The first is that I feel – passionately and perhaps obscurely – that if people are going to benefit from this country’s lavish welfare state, they should at least make an effort to speak the national language.

    But the final reason why I think we should insist on English is unashamedly emotional, atavistic, and culturally conservative. This is our language, the language of Shakespeare, the King James Bible, the language that has been spoken in London for centuries; and in the face of the vast migratory influx we have seen, we must insist on English if we are to have any hope of eupeptic absorption and assimilation.
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    jjwalesjjwales Posts: 48,572
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    #17
    Annsyre wrote: »
    But the final reason why I think we should insist on English is unashamedly emotional, atavistic, and culturally conservative. This is our language, the language of Shakespeare, the King James Bible, the language that has been spoken in London for centuries; and in the face of the vast migratory influx we have seen, we must insist on English if we are to have any hope of eupeptic absorption and assimilation.

    Eupeptic??? Even I as a native Brit don't know that word - he must be showing off!
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    MARTYM8MARTYM8 Posts: 44,710
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    #18
    The term the language of Shakespeare is an alternative description for the English language. It does not mean wandering around speaking in rhyming couplets or talking like people did in 1580.

    Is the OP is a product of a dumbed down new Labour education system perhaps?:D
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    Ethel_FredEthel_Fred Posts: 34,127
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    #19
    Annsyre wrote: »
    You are wrong. What he actually said was

    That is the dilemma I wrestled with – and yet there are several reasons why I reject the libertarian approach. The first is that I feel – passionately and perhaps obscurely – that if people are going to benefit from this country’s lavish welfare state, they should at least make an effort to speak the national language.

    But the final reason why I think we should insist on English is unashamedly emotional, atavistic, and culturally conservative. This is our language, the language of Shakespeare, the King James Bible, the language that has been spoken in London for centuries; and in the face of the vast migratory influx we have seen, we must insist on English if we are to have any hope of eupeptic absorption and assimilation.

    English as she is spoke is decades old, not centuries. Suggest you read some Shakespeare and the KJV

    In any case I did not write the headline or create the link so where is the criticism of the editorial staff who clearly don't understand English
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    MartinPMartinP Posts: 31,358
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    #20
    Ethel Ethel, you've done it again! :D

    And no, you didn't copy the headline. It's "For their sake, immigrants must speak the language of Shakespeare" different to your thread title.

    But at least you came back on the thread....
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    AnnsyreAnnsyre Posts: 109,504
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    #21
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    English as she is spoke is decades old, not centuries. Suggest you read some Shakespeare and the KJV

    In any case I did not write the headline or create the link so where is the criticism of the editorial staff who clearly don't understand English

    I was quoting from the link that you so helpfully provided. I always use italics if I am quoting. No idea what KJV is and I have read most of Shakespeare's plays thanks.
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    TankyTanky Posts: 3,647
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    #22
    ItJustMyOpinion wrote: »
    If migrants apply for British citizenship and live in England then they should speak English. My main concern though is that they do not require taxpayer funded translations.

    Well, being from a family who were once immigrants some 30-40 years ago, me being born here, gives me somewhat of a perspective. I mean some of my relatives have been working here some 30-40 years, paying taxes and settled with kids here. However they have worked in kitchens all their life and only required their mother tongue, and so don't speak English. They are now aged in their mid 50s to 60, do suppose these people go off to learn English? They brought their mother and father along with them some 30-40 years ago, who are in their 80's now, do you suppose these people should know English too?

    I also want to say that, some people who came here long ago, didn't have any form of proper education, not even in the primary school level.

    I by no means, saying people coming here shouldn't know English, but I think there needs to be either a flexible system or help such as translators, for people who have contributed for long period of time.
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    TassiumTassium Posts: 31,639
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    #23
    Boris is one of those intellectual morons. Clever, but stupid at the same time.

    It's the arrogance of him that causes it, I blame the parents.
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    Steve_CardanasSteve_Cardanas Posts: 4,188
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    #24
    Tanky wrote: »
    Well, being from a family who were once immigrants some 30-40 years ago, me being born here, gives me somewhat of a perspective. I mean some of my relatives have been working here some 30-40 years, paying taxes and settled with kids here. However they have worked in kitchens all their life and only required their mother tongue, and so don't speak English. They are now aged in their mid 50s to 60, do suppose these people go off to learn English? They brought their mother and father along with them some 30-40 years ago, who are in their 80's now, do you suppose these people should know English too?

    I also want to say that, some people who came here long ago, didn't have any form of proper education, not even in the primary school level.

    I by no means, saying people coming here shouldn't know English, but I think there needs to be either a flexible system or help such as translators, for people who have contributed for long period of time.

    Any new rules should only apply to newcomers.
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    exlordlucanexlordlucan Posts: 35,375
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    #25
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    English as she is spoke is decades old, not centuries. Suggest you read some Shakespeare and the KJV

    In any case I did not write the headline or create the link so where is the criticism of the editorial staff who clearly don't understand English

    Pah you didn't quote the headline correctly so don't blame them.
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    paulschapmanpaulschapman Posts: 35,536
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    #26
    Ethel_Fred wrote: »
    I know the Tories like to look back - but the 16th Century?????

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11457877/For-their-sake-immigrants-must-speak-the-language-of-Shakespeare.html

    Which is otherwise known as English and not the style it is written in which (in the case of Shakespeare is iambic pentameter). Immigrants have been required to learn a set level of English (which is way above what they require frankly) since April 2007

    The Home Office do not make it easy however since the exam proving that fact has to be at a recognised school, they don't tell you what these are - often you only know when you turn up at the Home Office with your shiny new certificate and they turn around and say 'Sorry, not recognised'
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