Language ban in Slovakia

[Mithrandir]

But what about the tourists?

[HoreTore]

double post

[LeftEyeNine]

I understand but I still don't see what tourists could do, say, in a situation where it is a very difficult situation.

[Sarmatian]

It doesn't affect tourists, it doesn't affect foreigners.

[HoreTore]

It doesn't affect tourists, it doesn't affect foreigners.

So, it's gone from "silly" to just "plain evil" then....

[Tratorix]

It doesn't affect tourists, it doesn't affect foreigners.

Oh, well, as long as it only affects the minorities with the nerve to live in Slovakia, it's fine.

[Moros]

It doesn't affect tourists, it doesn't affect foreigners.

Yes it does. But barely.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Whilst I do feel sorry for the tourists (what if they don't speak Slovenian?), a big meh from me too. Balkan nations like Slovenia simply missed out on the nineteenth century, and have some catching up to do.


How did the Italians came to speak Italian? And the Swedes Swedish? With the exception of Iceland and other assorted lumps of rock, states create nations, not the other way round.

Although one could question the wisdom of going all 19th century on minorities anymore. What Europe needs, is not the EU, but Belgium. The most civilized state in Europe, and which provides the only workable solution - even though it is unworkable and proof they are all barking mad up there.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Damn, I guess I'd better cancel that trip to Slovakia then.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Whilst I do feel sorry for the tourists (what if they don't speak Slovenian?), a big meh from me too. Balkan nations like Slovenia simply missed out on the nineteenth century, and have some catching up to do.


How did the Italians came to speak Italian? And the Swedes Swedish? With the exception of Iceland and other assorted lumps of rock, states create nations, not the other way round.

Although one could question the wisdom of going all 19th century on minorities anymore. What Europe needs, is not the EU, but Belgium. The most civilized state in Europe, and which provides the only workable solution - even though it is unworkable and they are all barking mad up there.

Well, Wales is trying to go Welsh-only again now, so I think the fad is over Loius.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Well, Wales is trying to go Welsh-only again now, so I think the fad is over Loius.

Yes, well, that's still not sufficient reason to spell my name in Welsh. It's 'Louis the Fat', not 'The fad Loius'.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Yes, well, that's still not sufficient reason to spell my name in Welsh. It's 'Louis the Fat', not 'The fad Loius'.

Um, sorry, I assume you're joking, but you used a sad smiley.

[Louis VI the Fat]

My smilie usually indicates a joke. What's more, their use is part of the joke. The format is always the same. I accuse others of being stupid while making an utter fool of myself:

'Tsk. Am I the only refined intellectual here who knows that the capital of Slovakia is Montenegro? Sheesh. '


I shouldn't explain my jokes. I've got only three. One of which will be of no use any longer.

[LeftEyeNine]

So apparently Slovakia is out of plans since I may face unpleasant consequences as a tourist.

[Moros]

Um, sorry, I assume you're joking, but you used a sad smiley.

Should read the Louisianisms for dummies book, it's rather good if I may say. Or am I the only one who reads books out here?

[Viking]

And the Swedes Swedish?

In the good old days, almost the entire Scandinavia spoke the same language. Had nothing to do with nation building. The Sami still speak Sami though; perhaps you should look at that instead.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

My smilie usually indicates a joke. What's more, their use is part of the joke. The format is always the same. I accuse others of being stupid while making an utter fool of myself:

'Tsk. Am I the only refined intellectual here who knows that the capital of Slovakia is Montenegro? Sheesh. '


I shouldn't explain my jokes. I've got only three. One of which will be of no use any longer.

Well, if it mattered that much you could PM me. Clearly, I have not been the butt of one of your jokes before, sorry again.

[Louis VI the Fat]

In the good old days, almost the entire Scandinavia spoke the same language. Had nothing to do with nation building. The Sami still speak Sami though; perhaps you should look at that instead.

Yes, and the entire Latin world spoke Latin once. Nevertheless, after different languages had formed, the 'langue d'oc' was eradicated from France just as much as Sweden eradicated Danish from Helland, Blekinge and Skåne. Both are clear examples of nation-states eradicating the minority language in their south. Just as Slovakia is doing now. The Slovakians are simply a century behind the times.

Sometimes linguistic unification works. Sometimes it doesn't. The Sami, the Flemings and various other nature peoples in Europe and the colonies have proved remarkably succesfull in resisting the imposition of civilized languages.


Edit: Stop apologizing, Phillipus! I am just having a laugh!

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

In the good old days, almost the entire Scandinavia spoke the same language. Had nothing to do with nation building. The Sami still speak Sami though; perhaps you should look at that instead.

I think this is a Myth, Old Norse was only Norse, not some universal language. We know this, because when you settled here you brought many languages and dialects with you.

[Moros]

Well, if it mattered that much you could PM me. Clearly, I have not been the butt of one of your jokes before, sorry again.

You're lucky, he's stalking me.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Edit: Stop apologizing, Phillipus! I am just having a laugh!

I'm English! That's like asking a fish to stop swimming!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Oh ****. Why didn't I remember that. Apologising for others stepping on your toes and all that. I could've exploited that a bit more. What a waste of an opportunity to discover what shades of purple this pale Englishman's face can manage. Bah.



AND I AM NOT STALKING YOU, MOROS! JUST BECAUSE I AM WRITING THIS ON MY LAPTOP PARKED IN THAT RED RENAULT OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE IN PILSEN DOES NOT MEAN I STALK YOU, ALLRIGHT!?

I do not even think you can see me from where you're sitting now on the second floor in the back of your house...

[Viking]

Yes, and the entire Latin world spoke Latin once. Nevertheless, after different languages had formed, the 'langue d'oc' was eradicated from France just as much as Sweden eradicated Danish from Helland, Blekinge and Skåne. Both are clear examples of nation-states eradicating the minority language in their south. Just as Slovakia is doing now. The Slovakians are simply a century behind the times.

Sometimes linguistic unification works. Sometimes it doesn't. The Sami, the Flemings and various other nature peoples in Europe and the colonies have proved remarkably succesfull in resisting the imposition of civilized languages.

Very apt, of course; but to be picky, I don't think the Scanian (Skåne) dialect was outlawed. To this date, I like to think that most Norwegians are able to tell whether a Swede comes from Skåne or not.

I think this is a Myth, Old Norse was only Norse, not some universal language. We know this, because when you settled here you brought many languages and dialects with you.

There was Old West Norse and Old East Norse. The point was though how much modernity has had an influence on the lingual unity. In Norway at least, I am pretty certain that the different Norwegian dialects at the time (if any) must have been more intelligible than what they are today. Modern western Norwegian and eastern Norwegian are about as different from each other as standard Swedish is from either.

[Adrian II]

What about the tourists?

No problem. The Hungarians, Gypsies and other minorities have all been declared tourists. The minister for Tourism is expecting a huge peak this year.

[LeftEyeNine]

This whole tourist issue is giving me insomnia. :/

[Mithrandir]

Damn, I guess I'd better cancel that trip to Slovakia then.

Good point! What about the tourists?

[Adrian II]

Good point! What about the tourists?

Good question. The real answer of course is that most tourists won't notice anything since they don't speak Hungarian or Romany.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

There was Old West Norse and Old East Norse. The point was though how much modernity has had an influence on the lingual unity. In Norway at least, I am pretty certain that the different Norwegian dialects at the time (if any) must have been more intelligible than what they are today. Modern western Norwegian and eastern Norwegian are about as different from each other as standard Swedish is from either.

Mutual intelligability exists on multiple levels, the level at various periods between Scandanavia and England is instructive, as is the level within England. In both cases, I believe it depended on how far and often you traveled, but unity only comes with a written standard. When that was achieved in Norway I'm not sure, but it can't be before Cnut started using English missionaries to convert the populace.

[Incongruous]

Pathetic and utterly racist, what a bunch of bloody fools, this will do stability in eastern Europe no end of harm, what with bloody fascists popping up everywhere, including Hungary, who will no doubt begin demanding hostile nationlist measures.

For God's sake, what on earth are Eastern Europeans smoking?

[Papewaio]

As multicultural states have proved repeatedly to be huge failures, I certainly can understand why Slovakia tries to enforce a single culture. That's going to be rough for some people, but heh, that's how things go.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/fr.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/as.html

Life Expectancy: Australia 81.63 years, France 80.98. Points 1 : 0
Olympics... do we even need to look this up, let alone adjust per capita. 1 points to Aus, 1 to France for inventing it. 2: 1
Economy:
Unemployment Australia Unemployment half that of France 3:1
GDP per Capita: Australia $38k US, France $32k 4:1
Public Debt: Australia 14% of GDP, France 68% 5:1
Industrial Growth Rate: Australia 3%, France - 2% 7:1 (shrinkage is never sexy).

etc.

And what do I see when I go around Sydney. Lots of places with signs in multiple languages. I can go to Auburn for Turkish food, Hay markets for Chinese, Strathfield for Korean, Cambramatta for Vietnamese. I can turn up at a doctors surgery and see signs in multiple languages, I can turn up at hospital and see translation services in multiple languages. We have French speakers and food too and they provide a lot of culture too, I love having french bread and croissants. Italian coffee and Dutch cheese.

I'll take multicultural failure above zero-culture success of those who believe in mono-culture any day of the week.