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US presidents who knew a foreign language | ||
Tags: Political Leaders | United States | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages |  | |
| William Camden Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6272 days ago 1936 posts - 2333 votes  Speaks: English*, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, French | Message 1 of 28 23 May 2010 at 2:15pm | IP Logged | ||
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_Unite d_States_who_knew_a_foreign_language
Fascinating article, this. 6 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| stout Senior Member Ireland Joined 5371 days ago 108 posts - 140 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 2 of 28 23 May 2010 at 4:41pm | IP Logged | ||
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The current president of the US Barack Obama had lived in Indonesia many years back,
so he might have some knowledge of an Indonesian language.I know that the previous president George W Bush could speak pretty good Spanish and his brother Jeb Bush can speak near-fluent Spanish.By the way Jeb Bush is or was the governor of Florida. I've heard that former US president Jimmy Carter could speak some Spanish as well.I don't know about any other former US presidents than can speak a foreign language. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Spanky Senior Member Canada Joined 5956 days ago 1021 posts - 1714 votes Studies: French | Message 3 of 28 23 May 2010 at 5:23pm | IP Logged | ||
Fascinating indeed, thanks William. I am most surprised by Hoover. I am taking the liberty of reposting your link as a hyperlink as there is an extra space in your link. List of US presidents who knew a foreign language Edited by Spanky on 23 May 2010 at 5:24pm 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| paparaciii Diglot Senior Member Latvia Joined 6336 days ago 204 posts - 223 votes Speaks: Latvian*, Russian Studies: English | Message 4 of 28 23 May 2010 at 5:28pm | IP Logged | ||
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What is so fascinating about president who knows a foreign language?
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| Juаn Senior Member Colombia Joined 5345 days ago 727 posts - 1830 votes Speaks: Spanish* | Message 5 of 28 23 May 2010 at 5:39pm | IP Logged | ||
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So this list shows language knowledge bears nor relationship with wise government.
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| Spanky Senior Member Canada Joined 5956 days ago 1021 posts - 1714 votes Studies: French | Message 6 of 28 23 May 2010 at 6:00pm | IP Logged | ||
For me, an ambidextrous president who could simultaneously write Greek and Latin with each hand, another president who is reported (accurately or not) to have known six languages, a president for whom English was not his native language, and a president who was fluent in Mandarin and who with his wife devoted huge chunks of his leisure to German to English translation. Maybe I am just easily fascinated.... 6 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Declan1991 Tetraglot Senior Member Ireland Joined 6439 days ago 233 posts - 359 votes Speaks: English*, German, Irish, French | Message 7 of 28 23 May 2010 at 7:52pm | IP Logged | ||
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I find it more interesting how few of the presidents spoke a foreign language, ever only relatively well, and it's fascinating how education changed as time went on. A large number or the earlier presidents spoke Latin or Greek or both, possibly French too. In comparison, I'd say there is no modern European leader that doesn't speak one or two other languages, in the case of English very well (or Irish in Ireland), and probably another pretty well too.
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| paparaciii Diglot Senior Member Latvia Joined 6336 days ago 204 posts - 223 votes Speaks: Latvian*, Russian Studies: English | Message 8 of 28 23 May 2010 at 11:51pm | IP Logged | ||
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That's what I'm saying - most European leaders speak at least one foreign language just like most European people.
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