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Japanese Consulate San Francisco Vice Consul Charged with Assualt and 14 Counts of Domestic Violence

May 9, 2012 – 5:58 am |

An interesting turn of events that should test the diplomatic will of Japan and the  application of domestic and international law. The LA TImes reports:
“A Japanese consulate official faces felony charges after San Mateo County …

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Home » Culture & Society, Education, LEARNING & STUDY

Is Japanese Dead?

Submitted by on April 22, 2010 – 9:35 amOne Comment

Which are the most useful second languages when you already speak the most useful language in almost any field of human endeavor? Personal impact is the key. Here are the twelve most useful languages according to three major criteria: demographics, personal impact and business opportunity. [Dominic Ambrose]

I came across a very interesting article posted on Facebook. In Dominic Ambrose’s, The Twelve Most Useful Second Languages for English Speakers [Knol], he writes:

When the world talks about science, culture, economy or politics, it talks English. English speakers don’t really need a second language at all. So, what’s the use of a second language when the first one is enough? For English speakers, cultural and linguistic enrichment weigh heavily.

In his article, he evaluates the world’s major languages for their usefulness to English speakers, according to three different criteria: Demographics, Personal Impact and Business Factors. Is Japanese, unique, archaic, not on a fast-track to becoming an international language or is the writer biased?  Read the article for yourself and decide. Oh yeah! Be sure to leave some feedback.

Click here to read the article or here to listen.

  • http://ohanachan.wordpress.com Ayana

    I don’t think Japanese is dead. I think it should be higher actually just because Japan is the 2nd biggest economy but I understand the scale the author was using. I thought before reading that, Japan would be higher. I thought wrong I guess.

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