Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan will present the positions of Islamic countries in the absence of Israel, which has declined to attend the summit

    • HikingVet@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      7 months ago

      Considering the list of countries and the fact that interpreters are standard at events like this, not an issue. So how is Spain a joke again?

      Edit: oh it’s you again.

      • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        7 months ago

        It seems to me that not being able to speak other languages tells you something about the level of education and breadth of knowledge of a person or at least about their open mindedness or lack of thereof.

        • HikingVet@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          7 months ago

          I know most of the world is multilingual but only knowing one language isn’t the sign of a lack of education.

          In fact judging someone for not know how to speak another language is eliteism.

          • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            7 months ago

            Context is important. Consider the context and re read the comments.

            • HikingVet@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              7 months ago

              Like what?

              I’m sure more than one of those people have issues with languages that some of the others are well versed in, and interpreters have been part of international diplomacy as long as there has been diplomacy.

              • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                7 months ago

                The context is multicultural international relations. While it’s not impossible to have a good understanding of other cultures without learning their languages and reading relevant literature in the original language rather than a translation it’s highly unlikely.

                • Maalus@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  7 months ago

                  Again, so what? Others have already pointed out that translations and interpreters work. Is english suddenly the national language of all of Europe?

                  • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    2
                    ·
                    7 months ago

                    It’s fine if you disagree. That counterpoint was refuted already.

        • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          7 months ago

          There are many languages, I don’t think it is reasonable to expect people to be fluent in even four of them.

          • 5BC2E7@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            7 months ago

            Indeed. but like I said this is related to open mindeness, even if you don’t know the other specific culture you at least have some sense of what things that your culture hold as unquestionable truths turn out not to be for “outsiders”. making extrapolations with at least a good idea of another culture you are not part of is going to give you a way more reasonable explanation than estimating another culture with 1 datapoint.

    • Akasazh@feddit.nl
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      7 months ago

      Borrel barely know how to speak English

      It’s not a good look if you make a grammar mistake when criticizing someone’s command of language.