Actually, I’m fairly sure a good number of folks in Britain would question the assertion that English is spoken in Alabama.
[ducking]
Sorry I couldn’t resist. I don’t feel that way, though I do wonder whether English is spoken in some parts of the North of England. Ever hear Geordie? Makes the deepest southern drawl sound like a BBC newsreader in comparison.
Yes, Newcastle in the North East of England said to be a cross between Scots and English dialect. I did get as far as Stevenson, Alabama and made myself understood. Drove down from Canada. I used a light London dialect however.
Joking aside, using multiple languages is all very quaint. It is however an incredible expense. This example may amuse because my adopted city weathered quite a storm ten years ago. The worthy city councilors often took too long in council to get through the whole Monday meeting. They(bless 'em) liked to hear themselves talk.
It was mentioned that being as bilingualism was now law in Canada, it only needed one person in the gallery to demand a French translation. One the expense of a translator and then a six hour meeting. Following that a double printing of all records, both in English and French. A resolution was passed "ENGLISH ONLY" at our city hall.
All hell broke loose. Stories of conventions being cancelled. A boycott of the city by visitors. A woman claimed she was leaving town. Others are now leaving, she claimed. The press printed the usual "bigot" charges. The same resolution had been found after the furore, to have been adopted by 73 different cities in our province. ENGLISH ONLY.
Let us all hope and using the language of the bard William Shakespeare, dialects and all. ENGLISH ONLY.