Nothing to Brag About

So I don't catch a lot of commercials anymore, but I've seen this one ad twice now for Burlington Coat Factory that I pretty much deplore. You can watch it here if you haven't seen it already. Apparently it's for their new slogan "brag about it." Whatever.

Basically, the point of the commercial is this snooty women with a French accent is a little too pretentious  about being able to speak four languages fluently and needs to be put in her place. The other women is proud as well, but "rightly" so, to have gotten a great deal on four dresses at Burlington Coat Factory. Obviously by her expression, she knows she is the better person because she got that totally awesome deal. She's the one you're supposed to connect with and like of course. 'Cause getting four dresses for $50 is SOOOOOO much cooler than being able to communicate in four different languages. 

I love language, so maybe I'm a bit biased. But it's truly ridiculous that we American English speakers are not taught other languages until it's past the age when it would be easiest to begin learning. It's also just generally not encouraged. I think every person I've ever met from another country can speak at least two languages (yes, English is one of those), but often it's 3, 4, 5 languages!!! 

How did we develop the attitude in this country that learning another language is not worth our time and effort, that it's a burdensome chore? Why wouldn't one want to be able to communicate with people in their native tongue? I guess we're lazy since English is more or less a language of international business and so many people from other countries have at least a basic understanding of it.

My uncles/aunts/cousins used to make fun of me as a kid for learning/practicing other languages at holiday get-togethers. They would find that commercial amusing and that makes me just a little bit sad. 

If you really want to "parlez-vous good deal," you should try your local thrift store. I could get four dresses for about $10 bucks. So there, Burlington Coat Factory. Va te faire enculer.