100 year old sprinter

You do realise that the older you are, the more effort it takes to learn a language?

Go to India and start learning Punjabi + Hindi when you are about 65 and see how long it takes you be able to converse and become fluent in them ;)
 
AcidHell2 said:
Why the argument about age. GBR will be there to verify everything, so if hes lying he'll be found out.
Click to expand...

I don't think they will be able to find out if he's lying as he will not even know his own true age! More than likely there will be no way of verifying his exact age, just hearsay from village elders. Whatever his age, he's a great inspiration for us all.
 
Well this has gone slightly off topic hasn't it with the resident racis.....sorry patriotic British members out in force.....

Fair play to him, bloody couldn't run a marathon when I was young and fitter let alone now!

Ohnoezfail said:
You do realise that the older you are, the more effort it takes to learn a language?

Go to India and start learning Punjabi + Hindi when you are about 65 and see how long it takes you be able to converse and become fluent in them ;)
Click to expand...

Also take into account that this guy possibly wasn't even educated in reading/writing Punjabi either so it, the vast majority of the older generation aren't because they simply couldn't afford it. I know in some household where they had for example 4 boys they would send only one of the boys to school and pull him out as soon as he had basic reading/writing skills and that was it. Having one member in the household who could do it was enough and all they could afford.
 
Only got through 1/3 of the topic at the moment but I felt compelled to post!

I really do doubt that this man is 100. Considering he probably immigrated so long ago, changing his age would probably not have been difficult at all. Though I'm unsure as to the benefits of doing it. Even if he's only 80 though it's still an incredible achievement.

I also find the whole British topic to be amusing. I fully agree that all immigrants should be able to speak English but to attempt to apply that to someone who clearly moved over here long before any of these problems were really becoming apparently is unfair.


dirtydog said:
I didn't say 'innit' was due to black influence. But stuff like 'blud' and 'bredrins' is, is it not?

And calling police 'feds' - I wasn't aware we had a federal system in Britain but then again I'm not black so I guess I don't understand :(
Click to expand...

I'd just like to point out that "innit" comes from the Indians. Just saying.
 
steve-h said:
Well I have :confused: My point was why only learn Welsh if you can learn English too?

That doesn't mean that's the only language they speak...
Click to expand...

No it doesn't, but when communities are 75% plus speaking in a native tongue then it shows that they have little to gain in speaking English or they would have.





steve-h said:
That's calling people who choose to only speak only Welsh dumb. Where did I call 'differing cultures' dumb?
Click to expand...

By extention of your 'dumb' comment.
 
cheets64 said:
I speak Wiganese, you wouldn't understand me if I came talking to you, you can get an app for tha though, iWiganese but I can soon revert to my 2nd language English

:D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-14665940



Local dialect is be lost big time, no kids understand it or care, 20 years ago I was hearing it all the time now its very rare, same with every area, especially manc/lpool losing out to all this gangsta speak. RIP
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if there is a gaelic app, but do you get pockets of population whom the majority speak Wiganese?

I don't think local dilect is to be lost big time if that's what you meant, it's been a feature of the UK for a very long time.
 
I give you the OP....

A hundred year old British man still running at 100 years old. He really does put me, and a lot more people to shame. I couldn't do what he does (I probably could if I tried hard) and I'm a fraction of his age. Well done to him.

Just to remind you.
 
Biohazard said:
Some will, but it rarely the primary language the further out you head. What is wrong with not using English as a first choice?
Click to expand...

There's absolutely nothing wrong with using a language other than English as a first choice! Whatever gave you the impression I would have anything against that? :)


Biohazard said:
No, a logical one Steve.
Click to expand...

Present your case Biohazard.
 
Last edited:
Biohazard said:
No it doesn't, but when communities are 75% plus speaking in a native tongue then it shows that they have little to gain in speaking English or they would have.
Click to expand...

I think you'd be an idiot to live in Scotland or Wales and not learn English. I also believe that the reason they don't learn it is mainly due to prejudice against the English. I often feel this prejudice particularly from Scottish people, have to say it (not all Scottish, but it's the ones with the big voices that you notice).

I mean just think about it. What films can they watch? What tv can they watch? They can't converse with people outside of their little community and they likely can't even use much of the internet either. There are many things you can't do if you only know a dieing language.
 
Last edited:
I'm pretty sure that anyone who lives in the UK who can't speak English is going to get no where career wise as well and personally I would class anyone who gives no consideration to their career to be a bit stoooopid.
 
Ohnoezfail said:
You do realise that the older you are, the more effort it takes to learn a language?

Go to India and start learning Punjabi + Hindi when you are about 65 and see how long it takes you be able to converse and become fluent in them ;)
Click to expand...

haha made me laugh that why would anyone over 65 move to India, as funny as someone saying that 95 year old had a right to live in then gain citizenship and thus be able to be treated be the NHS, con artist.

TheCenturion said:
How many years are required for citizenship? 5?

How do we know that he didn't move to this country at the age of 95? I'd imagine it's damned near impossible to learn a new language at 95.
Click to expand...

WHAT

Sane body and mind, why would any country let someone gain citizenship at any age over the working age, dead weight.

Biohazard said:
I'm not sure if there is a gaelic app, but do you get pockets of population whom the majority speak Wiganese?

I don't think local dilect is to be lost big time if that's what you meant, it's been a feature of the UK for a very long time.
Click to expand...

Not sure make one, get someone to do it, tis fun but also SERIOUS :p

All I can say its down to the old school mills, canals, coal mines that people worked, after a day at work you did not wont to enlighten oneself. Just read the road to Wigan Pier
 
Ohnoezfail said:
You do realise that the older you are, the more effort it takes to learn a language?

Go to India and start learning Punjabi + Hindi when you are about 65 and see how long it takes you be able to converse and become fluent in them ;)
Click to expand...

You do relise that this is not a valid arguement really. The fact being argued is that if you immigrate to England you should be able to speak English. Not if it's possible for him to be able to learn it or not. They could just turn round and say "well if you can't learn it don't immigrate!".

Besides, the guy is allegedly running at the age of 100! Don't tell me he doesn't have the will power to learn the language that he is surrounded by every day!
 
8igdave said:
I think you'd be an idiot to live in Scotland or Wales and not learn English. I also believe that the reason they don't learn it is mainly due to prejudiced against the English.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how many fail to learn English, but of those who do I very much doubt it has anything to do with prejudice. More the reality of living in their respective strongly native speaking community but this has to be a small minority. The vast majority will be bi-lingual to a certain extent, if not entirely, but in some areas English is certainly the second language.

8igdave said:
I mean just think about it. What films can they watch? What tv can they watch? They can't converse with people outside of their little community and they likely can't even use much of the internet either. There are many things you can't do if you only know a dieing language.
Click to expand...

There is Gaelic TV radio and publications, I assume the same for Welsh. Island or distant community life is sometimes quite different from the 'normal mainland or built up areas' so expectations centered around media entertainment aren't always their highest priority. Certainly a lot of places without the internet and so forth. The language is dying out in some areas, but remaining stubborn in others. The overall trend is decline, but there is investment to prevent the language dying out as well as it appearing in the curriculum etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom