I'm aware of the plethora of African languages out there - Bontu based, etc. I find it curious that Obama referred to his name as an "African" name when it really appears to be an Arabic name. Wonder if his family was Muslim. I didn't hear his delivery of his speech but I read it and was very impressed. When I have some time on my hands (hah) I'm going to do a little looking into his family of origin. Julie Krueger ========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Re: "The African Language" (Was: Julie's Query) Date: 7/30/2004 12:02:46 AM Central Daylight Time From: _Robert.Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:Robert.Paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) To: _lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent on: JL has provided a healthy trove of references to 'African Language,' 'African Language Program[s].' and the like. Yet it still doesn't follow, as Paul Grice of happy memory would have reminded us, that there is such a language as African. If there is a corresponding 'European Language Teachers Association.' I'm pretty sure that its members neither study nor speak a language called 'European.' Robert Paul The Reed Institute ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html