To the editor:

In his recent letter, Mr. Winn suggests that because Peace Corps volunteers learn local languages in Micronesia, Spanish-speaking immigrants should learn English here. (“Language barrier” LJW Sept. 22).

Peace Corps volunteers do learn languages in countries where they work, but in my six years’ experience with the corps in six different countries (including Micronesia), I saw very few reach the level of fluency needed to read a ballot or any other official document, let alone read the local paper or a prescription, or talk to a doctor about a life-threatening illness. (Could you, Mr. Winn, after several years there?)

More importantly, Peace Corps volunteers aren’t forced to learn the local language to the detriment of their own. They are provided English literature, English training manuals and English-speaking support staff. They are never punished for using their mother tongue, they never have to feel that their language and culture is inferior or threatened, or fear that they won’t be able to communicate one day with their children or grandchildren. They certainly aren’t denied access to the English language through government policies in fact, the majority of them are there teaching English!

Linguistic diversity no more ensures divisiveness than a common language ensures that people will live together in peace and harmony. And the only reason that linguistic minorities may be “doomed and destined to be second-class forever” has nothing to do with bilingualism and everything to do with racism, intolerance, and policies such as English-only laws.

Lizette Peter,

Lawrence