Language barrier

I AM glad that The Scotsman came out strongly in favour of the government promoting languages in Scottish schools (Comment, 29 April).

When we consider that the majority of people on this planet are at least bilingual to some degree, our mindset should be changed not only in schools but especially among those with the power to influence events.

Learning more than one language at any age is normal and natural. It is taken for granted in many parts of the world. Being monolingual is a misfortune and another regrettable side-effect of Empire.

The language deficiency syndrome with which the UK as a whole is plagued is not due to laziness but, at least partly, due to ignorance about just how very normal it is for humans to have than one language at their disposal .

Mike Sharwood Smith

Eva Place

Edinburgh