Demographic profile of Colombian cities

alezzz says on Oct 10, 2009, 21:47:

http://www.dane.gov.co

Idiocy and anonymous = internet tough guy?

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Kurious says on Oct 10, 2009, 21:52:

Thank you...what I wouldn't give to understand all of this in English? Some of it is but so much is not...just another barrier.

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theflatline says on Oct 10, 2009, 21:58:

Hit the books, six months of studying spanish and you will be able to read 90% of it.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Kurious says on Oct 10, 2009, 22:15:

I don't have six months...I am out of here in thirty days, maybe a little more...I should have asked this question when I first arrived. I will do what I can...it makes sense to me to expend my efforts where they will be best utilized.

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Kurious says on Oct 10, 2009, 22:34:

Let me be more specific...I need a demographic profile of Barranquilla...in English, that I can share with others?

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tabla says on Oct 10, 2009, 22:37:

.it makes sense to me to expend my efforts where they will be best utilized.

Wise words, Kurious. Me too. I allocated just 2 weeks of my life to Spanish schooling. The rest I have picked up in conversation. In Colombia I have avoided the company of English speakers. My girlfriend speaks no English. As a result, whether or not I have enjoyed a particular activity, I have always benefited from the side-effect of improving my Spanish.

I also write for the archive.

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Kurious says on Oct 10, 2009, 22:47:

Thank you, tabla, I will reflect on your words later. As I said, I would appreciate a demographic profile of the city of Barranquilla, Colombia in English.

To that end...remind those people that English is the global language and not a bad investment.

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theflatline says on Oct 10, 2009, 23:33:

Kurious,

I do not doubt your want to help those in need in Colombia.

English might be the global language, but in Latin America, and a large portion of the US, Spanish is the lingua franca.

The problem in the US is that second languages are not really pushed as they are in other countries. And I do not mean someone taking them in high school or 9 hours in a college setting to get that minor to finish the degree. These people are not fluent, especially the ones that say they are.

To truly understand a culture and the people one must speak the language. You need to be able to converse abstractly, philosophically, and colloquially. Which is hard enough to do in ones own native tongue much less in a second.

I am sure if you ask here, one of us will not might translating for you. Just give us the demographics you are looking for so we will only pull the relevant data.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Simon says on Oct 10, 2009, 23:46:

Who the hell named English the global language? I can only name a couple of important countries that speak it (The UK and the US). Then after that the list declines to large but sparsely populated countries like Canada and Australia and then a long list of tiny, shitty islands!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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theflatline says on Oct 11, 2009, 00:41:

Simon,

It is the language of business. And you forgot India.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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njc (Dev team) says on Oct 11, 2009, 00:45:

"(...) a long list of tiny, shitty islands!"

Including San Andrés and Providencia?

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Simon says on Oct 11, 2009, 00:45:

Most Indians speak Hindi.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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theflatline says on Oct 11, 2009, 01:19:

90 million people in India speak it as their first language. Most Indians do speak Hindi, but 90 million are native speakers. That is not a small number.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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Simon says on Oct 11, 2009, 01:29:

Those Indians are white-washed.....como ud.!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Bill Turley (Moderator) says on Oct 11, 2009, 05:54:

Try using the internet without translation or English.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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Kurious says on Oct 12, 2009, 18:22:

Thanks for the feedback!

Flatline, if you are so inclined...this is a relevant quote,"think of yourself as a Peace Corp Volunteer going to the host country with a very rudimentary knowledge of the language, lots of ideas and a little knowledge of the local culture, but you are committed to do your best, otherwise you will be frustrated and end up hating the whole experience of being in Colombia." I could use your help interpreting the data that is available.

Simon, I do not profess to having a working knowledge of the language...I do feel that I can help the residents of this country. Do you feel like attacking me or helping me help your fellow countrymen?

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 12, 2009, 18:42:

India has several hundred different languages. The only language in common is English. In fact I know an Indian couple each of whom does not speak the other's native language. They have to communicate in English.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Kurious says on Oct 12, 2009, 19:49:

I don't doubt that some of my comments came across as arrogant...to a certain extent, I apologize. Otherwise, these countries are seeking to compete in a global marketplace and with that comes the English language...it is what it is. I do respect the customs of another country and will write another post. In the meantime, invest whatever resources you have in learning the English language...that is where the money is...

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vinod says on Oct 13, 2009, 08:34:

Most Indians speak Hindi. That's true.

But hundreds of millions of them also speak English. English is the only language that is understood everywhere in the country.

More people on this planet speak English than any other language. I am not making any distinction as to whether English is a person's first language or not. My father's first language was not English (it was Hindi). But he spoke English. That made him part of the English speaking population of this world.

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