Wanted Languages Dead Or Alive (Essay‪)‬

This article considers the impact of global business and government agendas on tbreign language teaching in the United States. The desire to close the 'language gap' in American education, a laudable goal to be sure, is beginning to compromise the traditional humanistic study of language and literature, epitomized by the study of Greek and Latin. Meanwhile, increased emphasis on teaching Arabic has brought to the fore issues of multiculturalism and the value of a liberal education in the context of national security issues. The authors argue for a broad range of goals in language education, including the grasp of cultural issues besides linguistic competence. **********