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March 13, 2006
The 'no foreign language rule' of the BBC
One of the stricter rules of the BBC is that no more than two words of any foreign language should ever be broadcast.
I remembered that when I was listening to the clip of the immensely-entertaining Signor Berlusconi storming out of a TV studio. It was frustrating. I wanted to know what was going on, and I couldn’t do that without hearing the voices of the Italian Prime Minister and his opponent interviewer. Of course the BBC didn’t allow this.
What is the reason for this policy? To make viewers think the world is universally English-speaking? That the BBC and its loyal viewers are in the centre of that world? Leaving aside the influence this has on the non-teaching of modern languages in schools, one of the results of the policy is an over-concentration on the politics of English-speaking countries, and a negative attitude to Europe.
I want to see video clips of politicians speaking in their own languages - with English subtitles.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4800356.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at March 13, 2006 05:42 PM
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