"If you know another language then you cannot be a bigot"
👆 This is a common myth is repeated in language-learning and linguistic circles, often with an undertone of moral or intellectual superiority.
Interestingly, the people I've found the most to propagate this have been native-English speakers.
Yes, learning another language can broaden your perspective and expose you to different cultures, histories and ways of thinking.
But language itself is not empathy. We must remember that virtues such as understanding, humility and compassion are personal choices.
Anyone can be prejudiced, narrow-minded or intolerant regardless of how many languages they speak. Yes, it's possible to be bigoted in more than one language.
Multilingualism is a skill and, for many worldwide, a necessity. It's not a moral achievement!
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