In 1920, AT&T promoted English-only conversation on the phone

By at 2:03 pm Sunday, Aug 12

Rick Prelinger says,
Seeing the post on AT&T and its concern for user privacy in 1928 reminded me of their 1920 ad, where they call for the Americanization of new immigrants and the use of a single language on the phone.

"But the telephone is no interpreter. If its far reaching wires are to be effective, those who use them must speak the same language. The telephone best serves those who have become one with us in speech."

Well, sure. Babel is one thing, but xenophobia and suspicion of difference is quite another.

Link

Previously on BoingBoing: How AT&T fought for privacy -- 80 years ago

Xeni Jardin

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