Truths, half-truths and outright myths about language.(Sun-Sentinel, South Florida)

Predictably, last week's column on language elicited reader response. Some of you expressed opinions that I will try to address here.

_``Latinos in general, and Cuban-Americans in particular, refuse to learn English.'' This is what I tried to say, tongue in cheek, last week. (Alas, I fear some took things too literally.) The proliferation of English courses for foreigners is a sign of how eager Spanish speakers are to learn English.

_``But many Latinos just won't learn English anyway, the way other immigrants did.'' This often comes from readers who come from immigrant families, and I admit it is true. There are reasons for this. One is the existence of Spanish-language zones in our country, where it is possible to function exclusively in Spanish. Another is …