I don't follow. Most inhabitants of North America speak English as their
first language, but I don't believe Columbus did. Did Columbus speak
English at all?

Most inhabitants of the Americas speak Spanish as their first
language, as a consequence of Columbus's discovery (or opening, if you
prefer) of the New World. Next in importance as discovers and
exploiters were the English, and a distant third were the French. The
Irish and the Vikings were of no importance in this process; their
voyages had no consequences; they might as well have stayed at home,
for all the impact those voyages had on history.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
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