"The Net is inspiring a serious push in Asian language computing, " says Bala Pillai, a Malaysian-born, Sydney-based Internet strategist.

CNN: COMMUNICATION

Realizing that the Navajo tongue had no link to any Asian or European language, the American military recruited 420 Indians to convey messages in the Pacific.

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After all, Vietnam's next big international engagement is to host meetings of the regional club, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (official language: English).

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Founded in 2004, Oikos offers classes in nursing, music, Asian medicine and English as a second language.

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However, educational barriers continue to be a huge challenge, particularly for Southeast Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and English Language Learners.

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Starting with just two language services, it now broadcasts in nine Asian languages and numerous dialects.

WHITEHOUSE: Statement by the Press Secretary on S. 3104

Thus, from Singapore's Lee with his Cambridge double first honors, to Princeton PhD Syngman Rhee of Korea, Asian leaders had to translate their nationalist creed into the language of the paddy and the street.

CNN: CENTURY OF LIBERATION

But there are handicaps, including language: Chinese is widely spoken in many other Asian destinations, including Malaysia and Singapore, but not in South Korea.

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