In criticising "grumpy Tim Rundall" for, in turn, criticising the USA's human rights violations, Michael Gardner betrays a tendency towards selective xenophobia (Letters, August 16).

Yes, the USA did help to defeat Nazism but only after it had been attacked by Japan and after Hitler had been distracted from Britain to the Eastern front by the USSR.

Had it not been for the last successful invasion of Britain by Norman French in 1066, however (and they were alleged to be slack on human rights of the natives), we would probably not speak English but Anglo-Saxon, a variety of Mr Gardner's special pet-hate language, German.

He might also be interested to know that one of Wellington's greatest aids at Waterloo was the King's Legion, who were several thousand Hannoverians stationed at Bexhill and German-speakers and of German origin like most of our monarchs since George I (a current exhibition at Bexhill Museum celebrates its bicentenary).

Finally, Mr. Gardner appeals to Mr. Rundall's sentiments "as a linguist". There may be those they know and/or like more than others, but, by and large, linguists should view language and languages dispassionately.

-FG Robinson, Bexhill-on-Sea