Im curious about how many americans feel we should have an official language. Language is about communication and right now when I got to work I see 50% of the customers not being able to speak english. Some even are angry that I cant speak spanish and refuse to learn.

I would also be curious to hear what people from other countries have to say about this.

If you're in America you speak English. If you can't at least try to speak English please do not come in my store. Conversly if i'm in Germany i'm going to try damn hard to speak what I need to in German. It's only fair. Don't come to my country and be pissed because I can not speak your native tounge. Jesus.

Married With Children, DMV scene:
"What language do you speak, Mr. Bundy?"
"The one we all speak!"
"Spanish?"

Edit: Gotta agree with Osgilliath entirely. I worked my ass off to be able to speak English fluently when I moved here. I'll be damned if I have to become proficient in a third language just to be able to communicate with a select few people.

The real issue here is that we have no LEGAL official language and I think that should be fixed.

Its simple..If you want to do buisness with Spanish speaking people better learn the language, if they want to do buisness with English speaking people they had better learn the language. Not sure what needing a legal official language would do anyways realistically. This is probably more of a problem near the borders of Mexico...areas of California, Arizona and so forth. Think Florida probably has a different thing going on. I personally expect them to learn what the majority speak here. I do wish I put the effort into picking up a second language, makes me jelious seeing those who can.

Seriously if you plan on LIVING in a country, learn the fucking national language. If I ever moved to another country where English was not the standard, the first thing I'd do would be to learn the standard language.

At work we have to spend money on interperters for like 5 different languages because so many people speak little or no English.

Yeah, and our govt shouldn't be bending over backwards to accomodate their needs. Give them adequate access to English-as-a-second language in the public school system, and be done with it.

Didn't Clinton sign an executuve order requiring all Govt publications to be printed in all the foreign languages? I mean come on, I can see having some signs or citizenship papers in a language you can understand, but not your social security retirement papers. By that time you need to have learned English.

That said, it shouldn't be some law requiring you to be able to speak English, but if you want to succeed and not be handicapped to some 'hood, that's the individuals' responsbility to overcome.

That said, it shouldn't be some law requiring you to be able to speak English, but if you want to succeed and not be handicapped to some 'hood, that's the individuals' responsbility to overcome

Its not a law requiring english its a statement that the official language of the USA is english. We dont have that. Almost every other country does. I live in Nevada btw and there is a sign that says you must be able to speak spanish to work at mcdonalds. Bullshit.

I live in Nevada btw and there is a sign that says you must be able to speak spanish to work at mcdonalds.

What..the..fuck...

That is total bullshit.

Privately owned business and its their business, pun intended. Hooters wants big boobs and good looking girls that show theirs, and McDonald's in Nevada wants Spanish speaking zit faces.

/shrug

And I don't understand this "statement" you speak of. A law would be a statement, so what good would a "statement" that's not a law be?

Yeah, there should have a national language for high immigration countries like USA and here in Canada. Not that people would have to be very good at it, but at least being able to talk it. Not that english is a hard language either.

Impresario Almadar Tegleftyln
Retired

Actually I believe Miami has Spanish as its official language but that might be just hearsay. And as much as it pains me i have to agree on what Osgil says. If you move to America learn American, if you move to Cuba learn Cuban, if you move to France learn French simple as that.

if you move to France learn French simple as that.
You dont have a choice here because the citizenship papers only come in French from what I hear.

Constitutional concept (http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_lang.html) It is a law but its not a law that you have to learn english its a law that if you dont know english your going to have a hard time and we dont have to bend over backwards to learn Hyperboleze just for you.

If you plan to live in a certain country, then learning the most commonly used language of the majority of the country is the most prudent thing to do. You may not be morally inclined to, but at least you'll be capable of success.

That said, if you actually plan on living in a certain country, then you probably have a decent understanding of what language is most widely used. The declared "national language" may not necessarily be the most used language. If it is already, then another may become more popular. So what's the point of declaring one?

So what's the point of declaring one?
Because of the influx of immigrants into this country more than any other we would end up with road signs printed in 15 different languages because people dont wanna bother learning english to live here. With no official language there is nothing to stop that from happening.

People complain about the loss of culture in this country and this is an obvious part of it in my mind.

We are a country of many cultures though. What culture are we loosing thats "american only"...think im missing it.


Ibudin

I was in a store,waiting in line when a young latino woman was in front of me trying to buy lottery tickets. She didn't speak very good english and was having a hard time explaining to the cashier what numbers she wanted.
After a few minutes the guy behind me says "Hey lady,if you can't speak American,get out of the country.
The elderly woman behind him said " I don't hear you speaking Cherokee,asshole"
The guy put his items on the counter and walked out without saying another word.

That said, if you actually plan on living in a certain country, then you probably have a decent understanding of what language is most widely used.
I don't think that statement applies to the majority of those who immigrate to the U.S., particularly to those who come here illegally.

We are a country of many cultures though. What culture are we loosing thats "american only"...think im missing it.
Language is about communication not about YAYA VIVA LA MEXICO. If everyone in the country spoke different langugages we might as well all be mute.

Funny story but we dont speak Cherokee here and so that wouldnt help that man with his communication skills because no one else would understand him.

If there were a new language what makes you think the illegal immigrants are going to stop to learn that if they wont learn english?

I would support making English an official language of the US. It is the language the majority of the citizens currently speak, it is the language our laws and constitution were written in and it is the language used to debate issues in the congress. Maintaining some cultural continuity in our nation is desirable for those reasons if for no other. Try interpreting US law accurately without using English and you may get completely different results than what was intended.

Part of the glue that made the US a successful nation was the willingness to adhere to a common language and set of laws. With large numbers of immigrants from all over the world, something had to act as a unifying force. Abandoning this practice will only lead to division at some time in the future IMO.

Funny story but we dont speak Cherokee here and so that wouldnt help that man with his communication skills because no one else would understand him.

I don't think the woman was trying insinuate that he actually needs to learn Cherokee, she was refering to the man's short sightedness as to the origins of our country.

Her short sightedness was refusing to acknowledge that communication is the point of language. If you cant communicate then you need to learn to regardless of whatever the hell language you THINK everyone should speak.

So let me get this straight and the whole purpose of this post.
You have a club mac that will only employs you if you speak spanish? Could this be because this restraunt is in a predominately spanish speaking area where it would make more sense to employ a spanish speaking employee than it would be to try and educate the 1000's of people that speak spanish and live with in the are of the restraunt? Or should we just chase these no good, non English speaking people out of the country? From the buisness stand point it makes sense to employ someone who speaks spanish but thats as far as its going to go. They will need to learn English eventually or not..depends if they can get by with or with out it.

What Im saying is if your kid needed a job he would be rejected because he only speaks the language that was taught him in school! This is American NOT Mexico. In California it is impossible to get a state job unless you speak spanish or chinese. Its one thing to be looking for spanish speaking employees its another to reject all english ones for only spanish.

The point of this post was to see how many people agree that as a nation we should have a language that is official to us so that we can expect as business owners and such that people make a reasonable attempt to learn it.

The deal is your kid would stand at the counter taking orders from spanish speaking people going..WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SAYING...! get the point?

I do agree however learn English thats what we speak and thats whats expected of you to use as a language here. Thing is, that situation has little choice..its either hire kids that speak English and struggle with taking orders from "paying" spanish speaking customers or hire someone who can deal with and know's spanish. Problem is though how hard is it for them to understand..Number 2 please with "Coke."

that we can expect as business owners and such that people make a reasonable attempt to learn it.

I guess as a buisness owner you can post a sign and say "Enlglish speaking patrons only please"..that Mcdonalds you posted about initially sounds to me would go bankrupt.




Ibudin

depends if they can get by with or with out it

And every day we make it eaiser for them to DO SO.

Like he said, pretty soon we are gonna have street signs in 20 different languages.

I guess as a buisness owner you can post a sign and say "Enlglish speaking patrons only please"..that Mcdonalds you posted about initially sounds to me would go bankrupt.
Reading is good mkay ... I said they should be ABLE TO EXPECT. Meaning we shouldnt have to have signs like that available for anything it should be assumed you will need english to communicate. I dont care if you cant speak it or not but dont expect that everyone on the planet should have to bend over backwards so you dont have to.

In essence Ibudin your saying the MILLIONS of americans should learn spanish so the THOUSANDS of Hispanics dont have to learn english ... hmmm? (numbers are just for the point not exact)

Like I said if everyone is allowed to speak whatever language they want nobody would understand anyone and the point of language would be lost. I dont hate immigrants (legal ones anyway) but I think they should be imbued with certain responsiblities just as I would assume I would in their country.

Really the issue here is who should have the burdon, Americans who were born here or the immigrants who come here hoping to BE Americans. This isnt the world living association its a country.

All your base are belong to us

Lets all just learn esperanto.