This is America, speak English

They eat at McDonald's, shop at Walmart, root for the Cowboys and Yankees, celebrate Christmas, and only speak speak one language. How more American can you get?
 
b-taco, and I agree. I know I can come off as a liberal, but I don't want the govt doing alot of these things for them. I think a certain percentage doesn't hurt. As for businesses, do whatever it takes for you to make money ethically.

But, I have no problem with streets in Chinatown having chinese names.
 
Do you want the foreign language speakers aware of the taxes they are supposed to pay? Or do you want them unaware and not paying them? That's why some documents are printed in other languages.
 
when i was in japan, i sure did appreciate the chance to conduct business in english. by "business" of course i mean, "understand the subway stops," and "get money out of the ATM."

i'm sure the japanese were really pissed about having to select their language at the ATM. oh, wait. no they weren't. what's one extra ******* button.

OMG, i have to push 1 for english! oMG, WTF?!!?!?!?1111?
 
Back to my being hacked off about tax dollars being spent for multiple languages, and NOT caring at ALL about private ads, etc., being in multiple languages, I guess that's just the libertarian capitalist in me.

HEB publishes some ads in spanish because it helps them sell more groceries. Period. That's the same reason they put pictures of a tasty brisket, or shrimp, or whatever, on the cover of their ads -- it helps them sell more stuff. If I am a business owner, I will put out ads in whatever language I need to in order to sell my stuff.

Hell, when it comes time to sell my wife's minivan (dear Lord how she hates that thing), it has high miles, and is pretty old. Not a highly marketable car. However, I am going to print up a circular in spanish and post it at Fiesta and a couple of other places that I know are frequented by a market of people who (a) deal mostly in cash, (b) will need wheels that can carry a family, and (c) care most about whether the vehicle runs, not about how pretty or "status symbol" it is. I think that I will dramatically improve my chances of selling the vehicle by marketing to this group as well as trying to sell through regular channels (Craigslist etc.). Shame on me for marketing in Spanish?

But I also think that when it comes to certain things, like the language of government, there ought to be some burden on the citizens to learn that language. Hell, even for English speakers, there may be some words in gov't publications that they don't understand -- so they need to look in a dictionary.

When I go to Mexico, I understand that many merchants will speak English. It's good for business. I even understand that there will be areas where English is spoken by many folks, for cultural reasons. But when I walk into a Mexican gov't office, I am prepared to function in Spanish. I think that's as it should be.
 
How small must a minority be before it is OK to expect its members to be proficient in English? <40%? <10%? <.1%? Is it fair to expect anyone to have to learn another language?

Things in English:
Declaration of Independence
US Constitution and Amendments thereto
US Code
Texas Constitution and Amendments thereto
etc

Other languages are great-- the more the better. The principal language of our nation is one of a small minority of its ancestors-- English. It is not about national origin or ethnicity. Unless we are willing to make our government function in every one of the hundreds (thousands?) of languages of people who come here, some people will have to learn English.

I will vote against anyone who proposes subsidizing prolonged ignorance of the principal language of this country. I will support free English lessons for those who want them.
 
I believe it is important when immigrating (however the means) to a new country to learn the primary language.

That being said - there is also a commercial interest in having at least some government documents (and business, for that matter) in multiple languages.

I have been to Europe twice, and I only speak English. I am fortunate that in much of the rest of the world, english is taught, and that many Europeans speak at least a little of my language.

However, European countries also recognize the value of tourism and foreign business. And so street signs, documents, passports, and businesses all often, if not always, have not only printed materials in their native language, but also English, as well as other common languages.

I would have been miserable traveling throughout Europe were this not the case.

The expense incurred by lending visitors in our country, for whatever purpose, things printed in multiple languages, may possibly be justified by the amount of increased revenue it brings to our country. Make it easier for foreigners to navigate our country, and the more will come, and the more they will spend.

I appreciate the concerns some have - but I also wonder if to some degree we might do well to shed our ego-centristic view of the world, which is often compounded by our laziness to learn other languages ourselves, and frankly, a bit of prejudice.
 
Took yer Job

when I read the subject line of this thread - this is what came to mind...

if you don't feel like bothering to sign up for youtube to see the vid - just google: took yer job and hit the first vid at the top...
 
I don't care at all if or how many others speak other languages in the States.

I will laugh every time I have to press #1 from now on knowing just how little it takes to infuriate some folks.
 
I disagree with the sentiment and don't understand why people get so worked up about language, as if its a personal affront to them.
 
The local elementary school has 40%+ students that don't speak English or it is their non-native language. How is that fair to have all the resources of that elementary school tied up on people who can't or won't speak English.

Of course it is probably 40% because the parents who realize the futility of their english speaking students in such an environment getting the proper amount of attention is about nil. Private school it is.
frown.gif


While all the non-English speaking kids are getting the squeaky wheel treatment I'm guessing the English speakers get to have quiet time and self taught time?
 
That "yardman" comment was a bit shortsighted. Being multilingual opens alot of doors in the businessworld.

I think most Asian parents worry that their kids will be so assimilated that their grandkids won't be able to speak the language. I want my boy to speak it and English as well. It's happening though. I think two more generations, most Asians will speak English only.
 
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