Do you hate people who refuse to communicate in English and insists on their own language?

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: coldmeat
http://network.nationalpost.co...lish-calls-police.aspx

Quebec, a distinct and separate society.

I would like them to have the balls to actually separate.

My shopping experience in Quebec:
"Hello, ....."
"Blank stares." <miserable stern condescending look on face>
"I'm very sorry. I'm not from Ontario. I'm from NY in the U.S. They wouldn't let me learn French in high school and made me learn Spanish because we have so many Spanish immigrants. I'm really sorry that I can't talk to you in your preferred language."
"Ohh, that's okay." <smiles>

 

[mugs]

I don't care what language they try to speak to me in as long as they don't mind that I can't understand them. I can usually figure out enough to communicate with people who speak latin-based languages and maybe a little German. One time when I was walking from my car into my office an Asian lady stopped and asked for directions to a road. The road is visible from my office. She had to go over a bridge to get to the other side of the road, but that was also visible from my office. All she had to do was go over the bridge and turn left. and she'd end up on that road. I kept pointing at the bridge and telling her to go over the bridge and turn left. Eventually I got in my car and had her follow me, because she didn't understand.

I'm grateful that the Hispanic Language Institute keeps sending me mail offering to teach me English so I can handle those situations better in the future.

Wait, what?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: coldmeat
http://network.nationalpost.co...lish-calls-police.aspx

Quebec, a distinct and separate society.

I would like them to have the balls to actually separate.

My shopping experience in Quebec:
"Hello, ....."
"Blank stares." <miserable stern condescending look on face>
"I'm very sorry. I'm not from Ontario. I'm from NY in the U.S. They wouldn't let me learn French in high school and made me learn Spanish because we have so many Spanish immigrants. I'm really sorry that I can't talk to you in your preferred language."
"Ohh, that's okay." <smiles>

QFT

Partie Quebecois actually suggested in the 90s that they will seperate from Canada, but keep Canadian currency and passport :disgust:

What the fuck part of a separate nation did they not understand? You want to separate, fine, but no Canadian passport or money for you!

 

[geno]

The other day, my fiance was in Wal Mart and asked an employee where an item was. The woman, in spanish, says "I don't speak english but if you'd like to talk to that lady over there, she can help you" and walked away. She was understandably infuriated.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: sao123
i believe in strong national and cultural identities... you should assume the identity of the area in which you intend to live.

See I don't think you should be forced to assume an identity, but damnit, at least respect it. People getting indignant that not everyone is bending over backwards for them is just assinine.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm more worried about the closeted, insular, and simply un-curious hoards of ignorant fucktards in this country, many of them found on the internet, that think speaking English in this country is some pre-ordained notion, much less an issue to car about.

Will English die in this country? hell no.
Will Spanish grow in use? absolutely.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Kia ora ATOT, tena tatou katoa.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Yes, I do, and I feel that hate is not strong enough, rather than too strong.

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
If somebody is talking to another person and they both speak the language then that's fine. If somebody calls me in non-english and expects me to get a translator, then no, the burden of finding a translator is on them.

While English is not the "official language" of these United States, it SHOULD be.

Government agencies, companies, stores, and shops should NOT be required to speak 11 different languages, to conduct business in any language other than English, nor REQUIRE their employees to speak any language other than English. Being multi-lingual is indeed a plus, but should not be a job requirement for any job.

Mostly agree, except for the word any... You better be multi-lingual if you plan to be a translator :laugh:

:laugh: OK, I'll concede that point...

I think that is one we can all agree with

(and now that I've said that, cue post about how it isn't)

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Yes, I do, and I feel that hate is not strong enough, rather than too strong.

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
If somebody is talking to another person and they both speak the language then that's fine. If somebody calls me in non-english and expects me to get a translator, then no, the burden of finding a translator is on them.

While English is not the "official language" of these United States, it SHOULD be.

Government agencies, companies, stores, and shops should NOT be required to speak 11 different languages, to conduct business in any language other than English, nor REQUIRE their employees to speak any language other than English. Being multi-lingual is indeed a plus, but should not be a job requirement for any job.

So I can't choose to hire someone who speaks Spanish over someone who doesn't, everything else being equal? What if the majority of my clientele speaks Spanish predominantly?

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: sao123
i believe in strong national and cultural identities... you should assume the identity of the area in which you intend to live.

completely irrelevant in this day and age.

That, and nationalist thought and rhetoric is one of the more insidious poisons that individuals can be subjected to--but it sounds like you might be too young to have learned anything from the 2 major wars that rocked the 20th century.

yes, cultural identity is one thing, but it has become increasingly true that a predominant national identity often does far more harm than it does good.

 

[AreaCode707]

My in-laws speak Russian, I speak English. We can have an entire conversation in English and then they'll pray before we leave their house... ALWAYS in Russian. Sends a very clear message that I'm still not fully included in the family and never really will be.

(MIL is the only one that speaks no English; FIL speaks and understands English but doesn't like to speak it.)

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: JaYp146
Sure is great to live in Ohio ...

woah. slow down.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Platypus
America is a melting pot and English is not the official language of this country.

No, but it is the official language of most of the states:

Link

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: sao123
i believe in strong national and cultural identities... you should assume the identity of the area in which you intend to live.

completely irrelevant in this day and age.

That, and nationalist thought and rhetoric is one of the more insidious poisons that individuals can be subjected to--but it sounds like you might be too young to have learned anything from the 2 major wars that rocked the 20th century.

yes, cultural identity is one thing, but it has become increasingly true that a predominant national identity often does far more harm than it does good.

You can claim that national and cultural identities are irrelevant in this day and age with the growth of globalization. But language isn't solely about national or cultural identity; it's about communication. It doesn't do us a whole lot of good to act as a melting pot for global cultures and national identities if none of us can understand each other. So completely setting aside culture and national identities, can we at least concede that it is preferable that people living in the same location at least be able to communicate effectively with one another? The predominant language that we use for communication in the United States is English, regardless of the hundreds of languages that get spoken here. Isn't it preferable that people living within our borders at least learn the predominant language so they can better communicate with the other people living within our borders? Or are we to remain isolated pods of distinct cultural and national identities, walking amongst each other but separated by uncommon language?

 

[StinkyPinky]

It's worse when you're out with a group of people that speak Mandarin and fluent English, but at the dinner table they jabber away in mandarin when they know i can't understand it. Damn it pisses me off. Just flat out rude.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
It's worse when you're out with a group of people that speak Mandarin and fluent English, but at the dinner table they jabber away in mandarin when they know i can't understand it. Damn it pisses me off. Just flat out rude.

Yeah, that happened to me when I lived with my Taiwanese roommate and went out to dinner with her and friends. Its pretty rude.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: geno
The other day, my fiance was in Wal Mart and asked an employee where an item was. The woman, in spanish, says "I don't speak english but if you'd like to talk to that lady over there, she can help you" and walked away. She was understandably infuriated.

understandably? LOL. Yeah right, she pointed to who can, and your GF should get mad?

Understandable should be if she says "I don't speak it" and walks away

 

[Regs]

O_O

 

[magomago]

I don't care what language you wanna speak in with me. When I'm with Arabs who know how to speak their language I want to speak Arabic to practice it. When I'm with Chinese people who know how to speak their language, I wanna speak chinese to practice it. Language is simply a form of communication and nothing more. In 95% of my life I use english, and I clearly speak it the best because I can write college essays in the language.

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
It's worse when you're out with a group of people that speak Mandarin and fluent English, but at the dinner table they jabber away in mandarin when they know i can't understand it. Damn it pisses me off. Just flat out rude.

Yeah, that happened to me when I lived with my Taiwanese roommate and went out to dinner with her and friends. Its pretty rude.

It is HELLA rude. Atleast the Frenchies I've met will speak in English to each other in front of me, even though their English is kinda choppy and I know they'd prefer French. Likewise I won't speak Arabic to the Frenchie that knows Arabic because I know the other Frenchie doesn't know Arabic.
However, I must say, I think its because the people aren't comfortable speaking in another language in your situation. I've adapted to the Chinese part because I picked it up. Even with my friends I'll say things in Chinese that the others won't understand, but I ALWAYS make it a point to immediately say it once more for the others or atleast explain it if it isn't easily translated

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Yes, I do, and I feel that hate is not strong enough, rather than too strong.

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
If somebody is talking to another person and they both speak the language then that's fine. If somebody calls me in non-english and expects me to get a translator, then no, the burden of finding a translator is on them.

While English is not the "official language" of these United States, it SHOULD be.

Government agencies, companies, stores, and shops should NOT be required to speak 11 different languages, to conduct business in any language other than English, nor REQUIRE their employees to speak any language other than English. Being multi-lingual is indeed a plus, but should not be a job requirement for any job.

disagree. It shouldn't. Its our defacto language anyways and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Companies and business can and should speak whatever they want. If they have a lot of spanish speaking customers who are more comfortable speaking in their language, then hire people who can speak spanish.

of course its smarter to higher someone who can speak spanish AND english, but that is a business's choice, not yours.

 

[bloodugly]

Originally posted by: her209
For example, you have to deal with the public and someone comes/calls in and immediately insists on speaking to you in their native language (which you don't speak) and/or requests someone who does speak their native language. And to top it off, they act as if there is something wrong with you because you can't communicate with them in their language. WTF!?

My parents and I came to this country as immigrants and after they took classes at an adult school, they could read/write/speak basic English after a couple of years of getting here with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back. I, on the other hand, went through the public school system, K-12. Why can't these people do the same?

I do empathize with the people coming here from foreign lands. I really do. Hell, I have to speak simplified english just to get a quart of egg drop soup at the local chinese place (which I do love). However, anyone immigrated to this country should understand that for the most part, we speak english here, and they will need to adapt. I don't care about a certain ethnic majority (such as hispanics) making up a population....I just see that we can't discriminate, so they should have no better treatment than someone from China as far as our accomidation to their language. I don't go to China or Korea or Japan expecting them to cater to me. If you want to live in a different land, just at least try to learn a different way of speaking. Assimilate.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Yes, I do, and I feel that hate is not strong enough, rather than too strong.

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
If somebody is talking to another person and they both speak the language then that's fine. If somebody calls me in non-english and expects me to get a translator, then no, the burden of finding a translator is on them.

While English is not the "official language" of these United States, it SHOULD be.

Government agencies, companies, stores, and shops should NOT be required to speak 11 different languages, to conduct business in any language other than English, nor REQUIRE their employees to speak any language other than English. Being multi-lingual is indeed a plus, but should not be a job requirement for any job.

disagree. It shouldn't. Its our defacto language anyways and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Companies and business can and should speak whatever they want. If they have a lot of spanish speaking customers who are more comfortable speaking in their language, then hire people who can speak spanish.

of course its smarter to higher someone who can speak spanish AND english, but that is a business's choice, not yours.

By "higher," do you mean give them a raise or incentive pay for being bi-lingual? If so, I agree, but if you mean "HIRE," then we're at odds.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Yes, I do, and I feel that hate is not strong enough, rather than too strong.

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
If somebody is talking to another person and they both speak the language then that's fine. If somebody calls me in non-english and expects me to get a translator, then no, the burden of finding a translator is on them.

While English is not the "official language" of these United States, it SHOULD be.

Government agencies, companies, stores, and shops should NOT be required to speak 11 different languages, to conduct business in any language other than English, nor REQUIRE their employees to speak any language other than English. Being multi-lingual is indeed a plus, but should not be a job requirement for any job.

disagree. It shouldn't. Its our defacto language anyways and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Companies and business can and should speak whatever they want. If they have a lot of spanish speaking customers who are more comfortable speaking in their language, then hire people who can speak spanish.

of course its smarter to higher someone who can speak spanish AND english, but that is a business's choice, not yours.

By "higher," do you mean give them a raise or incentive pay for being bi-lingual? If so, I agree, but if you mean "HIRE," then we're at odds.

My engrish sucks, forgive me Boomer

Hire

We may be at odds, but lets face it and be realistic: not everyone speaks english and you can't demand that every immigrant come into this country knowing english. And for many people, especially if they are older, they will always be more comfortable in their native language. Its why many FOBS in college speak Chinese and only associate with other Chinese people. It is what they are comfortable with. I could speak Chinese for another 10 years, but if I'm discussing my credit card info or anything other sensitive piece of information with a company, I sure as hell want to do it in the language in which I'm most comfortable. To force me to do that in another language that I may be able to hold a general conversation in simply isn't fair. And even if the people take english classes and have it improve, their level of fluency and understanding simply won't be at a point where they are comfortable enough to engage in serious dealings without worrying that they fucked up something

 

[onlyCOpunk]

Tell that to the Chinese kids at my University.

Then try doing group work with them and have them just bang on in Mandarin, leaving you out in the cold.

It's quite ironic actually because they all come here to do University which will almost guarantee them residency in this country. Yet the one thing that ends up holding most of them back is their inability to speak English, because they don't try to. Good for me though because I've learned a fair bit of Mandarin through the cool ones that do try to assimilate.

 

[MotF Bane]

Hate works perfectly here.