Freedom of speech (but not in other languages)

[ZenitYerkes]

It won't be the first time I read this, and you'd probably had heard this more than once.

"This is America speak f*cking English or get a translator"

I'm not even going to reply to that, I just don't want to waste my time with such... people. But I like my mother tongue, it's a beautiful language just as English is.

[rapunzel77]

Yes, that kind of speech is wrong and its sad that people stoop to such levels. Some people get frustrated that since the US is primarily an English speaking country then to be able to work in it and interact with other people, they need to learn English to get by like so many other immigrants have done before them.

The US has prided itself on being a melting pot, "out of many one". This means to have a common language and a common culture, etc. The perception, by some people, is that people that are coming from other countries don't want to truly become Americans (ie. assimilate) because some of them are not willing to learn the language, etc.

It is silly and it reveals a nastier element that has always been here in the US. Sure, we have a Statue of Liberty that says to bring all your huddled masses but when you look at the history of immigration in this country you will see a distrust for new immigrants. The Irish, the Italians, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Polish, etc, etc were all mistreated in some way or another due to either their religion, their race, or their language. So, what you are seeing with the immigration debate is nothing new. There was opposition to immigrants coming over from China and Ireland, etc. It will continue sadly because some of these people won't respect other people.

I have heard some of these folks try to say that the immigrants coming over now are very different from the ones that came in the 19th century. Some of these folks believe that they are to lazy and don't want to work hard. I believe this is rubbish and wrong and it betrays a latent racism that most people now will not want to be placed on them but it definitely is some of that.

The adversion to the Italians and the Irish was due to racism and anti-Catholicism. Its no different from today.

[txen]

You call a person who speaks three languages trilingual.

You call a person who speaks two languages bilingual.

You call a person who speaks one language an American.



I know enough Spanish not to starve to death while away from the tourist zones in Mexico, but not much more.

Actually it goes beyond this. Most Americans can't even use English properly. It's a sad state of affairs

Rapunzel where are you in Florida? .I've heard that in south Florida you can find businesses where no one speaks English. I know that I have found a few in the heavy Hispanic areas of Los Angeles.

[tallbluewanderer]

Originally Posted by txen

You call a person who speaks three languages trilingual.

You call a person who speaks two languages bilingual.

You call a person who speaks one language an American.

As an American who only speaks one language, I'm afraid this is sad but true. Still pretty funny, though.

Originally Posted by txen

Actually it goes beyond this. Most Americans can't even use English properly. It's a sad state of affairs

Ouch. I'm American, and I'd like to think that I have at least a rudimentary grasp of the English language! I don't often meet people who can't use English correctly in person (then again, I'm a full-time university student, so one would hope I wouldn't often meet such people!), but many people I know speak English without knowing how to write it correctly. For example, they'll use homophones interchangeably, misuse grammar ("its" ≠*"it's"! "they're" ≠*"their" ≠*"there"!), and so on. I'm curious as to why that is -- these people are "smart" enough to get into university, so why do they make mistakes like these so frequently?

As to the thread topic: Prejudice in any form is bad. Those who judge other people by their language, choice of religion (or choice to be nonreligious), sexual preference, or anything else prove only that they have much to learn. Language barriers can doubtless be frustrating, but nobody can claim that their language is superior and nobody has the right to act the way Zenit described. People who behave that way aren't necessarily bad or beyond hope, though -- nobody's perfect! I'm not sure what the best way to deal with such people is, but I don't think dismissing them as stupid is enough: we all stand to benefit from helping people like this learn (cliché alert!) the error of their ways.

OK, enough rambling on my part. I hope that made some sense...

[Txum_kali'weya]

People do not respect each other because they are blinded by greed. They don't want to learn another language, so they tell other people to.

I know a little spanish, and am hoping to take up Na'vi

[Tsyal Makto]

I love it how so many of the "This is America, speak English!" Teabaggers misspell so many of their signs.

If you want it to be your official language, learn how to use it.

[Human No More]

I do think that if you live in a country (or intend to stay there long term) you should at least make an effort to learn the language (you should even TRY when you go there just for a short while, people appreciate it). It's not so bad in America where everyone speaks a version of English, then there's just some Spanish to the south, but I'm within 2-3 hours of countries speaking probably 7 or 8 different languages... To each one I've been to, I've at least made an attempt (the only language I actually know properly is German, but I've had a go with others)
It's not like people should be expected to learn every single language just in case they ever have to speak to someone who uses it...

[PunkMaister]

Originally Posted by Human No More

I do think that if you live in a country (or intend to stay there long term) you should at least make an effort to learn the language (you should even TRY when you go there just for a short while, people appreciate it). It's not so bad in America where everyone speaks a version of English, then there's just some Spanish to the south, but I'm within 2-3 hours of countries speaking probably 7 or 8 different languages... To each one I've been to, I've at least made an attempt (the only language I actually know properly is German, but I've had a go with others)
It's not like people should be expected to learn every single language just in case they ever have to speak to someone who uses it...

Amen!

And there' Hispanics that can only speak Spanish and not that good a Spanish either so is not just "Americans" as someone here posted.

The problem is that so called bilingual classes are not truly Bilingual classes, because as the namesake goes it means knowing 2 languages. Is actually monolinguism for the sake of those that only know Spanish and refuse to learn English or any other language for that matter.

[ZenitYerkes]

Originally Posted by PunkMaister

Amen!

And there' Hispanics that can only speak Spanish and not that good a Spanish either so is not just "Americans" as someone here posted.

The problem is that so called bilingual classes are not truly Bilingual classes, because as the namesake goes it means knowing 2 languages. Is actually monolinguism for the sake of those that only know Spanish and refuse to learn English or any other language for that matter.

First of all, I am Spanish, and the immigration issue is not only American. I know a lot of people that come from South America and Morocco. We're with Portugal and Italy the countries which receive the greatest number of emigrant population from poor countries in Europe (you at least receive qualified people from the Commonwealth).

And they've got funny accents and speak strange or don't speak at all. Is that such a big deal? Most of them are humble people that don't want to cause trouble, if they don't know the local language it's because they don't have the resources to provide themselves English classes. They just go to do the work they can get (which is not exactly the nicest in the world) and send money to their families in Costa Rica, China or Venezuela.

So take out of your mind the stereotypical arrogant immigrant that just wants to insult you in their language. If you ever find an actual person in real life that acts like this, I won't say a word if you kick his balls.

But let's not spit at all immigrants just because of a few cretins.

[Sacred Tsahaylu]

I'm not sure what you are getting at here, the fact that a lot of Western English speakers don't know any other languages and don't want to or the idea that people should not be discriminated against because they speak another language other than English?

I, too, think that English speakers could do a lot better on the language side of things, but that isn't the fault of the individual, it's a fault of the education system. The attitude of having no desire to learn other languages probably comes from the fact that a lot of ignorant people most likely believe that English speaking countries are better than others, which is wrong.

The attitude that some people have that 'English is the best' and 'if you want to come to an English speaking country, learn the language first' is atrocious and hypocritical. Chances are these people are the people go abroad and, instead of knowing that country's language, just point and talk slowly and loudly in English.

Also, from the title, I thought that this thread was about censoring which I will say a bit about. I don't like how swear words are censored. S**t is the same as the real word, In my opinion. When you see the censored version, you automatically know what it is and I think that is a bit pointless. Either don't use them or show them fully

[Txum_kali'weya]

Originally Posted by Sacred Tsahaylu

I, too, think that English speakers could do a lot better on the language side of things, but that isn't the fault of the individual, it's a fault of the education system. The attitude of having no desire to learn other languages probably comes from the fact that a lot of ignorant people most likely believe that English speaking countries are better than others, which is wrong.

i don't like spanish, but i know it. I would like to learn french and romanian.
and i don't think non-english speaking countries are worse.

[Petrucho]

same as Zenit , spanish is my mother tongue maybe is not the same as the spanish from Spain but ... the roots of what i speak here are in Spain (should i say thanks to Zenit ? )
i like my language, as i like English, Na'vi, German and other languages that i've tried to learn (lol) .

[Sonoran Na'vi]

I'm attempting to learn Spanish as I live in an area of the US where Spanish is spoken quite a bit; plus, being a 3rd generation Mexican-American means that most of my family speaks Spanish fluently.

While immigrants may not speak English to the level some Americans would like them to, their children will be fluent in both English and their native language in most cases. The grandchildren of immigrants tend to be fluent in English while not so much their family's native language.

[Grif]

Now don't get me wrong with people speaking their native language while in America, be it Spanish, French, that strange clicky language that some tribesman speak, all these are fine. I do however, tend to get fed up when it's the only language they speak! Now don't get me wrong I'm only talking about the people who LIVE in America. When you visit a foreign country, like France or Germany, you don't talk to people in English do you? (When in Rome do as the Romans do.) If your going to live in a country, learn the language. On vacation it's fine so long as you know enough to explain that you don't know the language.