Someone defend the other side of this American argument.

[Heathrow]

How about we make the national language of the USA Latin? That way we'll have a fairly straightforward time figuring out any romance languages and as an added bonus we'll be able to make fun of the French for not knowing how to spell.

It's all a moot point since Chinese/English are pretty much destined to become the universal languages.

 

[axelman92]

I agree with Arsen. What language was the Constitution written in? English. But us Americans give the Spanish a reason NOT to learn the language.

There are so many billboards and phone lines that say press 2 for spanish, that they don't need to learn our language because of all the freakin espanol around them. Same thing with Koreans and Chinese people. If you ever visit Queens In New York City, (particularly in Bayside) there are so many stores in korean or in chinese.

I was completely fine with the whole spanish until I called a helpline for Sony or something and said: "For English, press 1". Ok now heres the thing, WHY THE F##K DO I HAVE TO PRESS 1 FOR ENGLISH?!?!?!?!

My view in this argument is embrace our culture, learn our language, or get out. If I moved to Japan, I'd learn Japanese slowly but surely, just like if I went to Greece, I'd learn Greek. Same rules apply to America. Leave if you have no interest in our language.

 

[Kurokami]

Because deep down I can see no logical, feasible, or actual reason as to why Americans should have the Spanish language shoved down their throats. I work at a popular store chain here in America, and I am deeply appauled at how many Mexican individual come over here and don't even bother to learn the language correctly. I was unable to communicate with this one man, was asked if I spoke Spanish, when I replied that I didn't he had his four year old daughter come over and translate between the two of us.

Now really, what am I missing here? Is there something morally wrong with me, as a citizen of the United States of America, simply asking for this man to speak a language which is fairly simply to understand? Is it just me or is this an insult to each and every person who had learned the language, made the attempts to respect the majority of the citizens in this nation and all, or whatnot...

It is not as if I am asking them to learn Chinese or Polish here. Spanish to English an English to Spanish are both very simple conversions which can be made. However, I am honest to God offended at the fact that many of the immigrants from South American countries actually believe America SHOULD be required to speak the language of Mexico and below...just because we're attached at the hip over at Texas there.

And by all means, I've met everybody. People from Chile, Poland, Denmark, Romania, and all. My Romanian friend once refused to order from a Quiznos because he was so offended at the lady not being able to speak English (this was in Las Vegas by the way).

Him: I take the time to learn this language, become a citizen, and this damn ***** doesn't even know a few simple words?

In all modesty, why do the majority of people from Mexico hold a constant disregard for this country when it comes to the language? Someone enlighten me here.

English is a retarded language, I'll admit if they move to the country they should make an effort to learn, but how do you know they're not? Maybe they're trying but don't wanna hastle you by speaking pigeon English and practice in their own time, and even if they are too stubborn to learn it have you learned a new language after the age of 20? Its not that easy once you've matured.

How about we make the national language of the USA Latin? That way we'll have a fairly straightforward time figuring out any romance languages and as an added bonus we'll be able to make fun of the French for not knowing how to spell.

It's all a moot point since Chinese/English are pretty much destined to become the universal languages.

Interesting since Chinese isn't a language.

one, you Americans don't speak English, stop pretending that you do
b, this is something you have to deal with.

lol at your face. I haven't seen it but it makes about as much sense as your logic.

 

[Archer147]

we have a large asian population where i live, and yeah, it's annoying when they don't speak perfect english but, arsen, get the fuck over it.

english has been proven to be the hardest language to learn, short of latin. and you automatically assume these people have been in your country long enough to learn such a complex language. maybe they only crossed the border the other week. an entire language takes longer than a couple of weeks to learn.

just be a bit more understanding, you insensitive fuck.

 

[SultanP]

You could learn to spell properly before you complain about others not learning the language.

 

[Kurokami]

Here's an argument. Their money is the same colour as the money you accept in exchange for goods and/or services. Accept their cash, deal with their language difficulties and stop whinging, register monkey.

I like the register monkey comment.

one, you Americans don't speak English, stop pretending that you do
b, this is something you have to deal with.

American isn't a damn language -.-
OT: Why should he have to learn English, just because YOUR too lazy to learn Spanish?

He's not wrong there, I agree he's being a dumbass assuming that they should click their heels and know the language but he shouldn't feel obliged to learn every foreigners language in a country whose national language is English.

 

[Heathrow]

Interesting since Chinese isn't a language.

It's a catchall for all the different dialects but I'm not sure why I'm telling you since you knew that, you just wanted to be a nitpick. Anyway call it what you want it doesn't change the fact that Mandarin alone has twice as many speakers as English and almost three times as many as Spanish.

 

[Craig FTW]

You spelled 'appauled' wrong.
It's appalled.
And yes I understand what you mean and agree a bit.
Although it is fun to learn a 2nd language.
So you can talk to the people who run the rides at the State Fair.

 

[Lunar Shadow]

I agree with Arsen. What language was the Constitution written in? English. But us Americans give the Spanish a reason NOT to learn the language.

There are so many billboards and phone lines that say press 2 for spanish, that they don't need to learn our language because of all the freakin espanol around them. Same thing with Koreans and Chinese people. If you ever visit Queens In New York City, (particularly in Bayside) there are so many stores in korean or in chinese.

I was completely fine with the whole spanish until I called a helpline for Sony or something and said: "For English, press 1". Ok now heres the thing, WHY THE F##K DO I HAVE TO PRESS 1 FOR ENGLISH?!?!?!?!

My view in this argument is embrace our culture, learn our language, or get out. If I moved to Japan, I'd learn Japanese slowly but surely, just like if I went to Greece, I'd learn Greek. Same rules apply to America. Leave if you have no interest in our language.

You do realize Sony is a Japanese company right?

 

[data_not_found]

What do you call someone that speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone that speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone that speaks one language? American.

In most of europe (england excluded but look how well they're doing), it is expected that you know a second language to do business, since a lot of dealings are done with people from other countries. Same with China, Japan, and Korea.

20-30 years ago, when the united states was the unquestioned economic super power of the world, the idea that Americans only had to speak one language to get by was a fairly valid argument. Looking ahead though, it doesn't look like we can afford such simplicity much longer.

Americans should have to learn more than one language (not necessarily spanish, since neither mexico nor spain is really important), simply because it allows you to view the world from another perspective, allowing you to make more rational decisions. I've been studying Chinese since I was in grade school (I'm irish, just so you know), and it's definitely come in handy (I live in the California bay area, so there are a loooooooooooot of chinese here).

That said, I'm NOT going to fucking learn spanish. If you want to move here, good for you, best of luck, but I'm not learning another language just so you can work the cash register.

 

[Sacman]

as a citizen of the United States of America, simply asking for this man to speak a language which is fairly simply to understand?

English is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world because it has very few ties to other more basic languages like Latin and the rules constantly contradict eachother and there are too many exceptions like I before E except after C(wEIrd isn't it?). right now as it stands only 7 people out of the 100's of family members I have can speak it fluently... my family is from Mexico, we took the desert route so were hardcore

 

[Flunk]

I wish everyone on earth spoke the same language. I'd be willing to learn any language they chose, it would just make everything easier. We can keep our other languages as well if we want, just all school everywhere would be in whatever language it is. Maybe we could go with the most popular one on the planet... Mandarin.

That said, I'm NOT going to fucking learn spanish. If you want to move here, good for you, best of luck, but I'm not learning another language just so you can work the cash register.

Why not? If you were bilingual you could probably get a better job.

 

[dstryfe]

I appreciate how irritating people failing to speak the primary language of their new country is, but I suppose it's somehow tied into their freedoms...or something.

English is one of the hardest languages to master. With countless synonyms, backwards sentence structure, nonsensical idioms, borrowed terms, and obscure syntax...perhaps they would be more open to the idea of learning the language if they could do so for free?

 

[Imat]

Pretty simple really. Classes to learn English costs money, plus there the cost of the textbooks and whether or not they can fit the class into their daily schedule because god forbid the man would rather spend time with his daughter than a night class after work.

So all the years Americans spend learning English, spending time and money on school, none of that matters? God forbid we should spend our entire childhood learning the language these people ignore.

And people say it's fine because the Spanish speakers are slowly yet surely becoming a majority in the southern states (Most notably California and Florida) and we should therefore be learning their language. And I just have to say no. They're required to learn the language to live here (Which means that those who can't speak a lick of English and live here are most likely illegals, which are also bad for this cause), why do they think that is? So they can convert America to a Spanish-speaking country? No. Just no. English is a required course through High School. I didn't learn this language so that someone else could force me to learn another (Incidentally I know a little bit of Spanish. I know quite a bit more English though).

The only way we can prevent a total conversion is to get more non-Spanish European immigrants in here to diversify the languages more, or make English the official national language. I sincerely hope the latter occurs, otherwise I'm gonna be the one saying "Tu quieres un sandwich de pollo?"

 

[Imat]

I appreciate how irritating people failing to speak the primary language of their new country is, but I suppose it's somehow tied into their freedoms...or something.

English is one of the hardest languages to master. With countless synonyms, backwards sentence structure, nonsensical idioms, borrowed terms, and obscure syntax...perhaps they would be more open to the idea of learning the language if they could do so for free?

I know I would. Also, to say that America has a backwards sentence structure implies there is a correct sentence structure. Perhaps us Americans use the correct sentence structure and everybody else is backwards, just like we drive on the right (And correct) side of the road.

 

[Ninja_X]

If you live or visit America it is your responsibility to know basic english.

Just like how I belive that if I go to another country I should be able to speak theirs.

 

[Jurassic Rob]

You do realise that America, unlike England has no official National language?

 

[Spaghetti]

By being born in a country like America (or Britain or Canada or Ireland etc,) we get off easy because we learn English from the start. It's one of the hardest to learn and because of America's (and previously Britain's) dominance in the economic world - most things have English as standard (e.g. flight traffic control). So I imagine a Mexican complaining about having to learn English is a little bit more legitimate than an American complaining about learning Spanish.