You are in the U.S please speak English

[otakon17]

If I moved to China or Argentina I would at least make the attempt to learn the primary language of the region. To expect newcomers to do the same is not too much to ask, is it? Although, I truly don't know what the dominant language is in America right now to be honest.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

but in america you should speak american

I know that in some countries you can get citizenship without speaking the language. As for why people find it wrong to want people to speak the language of the country they live in, it's because of waaah language freedom waaah hippie bullshit.

Well the U.S. doesn't actually have a national language....

English is the official language of most states, not federally though.

Um....American isn't a language. We speak english. But I bet most foreigners knew that.

Sarcasm. The fact that you take this seriously is a bad sign.

Here is a picture of the people I am referring to:

 

[winter2]

dem foregners came here and took our jeeerbs! They better speek 'merican or else git out back to Ayrabland where they came from! Y'HEAR! NOW GIT!!

 

[TastySurvivor]

but in america you should speak american

I know that in some countries you can get citizenship without speaking the language. As for why people find it wrong to want people to speak the language of the country they live in, it's because of waaah language freedom waaah hippie bullshit.

Well the U.S. doesn't actually have a national language....

English is the official language of most states, not federally though.

Um....American isn't a language. We speak english. But I bet most foreigners knew that.

Sarcasm. The fact that you take this seriously is a bad sign.

Here is a picture of the people I am referring to:

I view them as foreigners. lmao A ricky bobby pic would have been even more hilarious

 

[Funkysandwich]

Who cares what language people around you are speaking? If they aren't talking to me, they can speak in whatever language they want.

Hell, a lot of the idiots who say stuff like that are often barely capable of using English themselves.

 

[ecoho]

Thats a bit of an arrogant attitude man, have you ever tried learning another language? I agree that people should be able to speak English in the UK etc, and but is there anything wrong with being bilingual? What ever happened to multiculturalism and all that?

ok in the case of people coming here as tourists i dont mind them not speaking English but if you come here to work or to live i expect you to know english i dont care if its bad english but for gods sake speak some fucking form of english its really not that much to ask.

 

[Chemical Alia]

Have you ever become fluent in another language? It's not easy, especially for adults.

 

[orangeban]

I presume you mainly talking about people who speak Spanish, so that's what I will tailor my reply to.

Because a lot of people in the US speak Spanish?

Also, you come across as a bit of an asshole here. Here in Britain say if a French person came up to me and started talking to me in French (and say I notice they have a British passport) I don't go, "DAMN FRENCHIE BASTARD LEARN OUR LANGUAGE OR DIE, WHAT ARE YOU, RACIST TO ENGLISH?" I go, "Sorry, don't speak French."

I mean, it's also assholey if the French guy replied (in French), "Jeezus, you'd think it was impossible to learn French, the one true language." but in most cases they won't, they'll go, "Oh, alright, thanks for being polite."


Yeah, I don't think the people in your country who don't speak English are doing it to spite you, they are doing it because they don't speak English. I'm sure most would luuuurve to speak English, it's pretty damn convienient in the USA, but for some that isn't an option/slash they're trying.

 

[Princess_Dee]

Not sure if trolling...or INCREDIBLY moronic...

Why*
...French,*
...asshole, or . or even ;*
Do not end sentences with prepositions.*****

Can someone please explain to me why it is a bad thing to expect people living in a country that predominantly speaks English to speak English well?

If you do not like it, then get out.

 

[Agayek]

Where did you get this from?

No foreign people act like that over here in Ireland.

It comes from a prevailing sentiment in the US about the necessity of multi-lingual ballots, signs, and other assorted things. In almost all of the country, especially the Southwestern US, there's movements to make everything government-issued have both English and Spanish text, and there's similar movements for most every major language in the world.

I'm not really sure why such movements exist, because I honestly agree with the OP, but the fact remains that they do.

 

[Mouse One]

Have you ever become fluent in another language? It's not easy, especially for adults.

Agree. I live less than an hour from the Mexican border, and I periodically try to learn Spanish with little success. Of course, despite what the OP thinks, pretty much all the immigrants around here speak English, at least well enough that I can shop at the carniceria down the street (mmmmmm....carne asada. Well, at least I know the names of foods!)

 

[enzilewulf]

Yeah! DIS IS AMERICUR, WE SPEEK AMERUCRUN, IF YUUR DON'T LIEK IT DEN GEEEEEEEEETTTTTT OUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

OT: I don't mind what ever language your speak, I just prefer English, but im going to learn Spanish once im done with German. That way I can speak to most of the American population.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

This is a touchy thread. As someone who still works retail, it is an aggravating pain to try and help customers that I can't even communicate with, however I understand it's a huge pain to learn new languages and English is one obnoxious language. I don't know where I stand on the issue.

 

[teh lurker]

Living here in Manassas VA, I can understand what the OP is getting at. The majority of my neighbors don't speak any English, and I only speak enough Spanish to be able to order a beer. I don't have a problem with people immigrating into a foreign (to them at least) country, and then making an effort to learn the local language. I don't expect them to be fluent in English, but it would be nice if they would at least make the attempt at learning the language.

It seems like every store I go into around here has the signs printed in two languages, and Spanish tends to have the top billing. I'm not talking about in the Hispanic cultural places either, I'm talking about places like Best Buy and AutoZone. It also seems like all of the staff at the local fast food places either don't speak English, or at least act as if they don't. After about the second or third time I got a chicken nugget meal when I wanted a bacon cheese burger, I learned how to say "Numero tres, grande, con Coke por favor". Although I still haven't learned how to say "Can I have a cup holder please" in Spanish. Apparently, "Can I have a cup holder please" when translated from English into Spanish, means "I would like two huge handfuls of ketchup packets"

 

[Nico III]

If someone were to live in a foreign country, but not speak the native language the only person they'd be inconveniencing would be themselves. I don't see why everyone else gets so upset about it.

Also, nationality is one of many important parts of what makes people who they are. Many people might speak their native tongue as a way of maintaining their identity.

 

[Agayek]

Also, you come across as a bit of an asshole here. Here in Britain say if a French person came up to me and started talking to me in French (and say I notice they have a British passport) I don't go, "DAMN FRENCHIE BASTARD LEARN OUR LANGUAGE OR DIE, WHAT ARE YOU, RACIST TO ENGLISH?" I go, "Sorry, don't speak French."

I mean, it's also assholey if the French guy replied (in French), "Jeezus, you'd think it was impossible to learn French, the one true language." but in most cases they won't, they'll go, "Oh, alright, thanks for being polite."

Your comparison isn't really valid. A better comparison would be if several thousand Frenchmen came over to the UK and demanded that just about everything written has both English and French text.

It would likely cause a great upset if suddenly all of your street signs, ballots and whatnot suddenly had whole segments of French, or Arabic or whatever other language in it. It's the same idea in the States.

The way I see it, it's exceptionally rude to barge in somewhere and demand it submit to your convenience. Just like I wouldn't go to a party at someone's house and demand they only speak Swahili, I can't see the justification for moving somewhere and demanding they support my language.

 

[orangeban]

The odd thing in this thread is a citizen of your country not knowing your langauge doesn't affect you, at all. Worst case scenario you get stopped for directions by someone you don't understand.

So basically all the people saying they should learn the language of the country are going, "Damnit, why won't people make life easier for themselves? They are such assholes what with the way they inconvienience themselves."

 

[Eggbert]

Based on your post, you probably live in the United States. I don't; I'm in Canada. So this will be awkwardly worded.

*ahem* You are in a predominantly English speaking nation. Please show some sense of respect for basic grammar.