Wait...What do you mean you don't speak *insert language here*

[Mr.Pandah]

I have been thinking lately about the sheer amount of people who don't know how to speak the native tongue of the land they are in. For example, if you walk through New York City, you will hear many MANY languages being spoken, and more often than not, that is the only language they actually know how to speak.

I think this is a problem since if you have come to this country *In this case, lets just use the United States*, shouldn't you be the one assimilating with us? Not the other way around? I feel that it will ultimately lead to an even greater schism amongst the people living in this world than there already is.

As far as private conversations go, I'm fine with people speaking their own language amongst eachother, but when you walk into a store, and are getting flustered because the man/woman behind the counter does not speak whatever it is you speak, you have no right to get upset. I've seen this actually happen a few times, and to say the least...its just wrong. I understand that not everyone has access to places where they can learn to speak a certain language, and English, out of all the languages in the world, is probably the hardest to learn. Well, according to some of my language teachers it is.

I think that here in the U.S.A., we harbor these languages more than we try to ease them into our society by learning English.

Is this detrimental to society in the long run? Or am I just talking about some problem that I just made up? I feel like it will need to be addressed at some point, and what better place to have a discussion about it than here.

 

[SimuLord]

I think social homogeneity is a critical function of an effective society. Radical individualism and group identity erode the social contract (not to go all Rousseau/Swedish Parliament on this subject) to the point where no individual can feel a sense of connection to the social milieu he is in, which leads to an adversarial rather than cooperative relationship with others.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Well, whenever I walk into Taco Bell, the Spanish I learned in school comes in handy.

 

[Spleeni]

OMFG post

It is a bit of a problem, but it really doesn't affect anyone but the people who won't learn. English is not the only language in the world, but it is the most important language in the United States. Not learning it, and not having an interpreter is just stubborn stupidity. If the majority of people in an area speak Spanish, it DOES mean that they should be catered to. If there's a tiny shred of people that speak German in New York, it doesn't mean that all the shops should have a translator.

 

[Aschenkatza]

I have a dirty secret. I can't speak Spanish.
I live in Southern California, about 4-5 hours from the border. My area is slowly changing everything from English to Spanish. Billboards have double languages, and some billboards are in full Spanish. Bus stop advertisements, Full Spanish. I was in a McDonald Drive through one day, and the person who took my order asked me what I wanted in Spanish. Not English... Spanish.

I'm losing my rights because of language barriers. I shouldn't have to speak Spanish. I'm in America. Our primary language is ENGLISH. I shouldn't have to pay for language classes just to live. I take a hour and a half buss ride north to another college campus so I can make sure I'll be learning my classes in English.

This is tremendously detrimental to our society. Problems can't be solved if we don't all speak the same language. It's nice that you know another language and you prefer it to English; but you have no right to look at me dirty because I don't understand you.

This is my bias.

 

[E-mantheseeker]

Here's a thought: What if someone posted a thread in their own language, with no English?

 

[forever saturday]

Every country has a primary language. There will be other people who speak other languages, though, and they will fight to the death not to learn a new language.

In America, there are a lot of spanish speaking people who want spanish to be available everywhere. Im not saying they should be forced not to speak spanish, but since most people speak english in america then they should at least learn to speak english.

Similarly, in Canada they have Quebec insisting that everything be in french. This is not an exaggeration (spelling?) of anything, Quebec actually has laws in place that are meant to favour french. for example, on signs with both languages on them, the french must be at least twice the size of the english, and you can get in serious trouble for not following this. This is especially strange because when you think about it, they should be able to speak english, I mean they are Canadian right?

So having a lot of languages in place is a problem, and we cant account for everything on earth so we should just take whatever the primary language is and work with that. however, we shouldnt force people to change their language, or there can be serious trouble (there have actually been riots in Quebec over this, to the point that its surprising that its still part of Canada).

 

[Somthing]

Here's a thought: What if someone posted a thread in their own language, with no English?

Ja det hadde jo vært fucka til de grader........
i totaly get what this thread is getting across and yes its fucked up if u cant speak you own language in your own country

 

[FinalGamer]

Does that even happen?
Really? Then again I can't speak Scots dialect very well due to been given speech therapy from overreacting parents.
So I spoke like a rich English kid from Hertfordshire *pronounced heart-ferd-sure* until I was 14 and then the Scottish accent kicked in at last. Even then it's not very thick which makes me understandable to everyone else outside the country.

 

[ChickDangerous]

I live in a tourist town in Australia and it is kind of frustrating sometimes when the tourists don't even bother making the effort to learn the language. If I were heading overseas to a country where English wasn't spoken I'd make sure I at least have a passing knowledge of the language, enough to at least ask all the dumb tourist questions. It bothers me that other people don't have the same courtesy, even if it's to say "My English is not so good, sorry".

 

[E-mantheseeker]

Here's a thought: What if someone posted a thread in their own language, with no English?

Ja det hadde jo vært fucka til de grader........
i totaly get what this thread is getting across and yes its fucked up if u cant speak you own language in your own country

You have struck my curiosity, now I have to know what that first sentence meant.

 

[Acrostica]

I agree with ChickDangerous above, since I live in a U.S. tourist town. If you are visiting, please at least try to speak the language a little. And if you live here, LEARN IT. The reverse is true for all Americans who visit other countries - don't expect them to speak English, try to speak their native language instead.

 

[GothmogII]

I have been thinking lately about the sheer amount of people who don't know how to speak the native tongue of the land they are in. For example, if you walk through New York City, you will hear many MANY languages being spoken, and more often than not, that is the only language they actually know how to speak.

I think this is a problem since if you have come to this country *In this case, lets just use the United States*, shouldn't you be the one assimilating with us? Not the other way around? I feel that it will ultimately lead to an even greater schism amongst the people living in this world than there already is.

As far as private conversations go, I'm fine with people speaking their own language amongst eachother, but when you walk into a store, and are getting flustered because the man/woman behind the counter does not speak whatever it is you speak, you have no right to get upset. I've seen this actually happen a few times, and to say the least...its just wrong. I understand that not everyone has access to places where they can learn to speak a certain language, and English, out of all the languages in the world, is probably the hardest to learn. Well, according to some of my language teachers it is.

I think that here in the U.S.A., we harbor these languages more than we try to ease them into our society by learning English.

Is this detrimental to society in the long run? Or am I just talking about some problem that I just made up? I feel like it will need to be addressed at some point, and what better place to have a discussion about it than here.

Gotta laugh at that a little, considering that not only is 'American' not (at least not in the sense you're using it) a native tongue, it's not even a language. Though go ahead and use American English if it makes you feel better In fact, I'm pretty sure you'd all be speaking German if it had only got a few more votes.

But I'll grant that what happened to the actual natives is now history and at best an easy way to satirise modern America whenever the topic comes up heh. And yes, English being the current official language in the US, means that anyone coming there, and more importantly seeking to live and work there should learn at least a modicum in order to integrate efficiently.


As for my own country...it's kind of a weird issue. In Ireland, the majority speak, work, live, in english. Yet in most primary and secondary schools students are still taught Irish. It's one class though, much in the same way as Spanish or French would be, it is however mandatory barring an exemption. It's frankly a little stupid. As a cultural artifact in remembrance of our heritage and all that, great. But as a mandatory class, with almost marginal international significance much less any actual real value in real life, it's a load of crap.

You know, for secondary level, they even give out extra points for doing your final exams in Irish, a nice bonus if you're fluent, but not many people actually take it heh.

 

[KaiRai]

This is slowly happening in Britain now and it is becoming increasingly annoying when someone walks up to you talking in a foreign language, you raise you eyebrow and they storm off.
Seriously, I went to Germany a few years back and I spent a good amount of time between booking the holiday and going on the holiday learning German.
If you want to live in our country, speak our tongue, we're not going to cater for you, you live in England, you speak English, you cheeky fucking bastards.

 

[Lukirre]

The only problem I have with it is when people are arrogant enough to be having a conversation with me, then turn and say something to their friend in their native language. I think it's incredibly rude regardless of whether or not what you said was directed at me. It was worse since I'm working as a cashier to pay for university, and people will be going on and on while I've trying to help them in their language to eachother.

I agree with the second poster, in that it becomes a road block to have such a strong ethnical diversity.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

and English, out of all the languages in the world, is probably the hardest to learn. Well, according to some of my language teachers it is.

Oh my god. I was inclined to agree with your post, but then I read this. Just, oh my god. I feel my brain melting.

I thought English has twice the idioms of any other language? Our syntax is fairly well clunky. I speak 3 different languages, but I sincerely think that if you are going to live in a new country where a VAST majority of the population speaks one language, you should make the attempt to learn that language instead of crying that nobody speaks yours. Just my opinion, though.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I have been thinking lately about the sheer amount of people who don't know how to speak the native tongue of the land they are in. For example, if you walk through New York City, you will hear many MANY languages being spoken, and more often than not, that is the only language they actually know how to speak.

I think this is a problem since if you have come to this country *In this case, lets just use the United States*, shouldn't you be the one assimilating with us? Not the other way around? I feel that it will ultimately lead to an even greater schism amongst the people living in this world than there already is.

As far as private conversations go, I'm fine with people speaking their own language amongst eachother, but when you walk into a store, and are getting flustered because the man/woman behind the counter does not speak whatever it is you speak, you have no right to get upset. I've seen this actually happen a few times, and to say the least...its just wrong. I understand that not everyone has access to places where they can learn to speak a certain language, and English, out of all the languages in the world, is probably the hardest to learn. Well, according to some of my language teachers it is.

I think that here in the U.S.A., we harbor these languages more than we try to ease them into our society by learning English.

Is this detrimental to society in the long run? Or am I just talking about some problem that I just made up? I feel like it will need to be addressed at some point, and what better place to have a discussion about it than here.

Gotta laugh at that a little, considering that not only is 'American' not (at least not in the sense you're using it) a native tongue, it's not even a language. Though go ahead and use American English if it makes you feel better In fact, I'm pretty sure you'd all be speaking German if it had only got a few more votes.

But I'll grant that what happened to the actual natives is now history and at best an easy way to satirise modern America whenever the topic comes up heh. And yes, English being the current official language in the US, means that anyone coming there, and more importantly seeking to live and work there should learn at least a modicum in order to integrate efficiently.


As for my own country...it's kind of a weird issue. In Ireland, the majority speak, work, live, in english. Yet in most primary and secondary schools students are still taught Irish. It's one class though, much in the same way as Spanish or French would be, it is however mandatory barring an exemption. It's frankly a little stupid. As a cultural artifact in remembrance of our heritage and all that, great. But as a mandatory class, with almost marginal international significance much less any actual real value in real life, it's a load of crap.

You know, for secondary level, they even give out extra points for doing your final exams in Irish, a nice bonus if you're fluent, but not many people actually take it heh.

Well, I'm not going to dwell on the fact that I can't see any part of my post where I referred to America as a language, so I've dismissed that part of your post. I wasn't making this thread about the U.S.A. anyway. I was just saying in general and I'm using the United States as a point of reference since ya know...I live there. I never said English is the language of the world either...so moving on.

Its interesting that Ireland holds on to Irish in that way. I never would expect to see anything like that to be honest. Its actually pretty cool.

and English, out of all the languages in the world, is probably the hardest to learn. Well, according to some of my language teachers it is.

Oh my god. I was inclined to agree with your post, but then I read this. Just, oh my god. I feel my brain melting.

Do you speak any other languages? Because if you do, than you may be able to say something about that. Try teaching English to a foreigner. Explain to them why "Bomb" uses different sounds than say..."Comb". You'd be surprised just how hard English is compared to other languages.

 

[Silver]

Wow. Really good point.

You miss a few things. A few pretty important things.


How easy do you think it is to learn a new language? Hm?

You need to find a teacher, and you need to be able to afford it. But that should be doable, right? Do you know how few people there are that teach English, or whatever native language you have in your country? Especially when you consider that these are adults, that need to learn quickly, to be able to integrate. When you consider that there comes more and more people to the country at all times, and how thinly stretched the resources for this are, you realise that these classes will restart several times over to cater to the new arrivals, and that the people who've already been there for a while won't get to advance and learn the language very well.

Sure, they could try to find private classes. Right? That's very expensive. And then there's the slight problem with that they can't speak english. Have you ever tried to sign up for a class in spanish in Spain, without speaking a word of it? I can bet you'd encounter some problems, unless you had the luck to find someone who spoke english. What about Japan? Korea? India? Could you go there, and sign up for a class in the correct language, and easily learn it?


No, I don't think you could. The fault doesn't lie only with the people coming to your country and speaking their horrible foreign. If they don't have a chance to learn to speak the native language, if they don't have any competent teachers, or resources, how would you suggest they go about it? The integration policies of most countries seriously suck. Normally, on other subjects I'd point out how much better it is over here, but it's just as bad, if not worse, than everywhere else. Unless of course you've got a lot of money, and already know how to get things done. Then you're done in a week.



And just for the record. English is very easy. If you think English is hard, try French. Try Chinese, try Swedish. Try German. French is difficult, because your spelling and your prononciation has nothing in common. Half the letters are silent. And the french language has VERY few words. You change the meaning just by changing your tone of voice. Chinese has the opposite problem. Forget trying to learn how to write it, at all, you won't succeed. Trying to speak it then, will get you into the same troubles as with the french, everything changes meaning. Swedish? Yeah, try to learn the grammar rules. German? Have fun with those verbs.

English isn't necessarily the easiest language around, and can probably be trouble, but compared to other language, it's not a hard language to learn. It's connected with several language groups, so almost all of Europe will have an advantage trying to learn it, since it's familiar. It will of course get harder to learn, the further you get away from those language groups, but it's still not a very hard language to speak.



Oh, and just pointing it out there. America does NOT have English as an official language. It works like one, since practically everyone speak it, or is supposed to, but it is NOT official.

 

[sky14kemea]

i kinda agree but i kinda dont, yeah if they're in an english speaking country they should learn a few phrases to help them, but when most english or american people go on holiday they dont bother to learn any phrases, they go to the english speaking hotels instead
whenever i went to spain id always order my food in spanish, same when i was in germany on an exchange trip

German? Have fun with those verbs.

nooooo, not the verbs >_< they sent my grade down

 

[lapan]

As long as they are not talking to me in their language i don't mind. Who am i to dictate which language one should speak with his family and friends?