This is a headline story right here! It has to be one of the top issues in the country today. I am referring to the "Press two for Spanish" issue. Why is this even an option? If someone wants to become an American badly enough, they should take the initiative to learn the language that is spoken here: English. I mean, does the government not know that by allowing a language barrier to exist inside our country, they are potenially limiting the progression of the country. There should not be a need for any type of translator in our country. How can we be called the top country in the world if the citizens within it are not able to communicate freely? "Press two for Spanish" is also one of the most annoying statements that can be uttered over the phone. Spanish is not the only problem either. It is all the gibberish and nonsense that has to be endured before actually having the opportunity to speak to a customer service officer or telephone operator. I believe that Americans need to keep it simple. Diversity is grand, but when it pertains to the language, there is a problem. I have a simple solution that will unify our country and tear down the language barrier: Learn our language or go home!
I_Bleed_Acrylic_PaintYes, because people immigrating to escape poverty, violence, instability, and/or war have time to learn English from scratch.
Honestly. Not everyone has the opportunity to learn before immigrating. The lucky, yes, but not enough people.
You're kidding me, right? First of all, there is no official language here in the U.S. People have the right to speak in any lingua franca they desire. Learning a new language isnt easy either. And for those of you who are commenting about how they also hate when they call customer service and the person on the other end of the call has a "foreign accent".. its called outsourcing. American companies transfer certain jobs to other countries in orde... (more »)
d124816d said...
Apr. 11 at 4:48 pm:
Apr. 11 at 4:48 pm:
English is not the official language of America and the entire southwest used to be Mexico. So yes, to press two for Spanish.
Divirsity is great in all forms. You are expecting to much of people who left their home countries-some to escape prejudice like the kind your piece is about.
AJH99 said...
Mar. 26 at 10:26 am:
Mar. 26 at 10:26 am:
I agree completely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MaccabeePreissYet what would happen if another language seemingly takes over English as the linga franca? If the Subcontinent and Far East continue their influence on buisness and global commerce - enough so that during the next span of decades Hindi or Manadarin becomes more beneficial to learn, would you continue this stubborness? Now it does bother me to some extent over the amount of immigrants who do not speak English in the United States, lingual diversity helps promote tolerance, respect,... (more »)
Though you do bring up a point, I have to disagree with you. America is a country made up of immigrants. Because it is a society made of immigrants, I think that we should actually want the immigrants to keep their language and tradition. However, that is not at all the same as not integrating themselves into society. Though they should integrate themselves into this country, they should do it in a way that they still keep their roots, because that's what made this country in the fir... (more »)
Some people may know our language, but they may have an easier time understanding their first language.
I understand what you are saying, and yes in the beginning, it may be hard to learn to read Chinese or Japanese... but, in the English language we have many rules and exceptions to the rules that can be confusing to those who don't know our language. And, even the adults who have lived in America all thier life, are still learning new words.
DeathAngelI do not want to sound rude. English not my mother tongue. Is hard in school because no one speaks Russian. I have not many friends because people like you say much mean things about me. I try speak English and type but I not get right all time. I try hard but everyone speak down to me like I stupid. I try to appeale to you demands but still I have no respect. I am not stupid. I am proud to say I try learn English but I never be close to perfect. I sorry if is hard to read. I type best I can.
You're doing a great job with English right now. Continue to learn grammar and read as much as you can and I promise that you will improve!
This is true. If you live in America you should know English. I found the aritcle well written and it made me want to keep reading.
English is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, language to learn in the world. Most people come to America for the Freedom that our country provides, by making one national language, you take away the freedom of the people. You can't just make one language. What if you and your family lived somewhere and there was a war there, you want to get out of the country as fast as possible, and you want to go to ,lets say, Japan because you have always wanted to live there. Lets say when you get ... (more »)
AisuPActually, I have to say Chinese is the hardest because its alphabet is COMPLETELY hieroglyphic, and has all of the different tones and just makes me feel like fainting. To go from Spanish to English is much easier, you don't have to learn a completely different alphabet than your own, like trying to learn Japanese if your first language was English (I've tried this and it's hard, especially if you're teaching yourself). And a lot of words in English have similar roots to those in... (more »)
I understand what you are saying, and yes in the beginning, it may be hard to learn to read Chinese or Japanese... but, in the English language we have many rules and exceptions to the rules that can be confusing to those who don't know our language. And, even the adults who have lived in America all their life, are still learning new words.
Well, the issue of Americans not knowing proper English is a completely different story, but it's not like they don't know enough to order food at a restaurant or talk to a receptionist on the phone. The problem with American English is, well... let's not go there...
My views on America are so self-contradictory...
I understand what you are saying but i don't really think that it is an issue. I mean how many times a day do you really not u derstand someone lse because they speak another langauge.
This is true. If you are an American citizen, you should be able to speak the language. This article was funny and made me want to keep reading.
i agree with you. If people really want to live here then they should take the time to learn our language. If they don't then they can only communicate to the people that speak the same language as them, not the rest of our country
I see your point, but most people won't be willing to just throw away their culture and language just to make it easier on Americans. If you were forced to move to another country and learn a completely new, foreign language, you probably wonuldn't be very happy.
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