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!
GoalychikThat is a great point! Many people come into our country thinking that they can just waltz in and make it....WRONG! They should take time to learn our language. They obviously came to America to be an American...LEARN OUR LANGUAGE!
I too believe that we should all learn how to speak English because only does it make it easier on foregins, it makes it easier on us. For instance, when we call for technical help, we normally are given a person who has a foreign accent. Not only is it frustrating, you can't get what you needed.
LolzzI think that people that come to america should atleast get a chance to learn english. Even if that means you could have a little discomfort until they learn it. But I do admit english should still be the first language you hear when calling a company.
anomynous said...
Oct. 24, 2012 at 4:06 pm:
Oct. 24, 2012 at 4:06 pm:
English is a hard language to learn. In fact, russian is much easier and russian looks completely ailien. I'll admit my english is not perfect either and I live in the states.
hawleybassplayerA lot of the thoughts circulating throughout here are really inconsiderate. Learning a second language, especially as an adult, is extraordinarily hard, and English is one of the hardest languages to learn. For people immigrating to this country, most of whom do end up learning English to some degree, the measures we take to provide Spanish or other translations make the transition to living here possible. Think about how hard it must be to uproot yourself and move to a country where you can'... (more »)
samanthaaa
anon said...
Jul. 31, 2012 at 9:11 pm:
Jul. 31, 2012 at 9:11 pm:
I agree that if you voluntarily come to a country you should make the effort to learn its language! Not doing so just makes you seem lazy and ignorant.
And although this article was mostly talking about the increasing number of Hispanics coming to America who have not learned the language, people also need to realzie that us Americans are just as much at fault. Countries all around the world have signs posted both in the native language and in English because of the fact that ma... (more »)
AriShine
Recently, my class studied refugees and conflicts in other countries. There are thousands of people who come to the United States every year seeking refuge from the violence and/or persecution of their homeland. Imagine moving to a whole different culture that speaks a language that sounds like gibberish to YOU. On top of that, these people have to deal with the closed-mindedness that is demonstrated in this article. It is fine to express your frustration, but really, have a heart.
DaveC said...
Apr. 30, 2012 at 7:15 pm:
Apr. 30, 2012 at 7:15 pm:
Instead of thinking everyone should change to provide you with a miniscule amount of comfort you dont need, perhaps you should realize the world doesn't revolve around the U.S. Look around you and you may realize that we should change and maybe learn a language or two, to comunicate with the world, not have it bend over backwards to please us
Lily said...
Apr. 5, 2012 at 12:34 pm:
Apr. 5, 2012 at 12:34 pm:
I think, in all honsty, that to this debate there really isn't a good answer. I know, that was so very helpful of me to say, but I sorta think both sides have a point. I mean, the main language of the U.S. is english, and in 2007 (I got this from the U.S. Census Bureau) 20% of people spoke a language at home other than english.
This does create a chasm between people, and every one speaking the same language would be just dandy.... (more »)
you are right it is annoying and isnt (in my opinion) the first thing you should have to hear, spanish being the aternative option for those that do not speak english yet, or not enough to talk on the phone, would be preferable to most americans being that we speak english, but its not desroying our country, asylum for those immigrating from anywhere, not just spanish speaking countrys, should be able to get translation in my opinion, but they should have to press two on the phone for ther... (more »)
I disagree. I understand what your point is when you talk about the issues that could arise with a language barrier, but just imagine that your only option was to move to France, and you didn't have the chance to learn the language before you moved. You arrive, and nothing is in English, and no one there has respect for you and your language. You're poor, and spend all your time working to support your family, like many immigrants do, so you learning the language isn't an option at the moment. H... (more »)
thelogicofloveI could not disagree with this article more.
Did you know that America doesn't actually have an official language? We are a nation of immigrants and diversity; over 300 different languages are spoken in the United States alone. 24 of which are spoken in all fifty states.
You ask why "Press two for Spanish" is even an option. That is because 12 percent of our citizens speak fluent Spanish, with that number rapidly growing. Over 45 million people speak fluent Spanish as a first or... (more »)
I agree with you completely. The argument of this article has an extremely selfish tone that patronizes other cultures that should be embraced.
teachforNYC said...
Feb. 14, 2012 at 11:46 pm:
Feb. 14, 2012 at 11:46 pm:
What frustrates me most about the comments to this article is that they are not even written in proper English. Defend English as our national language all you want... but maybe you should learn how to actually write in English before you force poor immigrants to do so themselves. Just a thought.
KatsKI disagree. Say you moved to Hungary, and that was your only option. You'd want instructions in English, wouldn't you? This does sound ignorant, and very my-way-or-the-highway. As Atticus Finch says in To Kill A Mockingbird "if you can learn a simple trick, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around it" (Lee, 30). if you've forgotten, my main point is t... (more »)
bennyBWell i have two things to say about this. You are right about immigrants learning the lenguage before comming here. It is not only spanish since america is a verry diverse country. Also you have to understand that some people come here to have a better life and do not have the opportunity to learn the lenguage, but you are still right.
Mtizzleamerica was not just an english colony spain and the french and all other countries of europe came here and left a print on american society people should learn the most common spoken luanguage and if they dont so what its there choice america was founded for freedom they have the freedom to keep their language but if they wnat ot live here and speak their own language the chioce is theirs.
People have the right to keep their culture. But that does not mean they can just come hear, and not make the effort to learn the language that almost all americans, even most of the people all over the world have learned and spoke! If american students learn other languages i school, then these people need to learn OUR LANGUAGE TOO!
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