Speaking other languages in public in the U.S.

[TLSnell1981]

I had this happen to me today....twice. Monster shoe sale (very crowed)....chatting it up, rude, oblivious AND blocking the displays. They could only respond and/or speak English when they needed assistance.

 

[Pigeon]

Okay, I'll admit it. It bothers me. I think we should have an official language -- English. I think if you are going to move to a country you should learn the language and use the language. I don't think everything should have to be published in 10 different languages to accommodate everyone. You want to live the dream, you want to be accepted, make some changes. I would never think to move to a spanish speaking country and not learn the language. I had a friend whose family member was here for 70+ years and didn't speak a word of English. Never bothered to learn. But she knew how to work the system. It was always the way that you came here you learned the language. You were proud to be an American and that included learning the language.

Flame away. And FWIW, I'm a very liberal person when it comes to most things. This just irks me.

For some people, it's just not that simple. I was a Literacy Volunteers of America ESL tutor for several years. One of my students was a lady in her 50s who came from Lebanon after her daughter was killed by a random bomb. This lady wasn't literate in Lebanese, and had only attended school for a few years. This family was so sweet and so kind.

I tried for years with her. She just couldn't pick up a new language at all. She tried, but she pretty much got nowhere.

 

[mefordis]

You should have answered her back in Arabic!

What do you think of people in the United States who speak languages other than English in public places?

My family and I went out shopping the other day and we were speaking in Arabic as we were looking at the clothes. Now, we are Americans and speak fluent English (I was born and raised here) but we speak Arabic at home just as much as English since we are of Arab descent. This lady starts huffing and puffing that "in AMERICA, people should speak ENGLISH," etc. I told her that I can speak whatever language I want in the U.S. and she just walked away muttering to herself.

What do you think? Is it rude to speak languages other than English in public?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

For some people, it's just not that simple. I was a Literacy Volunteers of America ESL tutor for several years. One of my students was a lady in her 50s who came from Lebanon after her daughter was killed by a random bomb. This lady wasn't literate in Lebanese, and had only attended school for a few years. This family was so sweet and so kind.

I tried for years with her. She just couldn't pick up a new language at all. She tried, but she pretty much got nowhere.

Oh I love being called out for something I said over a year ago.

If you can sign the checks and cash them, you can figure out enough English to get by. An outright refusal is disrespectful. Many people learn languages by sound, not by formal schooling. As I said, she was here over 70 years. Came here as a pre-teen. She was in this country 70+ years. Never took the time or had the inclination. No excuses. Go along to get along or move along.

 

[Deb in IA]

Yeah, I don't know why this thread got resurrected after more than a year either . . .

I agree that if you are planning to live in the US, you should make an attempt to learn at least some rudimentary English.

However, I have no problems with people conversing privately with family members in their native tongue. I do it myself, speaking with my mom in Chinese when we are at home and in public, but we obvioulsy have no problems speaking English to others. I am proud of my heritage, but I don't get much opportunity to use my Chinese very much, so that is why I try do it when I can.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I couldn't agree more - I'm right there with you! You see, not all Brazilians are the same (last time someone counted the population was of around 200 million - I can't seem to stress that enough)

Only 200,000,000? I thought there were a brazillion.

I had this happen to me today....twice. Monster shoe sale (very crowed)....chatting it up, rude, oblivious AND blocking the displays. They could only respond and/or speak English when they needed assistance.

That kind of behavior never happens with native English speakers who are monolingual

 

[crazelion]

Only time i have problem with is when they speak another language when order there food. Then expect me to understand them. When the think I am Hispanic and start speaking Spanish to me. My response is I speak English. I love all people. I care less about nationally.

 

[moon]

Only 200,000,000? I thought there were a brazillion.




That kind of behavior never happens with native English speakers who are monolingual

 

[dreamin_disney]

Doesn't bother me. If someone translated that they were talking bad about me then it would piss me off but whatever-lol! there are other things that bother me like people complaining, people doing bad things, people breaking the law.

Life is to short, enjoy it

 

[DeaverTex]

You should have answered her back in Arabic!

I've used German occasionally. My German really isn't nearly good enough, but I know enough, and have a great Heidelberger accent, to fool anybody who doesn't speak the language. I've also found that this gambit often flushes out an ability to speak English that the other person wasn't really willing to admit.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I've used German occasionally. My German really isn't nearly good enough, but I know enough, and have a great Heidelberger accent, to fool anybody who doesn't speak the language. I've also found that this gambit often flushes out an ability to speak English that the other person wasn't really willing to admit.

Ach so, mich auch.