Speak the Right Language - AC Exclusive Rant
Speak the Language of the Country You Live is All I'm Asking Here
This is not a new rant for me, and I know this won't be the last time I go on about it, but it just needs to be said. If you are going to choose to live in a country, any country for any reason, wouldn't it be nice to learn their language?
I am getting sick and tired of having to learn a second language just to work in retail. I'm not racist and am not against immigration, the more the merrier I say. There is just no reason someone living in the United States should not be able to speak a lick of English, even our own bastardized version of the English language. In many cases, which is cool in my book for a temporary fix, the children will be more fluent in English and speak for the parents or others that can't speak. But this should only be temporary and your interpreter should be with you whenever you plan on shopping.
I do realize this is coming from an English speaker, and English is one of the most widely spoken languages, so I won't have as much trouble in other countries. Well, that and the fact that I just cannot afford to travel to other countries, but that's beside the point. But out of common courtesy for those in other countries to learn common phrases and bring a dictionary with me. And if I plan on living there, then classes are the first thing I am going to sign up for.
I also understand that American English is one of the most difficult languages to learn, so I'm not expecting everybody to speak like a Harvard professor, but how hard is it to learn phrases such as these classics: "How much is this?" , "Where is the bathroom?", "I want that super-sized." The last one is a necessary for us Americans, trust me.
Published by Joshua Cook
I am a freelance writer for hire who has a true passion for writing. Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, I moved to the Seattle area about three years ago. After a recent dark period in my life, I came out stronger... View profile
- Journey from AC to AC
- Bath & Body Works "Exclusive" Scents? Yeah Right!
- Top 10 Slideshows on AC
- Raising Bilingual Children When You Only Speak One Language
- Language Barriers: Does Pronunciation Determine Intelligence?
- A Guide to Dog Language and Abbreviations on the Internet
17 Comments
Post a CommentNot long ago, a friend and I went to this hoagie place (In the N.East US.) The people working there were, and I could be wrong on this, Brazilian. We were about third in line. After we came in, so did some Brazilian customers. Quite a lot of them. Guess who got their order taken first? In Portuguese? While my one friend and I waited and waited and waited?
Maybe you shoud learn geography
My grandparents came over here from Germany without one word of English between them. They were fluent in 2 years. Why? Because they actually loved and respected the country they adopted as their new home. And because they had to learn English to work, etc.
Here in Cali English is more or less the second language..lol
Since the US is a "melting pot," how many other languages will you have to learn? Wonder how all the immigrants managed to learn English? Great rant.
Oops! I guess I don't spell too well. That is "English", "Steak", "sign", "counter" Steve
I like that idea for the bumper sticker. I tried to order a Quizno 5 meat stuffer today but the girl who took my order didn't speak eanglish so i got a cheese stake sub. I said no and tried to explain it to the manager who also had an English problem. "We don't have" - so I got their sing from the colonter for the 5 meat stuffer ripped it out ouf its holder and said "this". Finally I got it. Probably with some spit or crap mixed in as well. Great article.
If I moved to Germany I would expect to learn German and I see nothing wrong with expecting people who want to live in the US learning the language so many immigrants learned since the country was formed. My father was an immigrant and he refused to speak his native tongue. As an adult, I wish he had taught us his language~easier to learn as a child. The problem here is that the La Rasa's petitioned the US government to name Spanish our National Language, because we have none declared. (1990s). That is insulting to Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian, Italian, Kenyan and all other immigrants that immigrated to an English speaking country. Yet when one mentions such things we are labeled: racists or bigots. Where I live speaking Spanish is a job pre-requisite. For everything from office management, construction to flipping burgers at McDonalds. That strikes me as sad; I did not choose to immigrate to a Spanish speaking country.
Hey I wasn't done yet!! It is a great article. I love your sense of humor too.
I taught English as a second language as a volunteer. I fell in love with many of the people from different countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Chadd Africa, India and Egypt. It was a very rewarding experience. They weren't all illegals. I do believe they should learn at least enough to get by. I also know had damned hard it is to learn. Some of them spent several nights a week trying to learn. It isn't something that they can just get in 6 or 8 easy lessons, though some of them really really tried. My husband works with a guy from El Salvador who is constantly practicing his English and my husband loves him for all the effort he puts into it.
I personally don't have a problem with people having to press one for English etc, because I really want to learn more Spanish. It is my father's first language. I understand peoples frustration with it. I am just very compassionate because of having dealt with those who have came to this country to keep from starving to deat