I found this video a while back while browsing. The message is clear: America has gone too far to accommodate other people’s languages in its own country.
The one time that I have been out of the country, I appreciated the translations to my language when it came to signs, like the kind you would find in airports. But those are public places. I wouldn’t dream of demanding someone speak my language while in their homeland. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?
So why do immigrants think they should expect special treatment in my country?
[tags]videos,America,language[/tags]
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I agree that people shouldn’t come here and expect us to go out of our way to accomodate them; however, America is based on the idea of welcoming anyone who wants freedom. If people come here seeking them, sometimes they need some help while they learn the language.
True, America is definitely about opening its arms to welcome those who seek freedom. The thing is that somewhere down the line that philosophy got confused with accommodating everyone’s wishes.
IMHO, I think it’s causing America to lose its identity. Instead of becoming a melting pot like we were once known for many, many years ago, it has become a place where people are imposing their own sense of individuality and causing us to change our way of life — the American way of life.
Helping them learn English is an absolute must, and something I strongly support. However, “pressing 2 for Spanish” is not going to help them do that. In fact, it’s giving them no incentive at all to learn the language of this country. So what you end up with is businesses going to the extra expense of printing literature in different languages, possibly changing their business practices, etc., which leads to them expecting we change our ways for them. And all that leads up to a sense of entitlement.
Please don’t think I’m busting your chops there, buddy. I’m just trying to clarify my position on this very important issue.
That’s a great way of looking at that. The airport in Vancouver only has english on the signs. I can’t imagine how the immigrants manage!
And now I have the “English is our language…” stuck in my head! 
Sorry for sticking that song in your head. I know how troublesome that can be.
Airports are just one exception. That’s a temporary solution to just getting around and is completely justifiable. I would hazard a guess, though, that Vancouver is not going through the issues we Americans are when it comes to the language of immigrants because it would seem from your comment that they know where the draw the line.
Maybe a bit too strict for those who are traveling, but not having to put up with the “trip over ourselves” attitude of translating so much into another language.
If you are immigrating to Canada, you need to speak Canadian not just English. All you have to do is add an eh? onto every third or fourth sentence, it’s easy…
English: Well this is good coffee.
Canadian: Good coffee eh?
I’m just kidding, well kind of…anyway, I don’t really have trouble with immigrants who are still learning English, I tend to look at the people in the world as a whole instead of by seperate countries, easier to stay sane that way! Canada is a VERY multicultural country.
Hehe…you know that’s an ongoing joke I’ve seen and have done many times myself. Just add “eh?” to the end of a sentence and you’re automatically fluent in Canadian.
I, too, look at people as a whole. Although, it does seem another agenda is at play here, with the ultimate goal of have separate countries in one. I think integrating them into one is fine, but there should always be a main one.
I’m glad I speak English
BTW, I wonder if immigrants are really demanding special treatment.!
Clearly, you’re very fluent in English.
As for the demand side of things, I have to say it’s probably a mix of immigrants and illegal immigrants, with the former sympathizing with the latter, and the latter expecting help from the former. And it’s not all immigrants either, but here in the states there is quite a debate over making English the official languages of some cities and the nation. For some reason, people think that’s offensive. 
I’m not so sure if it’s the immigrants who are totally demanding the concessions, rather that the government (and more recently companies) are feeling that they have to be all-inclusive lest they offend one person or a group of people. In that case, the affected people then come to just expect that everyone will make the same concessions for them.
And I agree, it’s silly to think that making English the language “de jure” could be offensive, but I guess that’s part of the PC culture we live in nowadays…
Sephyroth
http://www.sephyroth.net
Well spoken, Sephyroth.
I actually agree with you more than you can know, but the general idea is we shouldn’t force people to learn English. It isn’t actually the official language of America, it is just the most spoken language here.
If we force people to learn English, are we then going to force them to become Christians because it is the most common language?
Like I said, I agree more with what you are saying, but my belief goes against what America stands for in my opinion. I was just born here, I’m not necessarily here by choice.
What do you call someone who can speak several languages?
Multilingual
What do you call someone who can speak two languages?
Bilingual
What do you call someone who can only speak one language?
American
Okay, that’s an old joke but very true.
As for the comment “When in Rome…” that doesn’t wash. I was there a few weeks ago and even though I was looking forward to practicing my Italian almost everyone spoke English.
I really don’t mind pressing ’1′.
JMHO
Well, if today’s Romans are speaking English, then you’re doing like the Romans do, so thing are in balance over there it seems.
Thanks for stopping by and hope you return.
In response to “Marie,” English is the dominant language in the world, no matter how you take it. Its really hard to avoid it, as you put it.
What gripes me on the other hand is how some certain countries *cough* France *cough* are quite rude even when you make an ATTEMPT to be kind enough to speak their language. Apparently its never enough for them. When was the last time an American corrected a foreigner’s English?
Just a random thought, had to get it off my chest.
Hi glj12, hehe…I’m glad you dropped by to get that off your chest. Anytime!
Hope to see you return.
Someone pointed out quite accurately that English is not the official language in the United States. It’s interesting to me that before the founding of the nation there were communities of immigrants that spoke German, drafted laws for their settlements, and carried out the bulk of their business in their native language. Of course, over a few generations most of their descendants had learned English and joined the English speaking majority.
English is the predominant language in the world, but many people believe very strongly that language is a vehicle for their culture and work hard to maintain that link to their roots.
I think our country is big enough to welcome those who speak any language, however I do wonder what limits we should set. I don’t know how many people are employed by Washington to translate to HOW many languages for support of our own citizens. Maybe there should be limits there. I don’t want to see us so uptight about our language though that we rival France by defending our language with silly laws to prevent foreign words from being used.
Here in the United States we have had the luxury for many years of not having to learn anything other than English and that may be changing now with so much immigration from Spanish speaking countries. (And what of the Spanish speaking areas that became part of our country by no choice of their own? Puerto Rico, etc…) Of course, there are parts of the country that speak French more predominantly as well.
Maybe in keeping with our Federalist system roots it should be something we leave up to the States and more local jurisdictions to decide what THEIR official language is and keep the Federal Government out of the “official” language decision altogether?
Study New Languagess last blog post..Spanish Speaking Countries
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