This came up in another thread and I thought it deserved its own thread.


We each have our own language in our own countries. When we travel to another country we are required to learn that countries language, or at least try, in order to get around, Right?


In todays day and age, though, there is a growing trend in the US of minorities (no, I am not being racist. this is a fact) getting offended that a native of the US does not know there language and they demand that English sleeking citizens learn there language even while in the US.


In my mind, this is just stupid. I make an attempt to learn the language of the country I am in, I dont ask that others learn my language just so I can understand them.

So? Thoughts?

I think it's arrogance and ignorance to not learn the language of the country you're in. If you care about the country so much, why don't you learn? And if you don't care for it, why are you here?

If you learned the language but choose to to speak it, that's fine as long as you're not hindering those around you to the point that they must add subtitles to everything..

You know..it's really weird when I walk around and it's as if my life has been subtitled cause of the second and sometimes third languages that have been added underneath the English...

I agree with both of you; if one wants to live in a country, one should make an effort to learn the dominant language of that country. No other country in the world is going to be as accommodating to other languages as the United States.

I went to middle school in a Californian city where the population was mostly Mexican. There were many kids at my school who did not speak a word of English and did not even try to learn the language. Some would even make fun of those of us who did know English, throwing insults at us in Spanish. I do not know why this is allowed, as these kids are detrimental to the education of others.

The idea of respect can go both ways - It is honorable to try to learn the language of the country you are in, and it is also honorable to learn the language of others that you know you'll be coming in contact with.

Remember guys: The United States doesn't have a national language. Nowhere does it say that we speak English. It is the most popular and most widely known, we don't have it in the lawbooks that we officially speak English. Therefore, people have the right to speak whatever they want. If they can form a large enough community in order to completely surround themselves with the language without any problems, then all the more power to them.

Another point - Not everyone can easily learn a language. That person in the mall speaking Cantonese may have been studying English for the past 6 years to no avail. Perhaps his mind just doesn't work that way, and even submersion into the culture isn't enough for him to understand the language. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, he may have only been in the country for a week. Perhaps he hasn't had enough time to absorb the knowledge yet.

Originally Posted by Knerd

The idea of respect can go both ways - It is honorable to try to learn the language of the country you are in, and it is also honorable to learn the language of others that you know you'll be coming in contact with.

Remember guys: The United States doesn't have a national language. Nowhere does it say that we speak English. It is the most popular and most widely known, we don't have it in the lawbooks that we officially speak English. Therefore, people have the right to speak whatever they want. If they can form a large enough community in order to completely surround themselves with the language without any problems, then all the more power to them.

Another point - Not everyone can easily learn a language. That person in the mall speaking Cantonese may have been studying English for the past 6 years to no avail. Perhaps his mind just doesn't work that way, and even submersion into the culture isn't enough for him to understand the language. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, he may have only been in the country for a week. Perhaps he hasn't had enough time to absorb the knowledge yet.

People who make an attempt at learning the language are one thing. Trying is never looked down on. Not in my mind. I usually give them the benefit of the doubt even. But its the people who come up to me in the mall and ask something in German then get all offended when I say "I dont speak German" and give them an apologetic look. Its not MY fault that I speak English in a predominantly English culture.

But America is an English speaking country if not by law but by commonality. The majority of the country has spoken English as there first language since we became a country. Its taught as the first language in most nationally recognized schools. And the citizenship test is in English and will not be given in any other language making it quite clear to be a citizen you should know the language that is most common to the country.

I make every effort to learn a language before going to a country or even going to an area were there is a large population that English is not there native language. I learned a bit of Spanish when I was younger because my friends family was from Spain and I felt it would be nice for them if I tried to give them a break when I was at there house. I am currently studying Japanese in prep for a trip I plan to take sometime in the future. And next year I plan on taking German and possibly a little basic French since I plan to travel Europe.

I'm making the effort. I'm trying. And I am sure as hell not going to be offended if I get to this country and they cant understand me. That would be MY fault, not theres.

Its not really a law issue but more a curtsy issue, really.

If you go to another country you whould learn their language not the other way around. You shouldn't have moved in the first place. People are so stupid...

As so many have said before, if you go to a country that doesn't have English as a national language, it's best to know at least the basics of the country's main language. It's ridiculous to expect otherwise.

However, by the same token, if someone who doesn't speak English moves to an English-speaking country, the other citizens have every right to expect them to learn English. Again, ridiculous to expect otherwise.

I'd like to add that I live in the U.S. and one of the guys in my Spanish class works at like a construction company...one of the Spanish speaking men started yelling at him in bad English and cursing him because he didn't speak Spanish fluently. In the U.S.A. From someone who doesn't know much English. :/ So, yeah.

Originally Posted by InfinitysDaughter

But America is an English speaking country if not by law but by commonality. The majority of the country has spoken English as there first language since we became a country. Its taught as the first language in most nationally recognized schools. And the citizenship test is in English and will not be given in any other language making it quite clear to be a citizen you should know the language that is most common to the country.

But what if the person isn't planning on becoming a citizen? What if they were brought over as a minor, against their will, and have since been growing up in an ethnic neighborhood? What if they don't have the means to move back to their native land? Or what if they don't want to move from the place that they've grown up in?

Strange as it may seem, it's actually possible to live your life within this country without ever speaking a word of English. It may not be easy, but it can be done.

Originally Posted by InfinitysDaughter

Its not really a law issue but more a curtsy issue, really.

I completely agree on this point. However, I just think that it goes both ways. It is unreasonable to ask someone to learn a language unless you yourself are currently learning their language. And since the United States doesn't officially have English as their national tongue, all the better to become multilingual for social reasons.

Originally Posted by Knerd

But what if the person isn't planning on becoming a citizen? What if they were brought over as a minor, against their will, and have since been growing up in an ethnic neighborhood? What if they don't have the means to move back to their native land? Or what if they don't want to move from the place that they've grown up in?

Strange as it may seem, it's actually possible to live your life within this country without ever speaking a word of English. It may not be easy, but it can be done.

I completely agree on this point. However, I just think that it goes both ways. It is unreasonable to ask someone to learn a language unless you yourself are currently learning their language. And since the United States doesn't officially have English as their national tongue, all the better to become multilingual for social reasons.

I dunknow. Maybe its just one of those things that just irks me so much I cant get past it.

And the majority of this does stem more from the people who ARE here by choice, not force, and simply refuse. Were I live, specifically, the predominant language is English but the few that I've run into that dont speak it seem to have the worlds biggest stick up there ass just because I dont know what they are saying.

Instead of getting pissy with me for not knowing German or French when I was raised in an English home they could have just nodded and moved on to find someone who COULD help them.


But if I was to even just visit, say, China town in Chicago, I'd learn at least basic Chinese and bring a dictionary. It would be common courtesy for me to at least attempt it seeing as that is the predominant language of the area.

I live in Los Angeles, California.
When I walk down the hall ways of my school, I hear mostly Spanish and see mostly Hispanic kids.

My boyfriend works in construction and will be approached numerous times by Hispanics that do not speak English, and get mad at him because hes the one that doesn't understand!

I think people at least should learn how to speak the basics of the language before they go to another country. It is for other people's benefit as it is your own.

They should probably start teaching kids here Spanish at a younger age, rather then waiting till we get to High School, it is becoming such a big language now a days, and we learn it better when we are little.

There aren't that many Mexican people in my school, and what ones there are usually stick in their little group.
The only ones I've had in my classes could speak both English and Spanish, so they weren't really a problem.

My friend works at Lowes and she told me she had a Mexican lady come in and just start talking to her in Spanish trying to get something from there. I don't think you should just go into another country and just expect the people there to understand you.

Originally Posted by Jali

I live in Los Angeles, California.
When I walk down the hall ways of my school, I hear mostly Spanish and see mostly Hispanic kids.

My boyfriend works in construction and will be approached numerous times by Hispanics that do not speak English, and get mad at him because hes the one that doesn't understand!

Exactly, it's crazy the way people think. If he was in, say, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, etc. I would say they had the right to get upset. However, he was in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Regardless of what the population majority is in that area (I live in an area with a lot of white hicks, and go to school with a lot of asians and hispanics) if the country's national language is English, I would suggest you (hm) LEARN ENGLISH. Simple, yes?

Of course, it makes life easier on you if you learn more than one language; that's just common sense. It's irrational for someone else to expect you to, though, just because they don't speak your language.

Cable Induced Coma: Exactly, exactly, exactly. XDD <3