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!
DaveC said...
Apr. 30 at 7:15 pm:
Apr. 30 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 at 12:34 pm:
Apr. 5 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 »)
teachforNYC said...
Feb. 14 at 11:46 pm:
Feb. 14 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!
Kiersten H. THIS ISSUE MAKES ME SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!! IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TO OUR COUNTRY THEY SHOULD LEARN OUR LANGUAGE!!!!! AND HAVING TO PRESS 2 FOR SPANISH? THAT SHOULD NO BE AN OPTION, THEY NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH!!! AND THE ILLEAGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE TAKING ALL 0OF OUR TAX MONEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS COUNTRY AND GO BACKTO WHERE THEY CAME FROM!!!!!!!! Sorry for my anger but this is a very important issue to me.
This is so ignorant of you to say. What if you were put in this position? What if you were a mother trying to support your family, so you moved to Mexico to find work, and there were no resources an English-speaking person. What if you were so busy working and taking care of your kids that you never had a chance to learn the language? How would you feel then?
I think you are totally wrong. English shouldn't be the only language people know. We should all have the opportunity to learn whatever language we want!
I think we should still leave the option for translators in america because we ARE a diverse country, but I understand that any working American should take it upon themselves to attept to learn english.
Spanish is the 2nd most spoken language in the world. Imagine how many people would be upset and happy. People can not just give up their language. How would you feel if you had to give up english?
The point is valid, however, our country is based on the cultures of other countries. This is what makes America, America! All of the food, architecture, ideas, inovations; all come from the backrounds of the cultural diverse population of people. English is certainly the most spoken lauguage but is not the most important to many types of people.
SamruIt's true that it would make it counvienient for us but think about all the people who would be inconvienienced by this
I agree with galfam and FIDDLESTIXS becuase in umerica we can speak anything FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOM. You should not be so atrocious and insidious in your poor ignorant beliefs
I agree with Fiddlestixs, it is extremely ignorant to think that your race and yours only is important. Not everyone deserves to bow to one specific race, as this world is not a totalitarian one.
FIDDLESTIXSThats very iggnorant. You cant make people give up their native language. ITs their religion. It gos against the firstb amendment.
Appleshrrom said...
Oct. 27, 2011 at 11:09 am:
Oct. 27, 2011 at 11:09 am:
Wow this smacks of racism. Unintentional racism, I'm sure, but racism none the less. Learn English or go home? No. That is completely wrong. People come to the US because it's a beacon of opprotunity that their home country is not. English is one of the hardest languages to learn, and I do think people who come here have a basic knowledge of Engligh (enough to get around and drive and such but may not be able to hold a conversation in English. This is a really ignorant sentiment and I wish it wo... (more »)
"How bout you learns spanish?" Why does that make sense? The only way that could be a counter argument would be if he were to go to mexico! If you are in America, where mainstream society runs on the English language, then only knowing English is all you need to get by.
HeartBreaker2010come on im part mexican and german and i understand both its not racist, it's common since, if you don't understand then go back to school. sorry but its true:)
if you move to a new country with a different language, you have to learn it, you mexican people don't want to learn English, then just leave and go back to where ever you came from because this is my U.S. so you better learn the English plz.
Um, sorry, but no, this is NOT your U.S. This is the U.S. of millions of people from all different cultures and backgrounds who speak their own language. Seriously - it is not that hard to listen to the phone operator say, "Press two for Spanish." It isn't gonna kill us, but it is going to help ethnic people who aren't fluent in English but are trying to make a living here.
brittany4jp said...
Sept. 13, 2011 at 8:53 am:
Sept. 13, 2011 at 8:53 am:
If you're going to move to a country, learn the dominant language. It is as simple as that, and it's not racist to say so, as it applies to anyone who moves here. It just seems to be more of an issue with Spanish speaking peoples because a good amount of them will not learn English, there aren't many Germans going around the U.S. with no understanding of English. I don't go to somewhere, like Italy, and say "I'm here, now you all get to learn my language, because that's just... (more »)
Katie1234One thing: English isn't the offical language of the states.
I agree with you completely, but without English being our official language....
It stinks. We're now expected to learn spanish among othe languages to get jobs. A lot of schools require a year of foriegn language. Learning a language should be optional.
Maybe learning a language should be optional, but it isn't optional for foreign immigrants if we don't provide them with resources.
While I agree that they cannot be blamed for not having the resources, there are plenty of ways for people to learn a new language. Should we as American's enable them by forcing people to take a foriegn language or give them a steady push by allowing foriegners to learn the language that is dominant in our country?
jomi973I do understand what you mean. If you are going to move to another country, you should learn the language of that country. That is true.
You have to look on both sides though. English is my second language and it can be a difficult language to learn. There are so many rules and some things just do not make sense. I now speak English fluently because I learned it at a young age. For older people learning a language is challenging. Even if they learn it, they can still be confused a... (more »)
While I am not against the learning of other languages at all (I love language study!), and while English is not America's official language, I believe it should be America's official language.
And that if somebody wants to immigrate here, they should have to learn English. It's merely practical, because you're not going to get very far in this country without a good grasp on English anyways, which is what most of our people speak.
Then again, this is just my opini... (more »)
bombthroweramericans can only speak english and barely no our own history let alone world
europians can speak at least 3 and no american, political, world and there own
america has no official language, plus what about visters. english is the most common language but it is not legally official
ShontelleSymoneAnother question for you. Why is it that you don't have such a problem with whites coming to America and speaking their native language? It is so racist that people would just point the finger of Latinos who are trying to better themselves by coming to America. They have kids and families. You don't know their financial situation so "going home" is not an option for these poor people. I (as a part mexican girl) am offended by this article.
OK this is completly stupid. You are saying that it is racist. Are you kidding me? English is the official language of the United States of America and the fact that you mentioned the Cherokee nation is absolutley illogical since even the Cherokee did not have a completely unified language and they were not the only people that were here before the English. Now if one of their languages was the official language I would understand but it is not the case english is. Now if you want to get into th... (more »)
what about germans should german immigrants learn english or go home. no free assosiation, most countries have at least 4 official languages, england has 20, welsh (sorry don't know the actual name) irish gaelic, gualish, indian, pakistani, arabic, and every other one from what was once there empire (which was the most of the world, the sun never set on its greed, racism, and brutality.
come on im part mexican and german and i understand both its not racist, it's common since, if you don't understand then go back to school. sorry but its true:)
no group has the right to force its launguage on anyone, not speaking english doesn't hurt anyone, so i can't stop it, "your right to swing your fist stops at the tip of my nose."
Actually, You are wrong. The Cherokee people DO still have a languag that we still speak. We are one of the few tribes left that still have a thriving language. Sorry for the late comment, I've been really busy recently.
And did you think I just ment the Cherokee? NO. I used Cherokee as an examply because I am part Cherokee.
With all this said, when are you going to learn Cherokee? You know, the first people here? What makes English so great? Actually, you don't even speak proper queen's english. So when you say learn our languange or go home,I and well within my rights as a cherokee girl to say learn OUR language or go home.
ohmakemeover
The good thing about America is that we don't force anyone to do anything here. We don't force religion, or politics, and we don't force culture. Plenty of people in America only speak a foreign language and they get along fine because they have others to relate to. If they feel like they need to learn English to get by, then that is their prerogative. Also, shame on you for calling other languages gibberish. That is close-minded and immature and I suggest you check... (more »)
except pay taxes to fund wars genocide and oppression
obey laws most of which are tardy
and in the past murder (the draft, war doesn't change any thing, its murder if you kill someone on purpose)
I didn't understand a word you just said. And yes, we have to pay taxes, but that is also one of the biggest political debates in America of all time. It doesn't go smoothly. But other than that, I didn't get any of what you typed.
taxes are stalnist, they assume the gov owns your wealth.
you have to obey laws
and follow agreements that you were not a part of if you did not take part in a desicion you are not bound by it. i did not agree to pay taxes so why do i have to.
and the draft turning kids into murders
anonymous said...
Jun. 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm:
Jun. 13, 2011 at 4:12 pm:
I completely agree with you! I don't get why we Americans have to learn Spanish (not to mention in school), and they don't have to learn English. Yes, I know they have 'English as a Second Language' classes, but it's not an elective class. This should be changed!
america has no language, there is no law make english the official language, we use english because most of us speak it, if that changed the new language would be the norm.
besides we should learn foreign languages, isolationism caused the depression and the holocaust
"Now, I agree that immigrants should learn English. But...instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English — they’ll learn English — you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish...it’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe, and all we can say [is], 'Merci beaucoup.' " -Barack Obama
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