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| | #1 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 9th Jan 2006 Location: WNY
Posts: 935
| Something that I have never understood is why we are starting to have two languages here in the US. I must admit that I get more than a little annoyed when I hear "Para Espanole...." Every immigrant group which came here from another country learned how to speak English. Can anyone answer for me why there is a large chunk of our population who refuses to learn English? I'm not saying this to be critical, I just don't understand why someone would leave their country and go to live permanently in another country and not learn the language. If I were to move to Argentina or any other Spanish speaking country I would learn the language. Why isn't it the other way around?
__________________ BBG, a convertible resort. You can go with the top down. |
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| | #2 | |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| Quote:
Look at it this way, it's almost capitalism in it's purest form!
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! | |
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| | #3 |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| Oh and if you get concerned about english being used in the USA we can send down the language police from Quebec. Only catch is you have to keep them!
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! |
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| | #4 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 9th Jan 2006 Location: WNY
Posts: 935
| Dos, actually it's because of our proximity to Canada that I ask the question. I know that there is a great deal of resentment in Canada about the language issue and I'm concerned that the same thing can happen here. I just don't understand why there is not an urge to learn the language. I certainly understand the supply and demand side. The same can be seen at TTR where almost everyone speaks some English because of the Anglo North American clientele. I don't understand why this one group comes to the US and insists on not learning the language. I'm always willing to learn something new and this issue is something that has bothered me for years so I'm looking to learn why they don't/won't learn English.
__________________ BBG, a convertible resort. You can go with the top down. |
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| | #5 | |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| Quote:
I just hope that you guys don't get to the point where the government starts regulating language on signs etc the same way Quebec has. There for example you can be ticketed for having an English word being written more prominently than a French word on a sign. If I were in the living in the States I would say fine speak whatever you want but when working for me, if I were an employer, you must be at least proficient in English. As far as I know Spanish isn't legally an official language of the USA so beyond being good business (getting that market share) there shouldn't be a requirement to deal in anything other than english. I'd say the same of Mexico, sure you don't have to know English to operate a resort that caters mostly to english speakers, no legal reason to, but if you want to be successful you probably should. Hope I didn't ramble too much there!
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! | |
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| | #6 |
| I can choose my own title Join Date: 2nd Apr 2009 Location: Cancun, Centro
Posts: 2,540
| Perhaps a little tolerance is in order, if only for historic reasons. The U.S. invaded and conquered the young Republic of Mexico and permanently annexed one third of its territory- where Gomez and Gonzales were far more common last names than Smith and Jones- in a war little remembered by Americans, but not forgotten in a land where every city has streets named for its young heroes who died trying to defend their country. Do you have a Winfield Scott Street, named for the American General that lead the largest U.S. amphibious assault in history prior to WWII, landing 10,000 U.S. soldiers at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in 1845; then, advanced on Mexico City, which he captured? Maybe there is something about this we'd just as soon forget.... The U.S.-Mexican War | PBS |
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| | #7 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
| Umm....and is anyone going to point out that English isn't the official language of the US? We don't have one because this country is supposed to be a "melting pot." I mean, really, why does everyone want to speak English - when we came here we should have learned at least one version of a Native American language, no? But, instead, there were more people speaking english, so we forced them to learn that. And when Americans go around the world MOST don't bother to learn a lick of the language of whatever country they visit. How much spanish do you know, yet you're on a website about Mexico?
__________________ *) ¸.·´¨) ¸.·*¨). Cut off by 11:30AM! A new record! (¸.·´ ¸.·´ .·´ .·´ .·´ ¸.·' *`·~»*~ROXIE (¸.·´ RoadTripChick.com Feb 2011, Feb 2012, and...Feb 2013! |
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| | #8 |
| I can choose my own title Join Date: 15th Sep 2008 Location: Cancun, Q Roo.
Posts: 1,018
| Ive long been curious to why the US doesnt have an official language. I think Roxie has a couple of great points. |
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| | #9 | |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| Quote:
And I'll freely admit that I have never had a formal spanish class, I like to try to throw in a few simple phrases when I can while in Cancun. And I am very thankful that the good people in Cancun and other areas of Mexico where us tourist types go are willing to put up with our lack of ability to speak the language of the land!
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! | |
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| | #10 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
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| | #11 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 9th Jan 2006 Location: WNY
Posts: 935
| Quote:
Roxie, I'm not talking about visiting a country, but moving to a country. I don't understand why every other immigrant group that moved to the US learned the language, but one group expects the US to adopt their language. I have never understood the logic of that and I would like to have someone explain why one group does not feel that they have a need to learn the language of their adopted homeland. My grandfather moved here from Germany and he did not expect the rest of the country to learn his language or adopt his customs. He learned how to speak English. The same with my wife's ancestors who moved here from the Ukraine. It seems like anytime that anyone brings up this subject it is turned into some sort of racism. For me it is just the opposite. I was an exchange student in Argentina many years ago. I did not expect the Argentines to learn English, but rather, I learned Spanish. Is it pure politics that forces the rest of us to have to pay for products that have to be printed in two languages? My question is why doesn't this one immigrant group learn English? We in the US do not have an official language. We also do not have an official religion. The religion is guaranteed by the Constitution. Language is not. I do not resent anyone else having a different language, but I do find it very insulting that every immigrant group who moved to the US learned the language spoken by most of the US residents. All groups but one. I go back to my original question.....why?
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| | #12 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
| Quote:
Second, it really depends on the era that you came to the country. When you came here in the 50's and before (your grandparents), your goal was to become an "American" and assimilate into the "American Culture." This included learning the language - the the tune of not ever speaking the native language and not even teaching it to the kids. There are tons of italians in my neighborhood who don't speak english, and even more who do, and wish the kids and grandkids knew italian...but they were the ones that banished the language in the household. These days, it is not necessary to become a white-blooded "Mer-kan" to move to America. Be it through technology or the sheer will of not becoming what much of america stands for, or as a rebellious feature - it is not necessary to let go of your culture and assimilate into "ours." Third - you've tried to learn a language. It's expensive. At times it's frustrating. AND you seem like you're an educated person. Imagine that with a bare minimum education in your original language? And with a need to come her and support a family, or escape the living conditions you were in before. Who has the time? Why should they put such an importance on it because you think they should? The more educated come here and learn english immediately (sometimes before they come here). Just because you don't see those people on the side of the street doesn't mean they don't exist. Fourth - Mexico (and other latin american countries)are the closest ones to here. Therefore, they are the largest immigrant population. Therefore, you see more of them. A LOT of them speak english. Probably more than you believe. But why speak english when you don't need to? Fifth - Just like it makes good business to have damn near everything in Cancun be in English, it makes good business to put things in Spanish. And the street signs and such? Guess what...it wasn't the uneducated and spanish only speaking people who got that stuff passed...it was the educated ones that spoke English. Add to that, depending on where you learned the language - you may be self conscious about it, and not want to speak it. And, to be honest, I feel like we are meaner to people who barely speak english than we are (as a whole) to people who don't speak english. And I never called you a racist...but if the shoe fits. I have more, but I just woke up, and I need to get ready for work!
__________________ *) ¸.·´¨) ¸.·*¨). Cut off by 11:30AM! A new record! (¸.·´ ¸.·´ .·´ .·´ .·´ ¸.·' *`·~»*~ROXIE (¸.·´ RoadTripChick.com Feb 2011, Feb 2012, and...Feb 2013! | |
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| | #13 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 9th Jan 2006 Location: WNY
Posts: 935
| Roxie thank you for the thoughtful reply. I do understand your points and I think they are very valid. Times have changed and what may have applied forty, fifty or even a hundred years ago does not apply now. I certianly do understand that. However, even today we see many newer immigrants who have learned the language and use it accordingly. My son's wife is Vietnamese. Her parents escaped Vietnam when the North Vietnamese overan Saigon. They came to Houston and learned the language even though Houston has a huge Vietnamese population where they probably could have gotten by without learning the language. My daughter's husband's family is from Lebanon. Same situation, they learned English. We have a very large Yemeni poplulation here in Western NY. They speak English. One of my former employees was Cambodian. She and her parents learned how to speak English. It seems to me the language issue is one of political pandering more than anything else. You'll find many Canadians resent the bi-lingualism forced on them. Go to Quebec City and speak English and see how you are treated. There is a great deal of Anglo/Franco resentment that exists within many areas of Canada. I can see the same thing happening here with the Spanish/English issue. Roxie, you mentioned the term "Melting Pot" when you referred to the US. A melting pot implies that the ingrediants lose their identity when they are put into the melting pot. I don't see that happening in this case. Argentina is another melting pot type of a nation. Spanish is the official language, yet the majority of the population is not Spanish, but rather a conglomeration of English, Italian, and German. All of those groups learned the language and assimilated into the Argentine culture. They may have maintained their ethnic identity at home, but they became Argentine in every way within the community. My concern is that we may end up with something akin to Canada's Parti Quebecois (pardon me if I spelled it wrong) which fosters a separation of the nation based on language. I think that is a very real potential here. Consider the fate of one Randy Cunneyworth. Randy has just recently been promoted to be the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team. The media wants him fired. The reason.....he doesn't speak French. But wait, Canada has two official languages, French and English. That doesn't seem to matter in Montreal. I can see something similar happening here.
__________________ BBG, a convertible resort. You can go with the top down. Last edited by twinimini; 01-10-2012 at 06:52 AM. |
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| | #14 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
| Quote:
Once again - the US doesn't have a national language. That is the beauty of it - EVERYONE HAS A CHOICE. I thought this was the point of the US?? All these "freedoms" everyone talks about. Except a freedom that bothers you...please...take that away. Sorry if I seem overly sensitive on the subject...but as someone who has future plans to emigrate from the US - I have thought long and hard about learning languages of the country I want to move to. Should I move to México...great...I'm learning spanish. Should I move to Canada (Quebec actually)...uh...there is a limited chance in hell I will learn french. I simply don't like it. Thankfully, that is my decision...no matter who it bothers. Same thing here. It's allowed. And businesses who make you "press one for spanish" are giving their customers the OPTION...which you even said made sense for companies in mexico? Why isn't it an option for businesses here to have the option for people. 99% of the numbers you call have english as their default. I don't see why leaving it open for other people is such a problem?
__________________ *) ¸.·´¨) ¸.·*¨). Cut off by 11:30AM! A new record! (¸.·´ ¸.·´ .·´ .·´ .·´ ¸.·' *`·~»*~ROXIE (¸.·´ RoadTripChick.com Feb 2011, Feb 2012, and...Feb 2013! | |
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| | #15 |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
| And for the comment about it being political pandering...I guarantee that most of the things that end up in spanish (signs, etc) are not the result of a politician pandering to the masses....it's likely a dedicated group or individual who has gone through all the motions get it changed. It's a lot of bureaucratic crap to get something like that done. The beauty of the american system - is that you could go through all the bureaucratic crap and get it taken away just as "easily." Why one would want to take things away from others that is, honestly, not hurting them...I'll never know. But it can be done.
__________________ *) ¸.·´¨) ¸.·*¨). Cut off by 11:30AM! A new record! (¸.·´ ¸.·´ .·´ .·´ .·´ ¸.·' *`·~»*~ROXIE (¸.·´ RoadTripChick.com Feb 2011, Feb 2012, and...Feb 2013! |
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| | #16 |
| I can choose my own title Join Date: 2nd Apr 2009 Location: Cancun, Centro
Posts: 2,540
| English speaking people have about the worst record in the world of learning others languages. Did the English bother to learn Scottish, Irish or Welsh? When the English came to the new world, did they bother to learn any of the native languages? When they took over Spanish speaking and French speaking territories in the New World, did they bother to learn either of those? When they went to India, and other countries, how many learned Hindi, or any of the scores of other native languages in the lands they occupied? The point is that English speaking people are among the world's greatest linguistic imperialists. They are annoyed to hear other languages spoken, and insist that others learn their language, almost anywhere they go. I'm not sure why they feel this way, as a group (the exceptions just prove the rule). Speaking other languages is a given in Europe: not so in England, or the U.S.A., today. It's a habit that dies hard. |
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| | #17 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
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| | #18 |
| Cancuncare Enthusiast Join Date: 8th Jan 2006 Location: Rainy Vancouver
Posts: 36
| Interesting topic 1) When you move to another country as an adult, and then begin to learn another language, it is rare to really develop the native accent, and sometimes with a full time job to maintain a family, there is no time to become absolutely fluent. That means it is much easier to understand the nuances in ones own language, and have government forms in your native language. Grandchildren of immigrants tend to speak with native accents. 2) Yes, Canada is different- I lived in Quebec and loved the differences and disliked them as well- that is a society of 5 million trying to maintain their language in 30 million non-french speakers. 3) I lived in S. America and learned to speak Spanish. I lecture in Spanish. But I still am not as comfortable using the subjunctive mood in Spanish as I am in English. 4) In Vancouver- forget French. 20% of the population are immigrants from SE Asia. Completely different dynamics, but great restaurants! |
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| | #19 |
| I can choose my own title Join Date: 2nd Apr 2009 Location: Cancun, Centro
Posts: 2,540
| Instead of griping about the Spanish speakers in our midst (U.S.A.), it would do us all well to learn the Spanish Language, seeing those native speakers as a resource for practice and enhancement of our language skills. Our lack of Spanish has, as much as anything, created a barrier to understanding and enjoying the countries and people of the Latin World, and may have acted as a drag to our developing business with them, given the message it sends when we reject learning their language! It's improbable to the maximum possible degree that Europeans would have an entire continent on their borders in which a different language was spoken, and they have no desire to learn the language. This is all about attitude, and interest in other people and cultures: most in the U.S. flatly have no interest in anything outside the borders of their country, and will freely tell you so. The degree to which they must live with the presence of another language, and culture, is irksome to them. I teach English as a profession, and the issue of linguistic imperialism does come up, but with this post I'm simply lamenting the loss that is the result of our myopic view of the world. |
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| | #20 | |
| Moderator Join Date: 29th Apr 2003 Location: Georgetown, Ontario
Posts: 1,580
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![]() I'm from Montreal - West Island. As far as English & French - West side of the island is predominantly English and East is French. That said, I believe there is more bilingual and even trilingual people than there are uni-lingual. Growing up, we spoke whatever language we were most comfortable with and we all understood one another. As far as I'm concerned, the language wars are a 9-5 political play. Outside of the media and politicians, nobody on the island really cares. As far the Habs' English speaking coach... Only the media and politicians make it a big deal. Fans focus on the win record. He's taking his French classes... If he's around for the 2013-14 season, the media will have to find someone else to pick on. Shouldn't be hard, they always seem to manage... The media make the language wars a bigger deal than they actually are. They do it to scratch the separatist's backs, and in return, the separatist's pass legislation allowing media monopolies and tax cuts. When you're the highest taxed province in the country, granting a few tax cuts to control the media is easy. French Police fall into the same political/media category. They can't issue fines unless there's a complaint. Don't piss off a politician or the media and chances are nobody will complain. I think Montreal is diverse enough where people don't really care and understand the rules of the game enough to keep under the radar. What's scary is what is happening to the people that live off island... Without the same diversity of population, culture and media, the main source of information is the shit passed off in the media from the separatists who work hard on keeping them over taxed, under educated and brain washed. What is funny is that the version that gets exported from the province is the image the media creates, which I think is an extremely blurred reality. And I think it gives people who live outside the province a sense that it's a lot worse than it actually is. ...just my opinion of course... ![]() Also, while we're on it... Canada does have 2 official languages, but each province has their own mandate. Quebec is a French province. New Brunswick is our only official Bilingual province.
__________________ Waste "I have boobs and tiny bikinis. There's got to be some mutually satisfying agreement that we can all come to" -SunLover79 "DEAL BABY!!! Then Next Year it'll be LOTS Better!!! " -Dori Not a 100% sure it's me but sure looks like my boobs. ![]() Dammit Kristen, now you're spilling on EVERYONE! Might as well just get each others lip prints on the corresponding 'bums' -Lambert13 | |
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| | #21 |
| Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 17th Feb 2010
Posts: 443
| rdubnpk This entire discussion is moot because when whichever Republican candidate is finally elected president, each and very Spanish speaking person in the US will probably be deported. Along with as many gays as they can possibley ship out. |
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| | #22 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 9th Jan 2006 Location: WNY
Posts: 935
| Quote:
It's really kind of ironic that you would bring that up. The greatest deportation of illegals has been done by none other than the Big O. I guess he doesn't want that little tidbit to become too prominent.
__________________ BBG, a convertible resort. You can go with the top down. | |
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| | #23 | |
| Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 17th Feb 2010
Posts: 443
| Quote:
That is actually true. They have established a quota and the department in charge of that must that quota meet........... Alabama has passed a very strict law that has scared the illegals out of the state. Since none of the people whose jobs they were stealing have stepped up to the plate to claim those jobs, the crops are rotting on the vine.......... The "Berlin" wall separating the USA and Mexico border is not working, according to 60 Minutes. The survelliance systems are faulty and it is all turning into a giant waste of money. But, let's for God sakes finish it. | |
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| | #24 | |
| Cancuncare Guru Join Date: 21st Jan 2011 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 506
| Quote:
10 minutes later "I would make more money on welfare, and then I wouldn't have to do that shit job."
__________________ *) ¸.·´¨) ¸.·*¨). Cut off by 11:30AM! A new record! (¸.·´ ¸.·´ .·´ .·´ .·´ ¸.·' *`·~»*~ROXIE (¸.·´ RoadTripChick.com Feb 2011, Feb 2012, and...Feb 2013! | |
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| | #25 |
| I can choose my own title Join Date: 15th Sep 2008 Location: Cancun, Q Roo.
Posts: 1,018
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| | #26 |
| Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 17th Jan 2009
Posts: 251
| I dont believe in multiculturalism at all and as such the USA should have only one official language and that is English. |
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| | #27 | |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| Quote:
If you go to a larger city, how many have China Towns? Little Italy's etc etc. In many ways the culture that we share mostly is defined by multiculturalism.
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! | |
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| | #28 | |
| Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 17th Jan 2009
Posts: 251
| Quote:
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| | #29 |
| Cancuncare's Most Interesting Man Join Date: 10th Jan 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada
Posts: 1,826
| I repsect your opinion but can't say I agree with that assessment. Let's just leave it at that lol!
__________________ ![]() As seen on http://www.facebook.com/keith.pottruff ![]() APRIL 20th to May 1st, 2012 Trip #11, The Great one RETURNS! |
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| | #30 |
| Cancuncare Addict Join Date: 17th Jan 2009
Posts: 251
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