English...

[rioisk]

Originally Posted by PhelanKA [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Everyone in the world should be expected to speak English. As I said... It's the lingua franca (that is no longer franca [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] )

But making it a law? Sounds a bit far fetched to me. Common sense should make law obsolete and not the other way around. Unfortunately people want leglislate everything instead of acting in a rational sense and I believe that is what the OP is upset about.

Logically, someone in charge of customer service over the telephone should speak English fluently in the United States. To have hired someone that doesn't speak English fluently is illogical and both the employer and employee should be fired... from a cannon preferably.

Perhaps you are right but English isn't exactly the easiest language to learn--especially if you aren't immersed in it day to day. How many languages do you know fluently? Was it super easy for you to learn those additional languages from a book? Oh rosetta stone? Does everybody in the world own computers? Fuck many don't even have access to good books.

From an outside perspective, English is one of the hardest languages to learn and speak because it's a mass of irregularity in grammar/construction/pronunciation.

Further, you must keep in mind that meaning doesn't always translate directly. Very simple example: "Yo tengo hambre" in spanish translates literally in English to "I have hunger". This is possession as opposed to in the English we say "I am hungry" which is a state of being. Imagine the shift in mindset one must have when learning a different language.....not the easiest thing to do for everybody.

I give credit to non-native English speakers for trying as hard as they do and dealing with people who don't have any patience. Not to be racially insensitive but it's the ebonics English that I can't understand......I mean why even try to speak English if it comes out as a bunch of mumbling?

[Reiker]

the following states have existing official language laws on their books: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming. A small handful date back more than a few decades, such as Louisiana (1811) and Nebraska (1920), but most official language statutes were passed since the 1970's.

[Ripcord]

In all public buildings in nyc there are translators for every language you could think of. I go to court once a week for work and they always say "I have to ask this but do you need a translator". I can see why with more non english heard in the streets here then english, but it kind of pisses me off how much trouble we go through to have it that way. Also billboards and subway ads completely in spanish can fuck right off. Along with people who ask me if I habla espanol and get all pissed off when I say no. If you expect to fit in with a non native country, learn the language, I would.

[Theldios]

Originally Posted by rioisk [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Perhaps you are right but English isn't exactly the easiest language to learn--especially if you aren't immersed in it day to day. How many languages do you know fluently? Was it super easy for you to learn those additional languages from a book?

I happen to speak 2 languages fluently english and spanish. spanish is my 2nd language and took me 6 months to be conversational in spanish from book learning and speaking to people who speak spanish.
Learning a language is fairly easy if you REALLY want or need to learn.
It is a matter of wanting.
Most are too lazy to try to learn another language to fluency. and that is the problem too many lazy people in the world.

[mr.miketastic]

Originally Posted by Ripcord [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

In all public buildings in nyc there are translators for every language you could think of. I go to court once a week for work and they always say "I have to ask this but do you need a translator". I can see why with more non english heard in the streets here then english, but it kind of pisses me off how much trouble we go through to have it that way. Also billboards and subway ads completely in spanish can fuck right off. Along with people who ask me if I habla espanol and get all pissed off when I say no. If you expect to fit in with a non native country, learn the language, I would.

Go to France and refuse to learn le francais and see what happens lol.

[bufferofnewbies]

The next time someone from the government calls: I'm responding in Klingon. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Thrymm]

Originally Posted by mr.miketastic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Go to France and refuse to learn le francais and see what happens lol.

If you speak German I assume they turn and run, or bend over?

[Reiker]

Apparently speaking Japanese as a foreigner in Japan is a big no-no.

[Leokaiser]

That would make it somewhat difficult to learn Japanese when I'm sent there on placement next year, if true!

Most Japanese (from what I understand) do not expect gaijin to be able to speak any Japanese, and would be delighted to discover that you have made some effort to learn their language; being able to communicate with other cultures is a highly desired skill in Japan.

The problem is that many Japanese, especially in the high population density areas like Tokyo, learn English themselves, so when they see someone they assume will speak English, they want to practice what they have learned with a native speaker. Top tip I have recieved for going across to Japan is not to attempt a language exchange, as the vast majority of that time would be spent teaching English rather than learning Japanese.

[Uaellaen]

Originally Posted by Thrymm [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

If you speak German I assume they turn and run, or bend over?

Bend over[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]