Is English the "national" language of the United States?

[Elizabethnhenry 0]

Yeah u did say used language not spoken.....proof that Americans can't read well....and neither can furriners after they have lived in the states for a while.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

funny you should say that. this one guy from mexico that works for my dad refuses to speak english. can somewhat understand english. he has a green card and has been here for 20 years! it's one thing to maintain one's native tongue, but outright refusal to learn the primary language in the country one plans to stay in and expecting everyone to adopt their language so communication can occur?

[anya-D 8]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

ditto

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

funny you should say that. this one guy from mexico that works for my dad refuses to speak english. can somewhat understand english. he has a green card and has been here for 20 years! it's one thing to maintain one's native tongue, but outright refusal to learn the primary language in the country one plans to stay in and expecting everyone to adopt their language so communication can occur?

That could be due to any number of reasons - perhaps he is embarrassed at having to go back to school later in their life to learn something that everyone takes for granted. Some people are intimidated by the education system - that's not exclusive to language either..

I've yet to meet someone who knows English fluently, but yet refuses to speak it...

Clearly if you don't learn the dominant language spoken by the majority of the population you are disadvantaging yourself, so it obviously in a person's best interest to learn it. Still there are some who believe that everyone should only speak English in public, and who are actually offended by someone carrying on a conversation in spanish, for example.

[almaty 19]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

total aggreement fishy...i think when the usa tried to outlaw native americans to speak their language it was criminal..in fact, it was a criminal offense...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

From related news:

Big Brother's warning over Welsh

Edited May 20, 2006 by Fishdude

[sparkofcreation 0]

Of course, this legislation would go against the Constitution of my state which declares that English and Spanish have equal standing and that furthermore no one can be penalized for a lack of skill in either of them, for which reason I'm glad to say both my Senators (one D, one R) voted against it.

[almaty 19]

From related news:

Big Brother's warning over Welsh

hmmm..damn

[pedroh 21]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

funny you should say that. this one guy from mexico that works for my dad refuses to speak english. can somewhat understand english. he has a green card and has been here for 20 years! it's one thing to maintain one's native tongue, but outright refusal to learn the primary language in the country one plans to stay in and expecting everyone to adopt their language so communication can occur?

That could be due to any number of reasons - perhaps he is embarrassed at having to go back to school later in their life to learn something that everyone takes for granted. Some people are intimidated by the education system - that's not exclusive to language either..

I've yet to meet someone who knows English fluently, but yet refuses to speak it...

Clearly if you don't learn the dominant language spoken by the majority of the population you are disadvantaging yourself, so it obviously in a person's best interest to learn it. Still there are some who believe that everyone should only speak English in public, and who are actually offended by someone carrying on a conversation in spanish, for example.

yea i hate those mofo's.. they should mind their own fukcin business!! and then they start' ohh they are in Amurka they should speak english'.. stfu

PWNED..

btw.. I don't like spanglish.. I like languages.. but not aberrations like spanglish..

[GaryC 7]

Certainly everyone should learn English, but I don't see a problem with people wanting to maintain their native languages as well.

funny you should say that. this one guy from mexico that works for my dad refuses to speak english. can somewhat understand english. he has a green card and has been here for 20 years! it's one thing to maintain one's native tongue, but outright refusal to learn the primary language in the country one plans to stay in and expecting everyone to adopt their language so communication can occur?

That could be due to any number of reasons - perhaps he is embarrassed at having to go back to school later in their life to learn something that everyone takes for granted. Some people are intimidated by the education system - that's not exclusive to language either..

I've yet to meet someone who knows English fluently, but yet refuses to speak it...

Clearly if you don't learn the dominant language spoken by the majority of the population you are disadvantaging yourself, so it obviously in a person's best interest to learn it. Still there are some who believe that everyone should only speak English in public, and who are actually offended by someone carrying on a conversation in spanish, for example.

I agree with you that there is no reason to abandoned your native language. To be multi lingual is an advantage. However, someone that has been here 20 years and still not learned the language is just being stubborn. My fiance couldn't speak english at all 10 years ago. She taught herself by reading, watching movies and practicing with any english speaker she came across. Now I would call her fluent. If you don't learn the dominate language your only hurting yourself and is isn't up to the rest of us to accomodate someone that just doesn't want to learn.

[Jaylen Brit 1]

I have to agree with you there Gary - I used to work in Spain and I made a big effort to learn Spanish (which was hard cos all the Spanish people I worked with wanted to practice English on me! lol In the end we compromised - I spoke spanish to THEM and they spoke English to ME and we corrected each other - my best mistake was mixing up beso and poco )

When I finally left that job I was semi-fluent as far as speech went, my written Spanish and grammar was pretty awful tho - then again I hadn't been to any proper 'Spanish' classes. If I had intended to LIVE there I would have made sure I took classes. Its just good manners IMO to be able to communicate in the language of the country in which you live or work. Every country I've been to I've learned at least how to say 'please, thank you, how much is that? I don't understand' and other basics; including my all time fave phrase 'I am English, can you speak more slowly?'

Swedish phrases were a flippin nightmare to pronounce - but I got the ones I was trying to learn eventually