English/Spanish Bilingual PREFERRED (Boxer, taxpayer, FL, Mexican)

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by barinnas

Because we are a bilingual country English-Spanish

Knowing Spanish is not mandatory in this country...........in many places; not knowing English can earn one a night in jail if detained till identity has been determined.

[Dave Rosarito]

I took 2 years of Spanish in High School -- it was almost worthless the first time I tried it in Mexico, no one understood what I was saying. Having some training and be even marginally proficient is very difficult, and even after living in Mexico and trying to learn more (I read the local papers everyday, use an English-Spanish dictionary, and talk it all I can) I can only marginally speak it with a very limited vocabulary. English is simply much easier for me, especially if it's something important.

Of course, that's not a problem here, most everyone speaks english well enough.

When people who speak spanish are in the US, I don't think it's much different for them. They can speak in Spanish and be understood by enough people and get by. It's easier for them than trying their meager english.

And, there is a HUGE difference between people who intend to stay in the US and those who are there only to work. No incentive for the laborers to learn english. I think a lot of you assume that all illegals wish to stay in the US, and that is simply not true.

[Exedous]

Originally Posted by camping!

Then why all the signs in English and Spanish? Why the need for Spanish interpretors in the court system and in hospitals? If these people can speak English and are well educated then why do we treat them as if they cannot speak English?

Put it this way, the largest minority in the U.S the Hispanics. In courts, they use a lot of legal jargon that would be hard for any American with minimal education to understand. Let alone someone who's not native to this country. If I go to another country like the philippines, on a temporary work visa, and get hurt while doing something and I end up in a hospital. I would expect someone to speak English there because even if I knew basic Taglog, I would not be able to communicate with the doctors there that well.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Exedous

Put it this way, the largest minority in the U.S the Hispanics. In courts, they use a lot of legal jargon that would be hard for any American with minimal education to understand. Let alone someone who's not native to this country. If I go to another country like the philippines, on a temporary work visa, and get hurt while doing something and I end up in a hospital. I would expect someone to speak English there because even if I knew basic Taglog, I would not be able to communicate with the doctors there that well.

I have looked at a few Philippine business websites.......it is so wierd seeing them in English.

Another interesting tidbit is that the official Gibraltar website is English only---------despite many of not most 'Gibs' would be counted as 'Hispanic' here in the USA if they were American.

[camping!]

Originally Posted by HoustonCynic

I doubt it here in Germany. German is the official language and documents (even from local telephone company) are in German only. Even web sites for German utilities are only in German. Though many Germans speak English many also resist. But then again, why should they speak another language when they are in their own country!! Anyway it is quite frustrating never-the-less.

But don't you feel unwelcomed? Perhaps even marginalized? Perhaps we can get a few people who have posted on this thread to explain to the German government why bilingualism is the way to go, and if they resist it must be because they are uneducated and insecure

[camping!]

Originally Posted by Exedous

Put it this way, the largest minority in the U.S the Hispanics. In courts, they use a lot of legal jargon that would be hard for any American with minimal education to understand. Let alone someone who's not native to this country. If I go to another country like the philippines, on a temporary work visa, and get hurt while doing something and I end up in a hospital. I would expect someone to speak English there because even if I knew basic Taglog, I would not be able to communicate with the doctors there that well.

Absolutely, you are completely right there and it was a wrong argument on my part

I suppose what it boils down to is, are we losing our sovernity as a nation by letting another country's culture and language become dominant?

[staywarm2]

Originally Posted by barinnas

, Spanish is here to stay, in fact the majority of people I know(educated anglos) are ok cool with the idea, it's usualy the uneducated insecure people that are against it.

I disagree. Having lived in SO FL for 12 yrs. I knew many, many people (educated and affluent) who disliked hearing Spanish all the time. It is like living in a foreign country when you have to listen to that every day. Many hispanics I knew could speak perfect English, but CHOSE to speak Spanish as much as possible. I had an anglo friend who was a Spanish high school teacher. She said she'd be in an elevator in SO FL and hear the hispanics on there speaking in Spanish. They assumed she couldn't understand them and would say nasty things about her, about the U.S., and about Americans in general in Spanish. She said it made her blood boil. Here we give these people all America has to offer and they trash us.

By the way, the word "usually" is spelled with 2 L's.

[barinnas]

Originally Posted by staywarm2

I disagree. Having lived in SO FL for 12 yrs. I knew many, many people (educated and affluent) who disliked hearing Spanish all the time. It is like living in a foreign country when you have to listen to that every day. Many hispanics I knew could speak perfect English, but CHOSE to speak Spanish as much as possible. I had an anglo friend who was a Spanish high school teacher. She said she'd be in an elevator in SO FL and hear the hispanics on there speaking in Spanish. They assumed she couldn't understand them and would say nasty things about her, about the U.S., and about Americans in general in Spanish. She said it made her blood boil. Here we give these people all America has to offer and they trash us.

By the way, the word "usually" is spelled with 2 L's.

So, just stimulate your friends that are english only speakers to learn the other language of the land- Spanish.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by barinnas

So, just stimulate your friends that are english only speakers to learn the other language of the land- Spanish.

And; if us Americans decline to learn Spanish?

Give it up; barinnas, 'multiculturalism' is dying a (well deserved) death.

[barinnas]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

And; if us Americans decline to learn Spanish?

Give it up; barinnas, 'multiculturalism' is dying a (well deserved) death.

Al contraire mon ami, it's stronger than ever, learn Spanish, you'll like it too.