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But most likely they lived in communities where they spoke those languages. Your grandfathers most likely learned English first and better than your grandmothers because they had to go out to work and your grandmothers stayed home and talked only to women of the same nationality. Your parents learned to speak English at school, likely speaking Polish or Russian at home and English everywhere else. And you probably speak only English.
That's the pattern for learning English that has occurred over the years with all immigrants (except the PA Dutch) and it is the pattern being followed by Spanish speaking immigrants, legal or illegal.
Definitely agree.
Starting to see a pattern on this thread. Because Spanish spoken by a big part of the population, some English speakers feel that they are "forced to learn" Spanish. This isn't the case. No one is forcing English speakers to learn a darned thing! Don't learn! But don't bemoan those who speak another language. So what? This is America -- home of freedom of speech!
Christ the stupidity is deep. Point to any immigrants who "demand" that anybody here learns Spanish.
They don't exist. And you are stoking hatred and racial tensions using a bogus analogy.
I agree with you on this. I know the middle American hillbillies do not travel that often. But if they did they would see alot of the world population is multi lingual.
It's intriguing how many people think English is the official language in the United States. This whole thing called "freedom" is supposed to allow us to be who and what we choose, including what language we speak. I know immigrants from generations ago who still speak their native Eastern European languages.
It's odd that the people who scream freedom the loudest tend to be the ones who ultimately want everyone to conform to what is essentially a conservative, white, rural/exurban, Christian worldview.
It's intriguing how many people think English is the official language in the United States. This whole thing called "freedom" is supposed to allow us to be who and what we choose, including what language we speak. I know immigrants from generations ago who still speak their native Eastern European languages.
It's odd that the people who scream freedom the loudest tend to be the ones who ultimately want everyone to conform to what is essentially a conservative, white, rural/exurban, Christian worldview.
Hmm, I didn't know that City-Data was an English-only forum. Can someone show me where this is stated in the forum rules? Maybe I missed that, but I honestly don't remember ever seeing anything about English only. I'm not always the sharpest when it comes to rules, so maybe I missed it.
Bringing it up because there have been some moderator deletions on this thread. There are many threads on City-Data where languages other than English are used here and there. Gonna' be some job tracking them all down and deleting.
Wouldn't you say that this has to do with global corpratization and not some kind of American pandering to immigrants? If you're an electronics manufacturer (of radio accessories, f. ex.) who distributes products from, say, Malaysia to markets all over the world, I can see how you'd want to publish one pamphlet in several languages rather than several pamphlets, one for each language. And then you'd have to branch the distribution of your product based on the languages of the pamphlets? All of those languages are done for corporate expediency's sake and cost savings (profits), not for the benefit of immigrants to America. I don't know for sure. Maybe I'm wrong.
Yes, its about global commerce. You find multi-lingual package directions, package inserts and user manuals all over the world. I've never heard anyone whine about it except in the U.S.
Hi, I just wanted to say that I have read many of these threads throughout the last few months and I am appalled by what I have read. I have commented on many controversial subjects. I couldn't find the thread that was discussing the problems with racial issues and barriers in Southern California so I decided to start a new thread. I believe there isn't as much of a racial issue but a "language issue" and I believe if we ALL returned to our roots and where this Country started we would all get along better. Respect is the key word here.
I believe that those who move to this Country have the right to do so but it should be required that they learn the English language and that the English Language should be the primary language. I believe that this Country was founded on the English language and it should be respected. I have seen as a former resident of California that the language of this Country is NOT respected at all. That other languages are used to intimidate those who speak only English and now it is required in many arena's that secondary languages be taught, learned and spoken. This is a boundary issue and a disrespect and should never have been tolerated in the first place . As far as I am concerned there is a little too much freedom in this Country... I love all people, races and in my eyes all people are equal but I think we have a major problem. Hopefully these words do not bring offense to anyone but an awareness of how others might be feeling who speak the English language as their primary source of communication . Please read an archive that I found that was stated many years ago by one of our respected leaders: I believe it has not been followed. How sad...
"The year is 1907, one hundred and 2 years ago".
'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.' Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Teddy was not talking about private usage of foreign languages but of official uses. Otherwise I agree. Kick out any non-citizen with a felony. But other foreign criminals on a short leash.
Starting to see a pattern on this thread. Because Spanish spoken by a big part of the population, some English speakers feel that they are "forced to learn" Spanish. This isn't the case. No one is forcing English speakers to learn a darned thing! Don't learn! But don't bemoan those who speak another language. So what? This is America -- home of freedom of speech!
True, but I think many use that notion to hide behind their native tongue, especially in situations where they decide to engage in speech that they know would otherwise offend those who don't happen to understand what they are saying. Indeed, I've overheard a few slurs thrown about in conversations among Spanish speakers where I worked from time to time. It was obvious they assumed I didn't understand them, but I did, and I took umbrage to it. It's a good bet that they would likely not have used that type of language while speaking English. I've also had Spanish-speakers become irritated with me because I had difficulty understanding them. I mean, come on.
Last edited by MrSykes; 08-27-2009 at 08:52 PM..
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City-data is English only?
There are many threads on City-Data where languages other than English are used here and there. Gonna' be some job tracking them all down and deleting. 
