What do you think about the business sign 'This is America so speak English'?

Question

I heard it's on a resturaunt in Pittsburg, or somewhere. I can't decide if I like it or not. What are your thoughts?

Why do we expect them to speak English, yet not very many of us are bilingual?
I guess I like the sign.

I also feel it makes us look kind of ignorent.

ignorant.....

I love your answers! Such great points!!

Answer 1

The restaurant owners do have a legal right to post such a request on a privately-owned establishment. After all, there's no law against appearing to be a closed-minded bigot. Free speech is free speech. I find it ironic, however, that the very constitutional amendment that protects the rights of immigrants, tourists, or people who speak languages other than English to speak the language of their choice, also protects the rights of people, like this restaurant owner, who wants to shut them up.

I have a couple of problems with the sign as an ethical issue, however. First of all, it demonstrates a level of intolerance that I find upsetting. If the owners are sincerely interested in helping their clients learn English, then by all means, insist they speak English, or at least try to. But you don't have to be tacky about it. It's entirely possible to patiently and graciously ask a non-Anglophone client to please place their order in English and to assist them with doing that without having to resort to temper tantrums.

To be honest, as an American citizen who is bilingual, I personally would avoid any business who had a note like that posted on its door. So they would lose my business. However, their are plenty of hateful racists and bigots who will probably flock to the place simply because they have been "brave" enough to be open and honest about their xenophobia.

The other problem is this: if you insist that everyone speak good English (and yes, "speak" is the correct form there; it's the subjunctive), then you better make sure your English is perfect yourself. It cracks me up every time I see some moron post an answer along the lines of "Speak english coz its' America and english is the american langaugae!!!" It proves not only that they are narrow-minded xenophobes but also that they are themselves incapable of communicating properly in English!

So the next time anyone feels tempted to yell at someone for not speaking English fluently, consider the following questions:

1. Is my whining really going to help this person improve his command of the English language? Perhaps if I want everyone in the U.S. to learn English, I should put my money where my mouth is and donate my money or time to outreach services that teach English to these people instead of screaming and throwing fits about it.
AND
2. If I'm going to start criticizing others for their imperfect English, I better make damn sure my English is absolutely flawless. If it's not, then I'd do best to exhibit a little bit of patience to those who have difficulty with it as a second language.

Answer 2

Shouldn't the sign say 'This is America so speak American'? Oh wait, they can't because America never never officially made English the official language nor is there a language called American.
I think that legally there is nothing I can do to stop people from offending others, it is their business so they can post whatever they want, I love that about America. People can't refuse service based on race but they can based on language?
But if the reason they posted it was to prevent confusion when people were ordering (as opposed to blatant racism, which is more likely) then I think they could have tried printing a few menus with a Spanish translation and made the environment much more friendly for everyone or trained their wait staff to have a little patience.
What business is this? I'd like to boycott.

Answer 3

Like is has been stated before, the owner has all his right to put up that sign. Now would I put it? No. And yes this is America and doesn't it become a contradiction when, the constitution says we have freedom of speech but yet you have people saying: you must speak English only?. By the way I'm from Puerto Rico, for me that's like saying I'm from Hawaii. I also would have to agree with the idea that if you live here you must learn the language, when I was in the US army stationed in Germany I learned enough to get me around and even pick up a girl or two, I made it my goal to learn enough, with due time I would have learned enough to live there. We cant expect to go to another country (unless you are a tourist) and have them cater to our needs, is selfish, arrogant and stupid. On the same token the business owner should make every attempt to take care of his costumers, maybe by hiring an amigo or two. Bottom line: Our own constitution has caused this mess. If you think that by knownig English you are superior, something is very wrong with you. Some of us out here are fluent in more than two languages.

Answer 4

If I walk into your house and I don't like the carpet or the color paint on the walls and the TV you have isn't a plasma, I turn to you and say, "Change it and change it now!" And I come to your home and do this on a regular basis, then guess what? Not only do you start to change it but YOU pay to change it and some of the changes you may not be able to afford. THAT IS WHAT AMERICA HAS BECOME.

You don't have this problem in India where Urdi is spoken. If you can't speak Japanese when you travel to Japan you better stay in all the tourist spots cause you'll be in trouble. There's no discussion like this in China, N. Korea, S. Korea, Spain, France or even England!

Wait wait, I'm sorry are we discussing America? Why every sign should be in Spanish since America is now The New Republic of North Mexico!

Answer 5

That saying/sign has been around for a long time.

I get the impression that someone that puts up that sign is doing so, not to reject tourists, but out of frustration regarding immigration.

America is definitely a melting pot and was founded on the backs of immigrants. I would not be here today if my grandfather had not immigrated to America. When he arrived he didn't know a lot of English, only enough to get by. However, when he decided that this is where he wanted to stay, he LEARNED English; something many immigrants today are unwilling to do.

Even that statement is broad and generalized. I'm sure I'll get attacked for being a racist with this statement, but it's not all immigrants. Here in California, the majority of the immigrants unwilling to learn English whom *I* have encountered are from Asian countries or Mexico. It IS frustrating for someone to call this country their home, but be so indignant about learning the language. If one wants to reap the benefits of living in this country, why SHOULDN'T they be required to learn the official language of this country?

Answer 6

Although I feel that a country needs a language to unite all of us (see Canada vs Quebec, for example), I feel that the sign, "This is America so speak English," comes across as derogatory, rather than helpful to those who can't speak the language.

Don't get me wrong--we should know how to speak English if we are in America, as it helps with commerce and communication. However, the reasoning of the sign is illogical. This is America, so therefore, we have the right to speak any language we want. The sign should be directed at legislators to instigate change, not the public to instigate fury. It creates an "us vs them" situation, and doesn't help anyone.

Answer 7

Well true enough this is "America" the so called land of the free... And basically this country is made up of inmigrants from all different countries of which most of their primary language isn't even English.

Therefore it is an absurdity to ask people to speak English only. I say yes it is good for people to learn English, but people that speak another language have a right to continue doing so without being discriminated against.

Answer 8

You don't have this problem in India where Urdi is spoken. If you can't speak Japanese when you travel to Japan you better stay in all the tourist spots cause you'll be in trouble. There's no discussion like this in China, N. Korea, S. Korea, Spain, France or even England!

Wait wait, I'm sorry are we discussing A

Answer 9

The owner is not discriminating against anyone. He put up the sign to tell people that they had better order in English, because neither he nor his staff will take the time, if they even have the ability, to translate their order into Spanish. If you know the nature of the restaurant in question, people are required to order in a very fast-paced manner because it is so constantly busy. The sign is there to make sure that people do not hold up the line and other customers because they cannot order in English. It also ensures they don't waste their own time by waiting in line, only to be moved to the back of the line because they cannot make their order.

Answer 10

Even that statement is broad and generalized. I'm sure I'll get attacked for being a racist with this statement, but it's not all immigrants. Here in California, the majority of the immigrants unwilling to learn English whom *I* have encountered are from Asian countries or Mexico. It IS frustrating for someone to call this country their home, but be so indignant about learning the language. If one wants to reap the benefits of living in this country, why SHOULDN'T they be required to learn the official language of this country?