We live in America. Why do we have to "press one to continue in english"?

Question

Ok, there are some answers such as, because there are other languages, open your mind, learn spanish, etc.

I took spanish in school for 7 years, my mind is open. I think it's great if someone can learn a second language, most schools offer at least spanish, italian and french. It will really help people in the world out. But it is irritating when we live in America and English was and shoud be the language which all citizens should know, and we have to press one to continue in english. No, it won't hurt me to press an extra button, it is just ANNOYING.

So please, keep your remarks which are sarcastic, or telling me to open my mind, etc. to yourselves.

Answer 1

exactly! why do we?!?!?!?!?!?!

because of all the people they are letting into America who can't Speak or understand english very well....

so not right..I bet they don't have on their phone systems..to hear in English press 2...

if you are in America...know english!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it kills me that we have special signs now or special sections of the grocery stores for non-American/English speaking people.

Answer 2

Because the United States does not have a national language. Congress keeps waffling on it. Many people come here and speak a little English, but learn it, but are not Hispanic. They should get the opportunity to hear their language, too, to be fair. Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for Chinese, 4 for German, 5 for Japanese, 6 for Russian... I guess it's just because so much of the population is Latino and refuses to learn English. Why is it other immigrants can learn English and they can't?

Answer 3

I know... Why is there not a citation in every language so we could choose from the one WE speak. This big world talks about we have several national languages... Well bedangit, put them ALL on cereal boxes and put them All on corporate voice prompts.... Why only french french and english english. Don't just mess with the espano'l man. They did'nt disrupt anything. You have got to fight your own way to the top for your own homeland language to be included. They could make it easy like making this a new requirement so everyone will know that when you call a corporation, the first thing you have to say is your nations language, be it dutch, irish, portugese, siberian, etc. The corporation will also have this new mandate down pact and their phone systems will accomodate this when anyone calls.

Now, tell me who wants to settle for and struggle through other peoples languages anymore and not even be given the decency of being offered our own?

Answer 4

Good question but the true answer is simple. The store or business you are calling doesn't care about politics and border control. They only care about making money and they don't want to limit their customer base by not providing for those who only speak Spanish.

It is true, however... If you live in America, do Americans a favor by LEARNING ENGLISH! After all, it's a naturization law beside common courtesy.

If you think Americans should learn Spanish for the same reason, talk to me again when I move to Mexico in about 1,000 years.

Answer 5

Money is the bottom line these days, Companies don't care about you or the other language speakers, they just want to reach all the market.
English is not the original language of this land, and is not an European language either, It Will be absurd try to learn the original language and more absurd trying to make everybody to speak one language just to please a bunch of spoiled citizens who get annoyed by one more option, the economics won't change to accommodate YOU.
If you are looking for a condescending answer, you should keep the question to yourself.
We Americans are spoiled humans who get annoyed easily by the slightest silly inconvenience, just as you get annoyed by those who don't speak English, I get annoyed by those who remember my own spoiled, egocentric, selfish way of being

Answer 6

It's either that, or we would have to listen to the instructions in Spanish first, then it would continue in English. I guess I'd rather press one and get on with it.

The alternative would be for a company to offer no assistance in Spanish. With money being money, there's no way a company would dump that much business.

Answer 7

Because you're not alone on this world!!! There is people who don't speak english in U.S. (if you're talking about U.S. because North America it's not only U.S. but also Mexico and Canada), who are talking spanish... And think about the tourists. Some states of you're country do a lot of money with the tourists so they have to be kind with them...

Answer 8

I hate it but I guess we have to get used to it because America is changing and more and more people are entering the US when they can't speak English. I think that its kinda unfair for the people that took the time to learn English when other people just come in and think that they don't have to learn our language.

Answer 9

I almost got used to that, but called Walmart recently and had to press #2 for English. Yep, had to listen to the foreign version first, and was instructed to press #2 for English. Now that is the height of annoying

Answer 10

It is to make it easier for those that speak the other most spoken language in the United States, Spanish.

It is a beautiful language, perhaps you should try learning it.

Open your mind...

Answer 11

I don't have an answer to that, but I think it's a very good question. I personally believe if you live here, you should learn English.