Why dont people speak english,or learn it when in the USA !!!!?

Answer 1

That's what I'd like to know. It pisses me off when people just automatically assume that Americans speak spanish. Hello, we are in America, not Mexico!

Answer 2

I agree with you. Here in Canada, if you can't speak English or French (our two official languages), you can't be a citizen. It's great to be diverse and as our Prime Minister recently said, diversity is Canada's strength -- but you can't expect when you need to renew your passport or go to the hospital, that the people there will know or need to know Punjabi, Mandarin, Spanish, Polish, Tamil, etc. That's ridiculous. Plus, there are a million cases of people who didn't learn the language, went to buy a house through a "friend" from their country and got ripped off because the "friend" took them for all they had in exchange for a whole lot of nothing.

To answer another poster's question: The US does have an official language. It's called English. This is why Government documents are written in English. If you were in Canada, you would notice that everything is written in English and French. So get your facts straight before you make a fool of yourself.

I just noticed that some idiot posters appear to think that you mean everyone in the world should know English. Obviously not. This applies to people living and working in the US. As it would if you were in France, Italy or China. Of course, you'd be mighty happy to find out the Chinese hospital has an English translator if you broke your leg there? But should this hospital also employ a person who speaks French, Italian, Swiss, Russian, etc? How about Swahili? Sheesh, people. If you plan on living somewhere, make it easier for yourself. It seems to me that you have some serious entitlement issues. When I go to Quebec (official language: French), I make it a point to at least start conversations in the language and know the very important phrases.

And don't even start about: why do we even speak English? Why not the language of the Native Americans? --- Do you know how many tribes you're talking about? Or the relative size of these tribes to each other at the time of the Europeans arrival? In Guyana, South America (about the size of New Jersey), there were nine tribes alone with a different language and culture for each. So... you think the Europeans should have learned each one?

Finally, have you any clue about the history of the USA? How it was discovered, how Native Americans were pushed out, etc? Everything that you see today, including the fact that California is part of the US, is part of events that came together to make it so -- including the language that is the offical tongue of the USA. Don't make such sweeping statements about things that depended on historical events that we can't change.

Answer 3

The rules of etiquette aren't just for the U.S.

If a person is visiting, it is considered polite to learn a few words of the native language.

If a person is moving to a country, the should attempt to learn the language.

If a person is planning to become a citizen, the should be fluent in the language.

However there are exceptions to every rule. For most folks, the older we get the harder it is to learn a new language.

From the U.S. view

Also there is the matter of time, cost and access to English classes. A person just arriving (legal or illegal) who doesn't already speak English, most likely won't be able to find a descent paying job. Which means they must work more hours, just to buy food and keep a roof over their head. Classes need to be available, on a slide scale (pay what they can afford). An illegal immigrate even has a harder time at accessing classes.

I must admit, that I came across more locals in Costa Rica that spoke English than in Miami.

Do I find get annoyed when I try to speak with someone who lives here who doesn't understand English, yes. Do I loose sleep over it, no.

Answer 4

Some people have a hard time learning it. But personally I think that people should be required to learn english and be able to say the preamble and some other things in order to become a citizen in this United States. I cannot stand uneducated people let alone immagrants who do not know how to speak the English language.

Answer 5

If you visit a foreign country do you learnt the language or just a few phrases (be honest)?

As far as I am concerned, if you don't speak the language then it is you that loses out on the experience. When I travel I will at least learn the basic yes, no, thanks, excuse me etc and this is generally responded well to (the Finn's do get their friends to come see a foreigner actually attempting to speak Finnish! [for any Finn's 'ma viamo on Suomalinen']).

If I was going to live in a country I would consider it a good idea to learn rather more although more for the practicality than to comply with the wishes of others.

Peace out

Answer 6

Of all the languages on the earth, English is the hardest to learn. Don't be offended when you go on a trip and the person of that country askes you to speak their language. Have some class about ya self man, nothing is more sexier then someone learning another language. It opens your mind, at least no one can't say that your not being rude.

Answer 7

It's difficult to lean another language. If they were born here they would speak English through public education. But for someone coming from another country they have to learn it from scratch and it's difficult to learn another language unless you're surround by it or educate yourself. They just haven't caught on or haven't had a reason to. America isn't just English it's made of of hundreds of other countries and languages. if you were to go to china town and ask the same question.. well you wouldn't because you'd see that they don't have a reason to learn English because they've created a social and cultural bubble for themselves. Why don't you learn another language? Because it's not easy unless you have to !

Answer 8

well..........I use to speak Spanish and understand English, and now - I speak English and understand Spanish.
If I were to go to a foreign land, I would at least try to speak or learn the language.
when learning a new language. Best to remember these three little sentences.
1)when do we eat (meal)
2) where is the bathroom/restroom....
3) when do we leave.

Answer 9

why only in America ,you are not the only people or the only country in the world you know.

all the people in the world should speak English .it is the universal language of the Internet as well as in business and science.
in Europe and South Africa ,we all speak English together.
and there isn't maybe one English man amongst us.
the nationalities could be any thing.
I am Dutch and speak English to Everybody because Everybody speaks English
irrespective of what happens with gringos

Answer 10

I think most people ARE trying to learn English, but it's a hard language to learn.

Answer 11

Why should they? They have no insentive to learn english. Unlike other countries, the Federal Govt. bends over backwards to insure that they don't have to learn english. Schools classe's tought in spanish, health care in spanish, voting in spanish, the list goes on and on. Go to Mexico and see how far you get just speaking english.