What do you all think of the English only policy?

Question

I am not an advocate of illegal immigration, but really, whos business is it whether I choose to speak Spanish or English? It seems that those who want this English only policy are targeting the Spanish speaking community. If I am wrong, then how would you all feel about no Spanish, German, Chinese, Itallian, ect?

I just want to know what others think.

Answer 1

No one is speaking like you can't learn or use other languages in the home or wherever. What we are saying is when people come here, they need to speak English too. If I went to Mexico to live, I would speak spanish, Germany=German, and so. It is a matter of courtesy and respect when you move to another country. I speak Japanese, and am learning spanish, yet I recognize the benefits for all people when they speak they language of this nation. It is good for immigrants too, those who speak English earn 30% more.

Answer 2

I feel there should be an English only workplace environment. What you do on your breaks or lunch I don't care, but if I'm working as a team... which is what all manufacturing companies want, we must be able to communicate. I don't care what nationality you are, when you work with people on jobs or in a factory whatever, speak ENGLISH ! That's why part of becoming a U.S citizen is to read, write, speak at least 8th grade English. If you can't oh well no papers. All Spanish language should be removed from all telephones, removed from options when you call ,lets say the phone company, insurance companies etc. How will you people ever learn the English language? Its very offensive to speak another language in work fronts that depend on a team concept. I hope someone sees light on this, cause its already out of control. I'm a citizen since birth, I should not have to tip toe through foreigners languages causing communication problems anywhere, anytime, I'm sick of this SH-T.

Answer 3

I think the language issue is a hot-button topic because there is such a HUGE influx of people from, well, let's be honest, Mexico.
SO many, all at once, in fact, that they kind of all forgot that they left Mexico, and it's causing a lot of frictions for people, especially those that speak NO spanish or in other cases frankly have no inclination to learn it, or moreover don't feel that it should be necessary to speak spanish, or any other foreign language, to go about your daily business in the United States. While we are a multi-lingual country, there's also the idea of 'all things in balance', and with the heavy influx from Mexico have come people who are VERY demanding that the US conform to their demands. Basically that whole debate is pretty childish, but there's some substance to it, I think there's already plenty of resources out there, especially if you look on the web, for those that have a language difficulty in the US. People are just being whiny, demanding that they be catered to, and US residents are being equally whiny, demanding that they NOT have to cater to it...truth is, the spanish language was brought to Mexico from Spain.

Answer 4

Whoa there. I don't think anyone is saying you can't speak as many languages as you want. People are only saying that everyone who wants to live here (except the elderly and disabled) should learn to speak English, too, so we can all communicate.

Over 100 languages are spoken in this country. Furthermore, while Spanish is the most common second language where I live, I've seen people on these pages who have the same problem with Korean, and a couple with Polish. (Most Europeans buy into the idea that they should learn the language of the country where they are going to live, so it is a more temporary issue with them.)

It also lets you evaluate issues in our country on your own without having them filtered through an interpreter.

Answer 5

I think everyone should have the right to speak whatever they want. I also think that people who know more than one language(what ever it may be) is talented. It should not be looked down on. I mean for the serious stuff like employment requiring dealing with the general public requires English. Everyone needs to stop trying to control the freedom of speech of others and worry about more important things like our troops in Iraq. For different agencies providing a different language material,they have studies showing what the most popular 2nd language and to get the business of the ever growing race in the area they provide what they see ness.. People r people.no matter the race.! I think that having the resources available is helpful and so do these agencies which is why they provide such service.

Answer 6

You have the issue all wrong. Nobody cares what language you speak the point is that Government should provide documents in English only. For example, why should forms for applying for welfare be provided in any language but English? Why are they currently provided in some States in English and Spanish only and not others?

It is very expensive for our public agencies to provides forms and telephone services in multiple languages and it should not be necessary. If you want to live here you should learn the basics and not make everyone else pay for your stupidity.

Answer 7

No one is saying that you can't speak whatever language you wish. The problem is that our tax dollars are printing forms and making street signs and other government publications in multiple languages because people come to this country to enjoy all of the perks, but can't even be bothered to learn our language.

The problem is that, when people can't speak English, it causes many problems. They can't communicate with police, doctors, and other emergency personnel. They can't read road signs to alert them about emergency situations.

Now, in some states, teachers are being required to learn Spanish or lose their jobs. WHAT? If you want a free education in our country, is it too much to ask that you learn our language?

No other country caters to immigrant citizens like America. Go to France and try to get a government form in English. Won't happen. If you want to live there, you must learn to speak their language, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

The only reason that so many people in other countries speak English is because they want the American dollar. If they want our tourism and business money, they learn to communicate with us.

Answer 8

I live in California, and I use Spanish every day. I had to learn the language on my own, and I am jealous of my friends who were in Spanish immersion programs when they were little. It is so much easier to pick up a language when you are little, and they are all fluent. Personally, I think everyone in the US should be taught two languages from kindergarten on.
In Europe, EVERY speaks AT LEAST two languages. Our ignorance is one of the reasons that the Europeans snub us and think that Americans are ignorant. In a sense, our lack of desire to speak other culture's languages is proof that we are.
If there are no language barriers, then there are less cultural misunderstandings, and less conflicts. Simply put, we'd all get along a little better.

Answer 9

Well I live in England,which, as you probably know is a multi- racial society where many different languages are spoken. If people want to speak in their native tongue, why not? Why should they only speak English? Perhaps English speaking only people like myself,should learn to speak other languages??It works both way's? We could learn a lot from each other. Live and let live!!

Answer 10

You can speak what ever langauge you like but really, learn English because I don't feel like paying taxes for ballets and other important documents also being printed in Spainish. This is America, NOT Mexico. The first people to settle here spoke English like most people here do today. Love it or leave it.
D.o.D.