Should you be required to speak English to live in the USA?

Question

Serious answers only

Answer 1

You should be required to learn english, but as far as forcing them to speak it, no. If you know english, then you can talk to anyone in english, but some people feel more comfortable talking to each other in a different language. That way when communicating with others, it would be easier, and if they feel comfortable speaking to their families in their native tounge they can too.

Answer 2

Part of making a country work is communication. The government cannot print out every document in 300 different languages. In some cases where the situation requires assistance can be given to help those that speak other languages, but there has to be a standard. If you plan on living in a country you will need to abide by that standard weather it is English, French, Russian or even Australian (ha ha ha). I think if you plan on living in the USA you should speak the language even if you don't speak it very well.

Answer 3

Yes, although English is NOT the official language of the United States, the government, on both the State and National level conducts business in English. I think it's great for people to keep in touch with their culture, but when you are at work (unless you work specifically at a place of business where the other language you speak needs to be spoken, IE-University Language Departments, etc.) people should speak English. I speak 2 languages besides English and I don't speak them in the work place unless someone needs something translated (I am a teacher). I also think it's incredibly rude to speak a language in front of people who are near you when you know full well they don't speak the language. It makes people feel uncomfortable and left it and just isn't basic good manners.

Answer 4

Yes and no. In the south west US there were mexicans before the English had settlements. In these areas Spanish has always been more prevelant. If you plan to do work that should require baisc English skills, then the employer should not have to accomadate the worker. My husband is Mexican and he believes that learning English is important. The main thing is that everyone should be allowed to speak their native language within their people if they desire. The one thing that I do not like about this country that we fail to study languages. In Europe they study several languages since they are little. It gives them a world of opportunities. Here we are so narrow minded and think our way is the only way. I am native to english but have become fluent in Spanish and would like to master a 3rd language then a 4th etc.

Answer 5

Nope, the United States doesn't have an official language. Thus just because English is the most prominent it doesn't mean that everybody needs to speak it. You can't say it's part of the requirements to be an American citizen because it's not the official language. I think it should be strongly recommended and made easily available for people to learn, but I don't think it should be a requirement.

Answer 6

No, it shouldn't be a requirement. However, if you are from a different country then you should make an effort to learn the language for ease of communication. Language barriers can hinder a lot, and interpreters will not always be available to form a bridge between one culture and another. On a similar note, Americans should be willing & open to embrace different cultures since so many people immigrate here from other parts of the world.

Answer 7

If they'd done that to start with upon the birth of this Nation, most of us wouldn't be here now. No Germans, no French, nobody but bloody Englishmen, not even any Welsh and few Scottish. Most of the Irish wouldn't understand King's English, and with their blighted brogue, few would have been let in at the gates.

Sometimes I think it would have been a really great thing if the true Americans had not allowed the pilgrims in unless they could speak Shawnee or Cherokee.

Answer 8

Yes. How would you get by without knowing how to communicate? I think it's very important that you know the basics of the language in any country that you reside in. I have encountered many people that can't speak English and needless to say they couldn't understand the rules and laws of this country either. It's a choice that should be considered for no other reason than to help youself.

Answer 9

In a word: Yes. I'd expect to have to learn the language of the country I was living in if it wasn't and English speaking (English as a primary language) county.

Answer 10

This is laughable. America was founded by immigrants, of which we all came from, and now we want to erase that? No. What part of FREE NATION do you not understand? You can't use the excuse that if we went to other countries we have to speak their language because other countries teach the English language in their schools. When are we going to catch up?

Answer 11

I am not sure if you should be required to speak it. I do think you should be required to have a working knowledge of it if you plan to live here. It is only polite to learn the native language if you wish to co-exist. If I moved to France I would learn it, even if I spoke English most of the time.