I was having lunch today in a restaraunt in Glasgow - ( ok! I was in Burger King ! ) and the girls doing the clearing up - were talking some gibberish - I have no idea what it was...next table was full of Chinese people rabbiting on in Ching Chong,.. Who knows what they were saying ,, Do you think Foreign people in English speaking countries should speak in English when in public places ..? Unless they are Tourists and genuinely cant speak any English.
2006-08-30 11:40:44 · 19 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
mmm!! I am thick because I speak English in my own Country ,,,Strange answer !!! " China Doll . Would you like it If I was in staying in your counrtry and you didnt know what I was saying .. ? See that chink she stinks..wouldnt you like to be able to know what I was saying about you... ?
2006-08-30 22:27:56 · update #1
It is bad manners and I'm sure I've been talked about by people I was near in another language but hey, I couldn't care less if they haven't got the bottle to speak to me.
2006-08-30 11:48:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you visit a country, you should be able to at least speak primitive words in their language. Amongst friends, you should speak whatever you want. If you are going to live in a foreign country, you should learn to speak their language. I believe immigrants to this country should learn English, but if I were moving or visiting another non-English country, I wouldn't expect them to know English just because I need them to. I would have to learn their language. Tourists should speak whatever they want unless trying to communicate with a person (such as a Burger King employee). Think about the role reversal.
2006-08-30 11:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by coloradosnoflake2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they are not talking to you, there is no need. If you want to eavesdrop, then you should learn their language, not the other way around. It's not as if English is superior to another language.
Further where do we draw the line at "languages"? Should we also promote certain dialects over others as well? No one makes the irritating British tourists speak American English when they come to the US. So, your argument seems silly.
And the fact that you said "Ching Chong" about the Chinese language makes me fully understand your stance. You are a close minded person, who does not seem to respect other people. What you say about other people's languages speaks volumes for how you feel towards them.
2006-08-30 11:59:15 · answer #3 · answered by webstoragea1 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am American and speak English. I believe that if you are only a tourist in another country then you should try to learn simple phrases.... please, thank you, restroom, etc. although if you are immigrating to another country then yes you should learn the language and speak it in public. I did take German in high school and learned sign language from friends. I think learning other languages is good for people though.
2006-08-30 12:04:32 · answer #4 · answered by munkeybusines 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Should foreigners speak English in public places? No, not necessarily. People should have the freedom to speak in any language they like. We have the freedom of self expression, and if one is not native English, that means the freedom to speak in one's mother tongue... people feel comfortable speaking their own language, you seem a little paranoid that they may be talking about you- 'Who knows what they were saying'- they're just normal people, and if they weren't talking about their lives and things that relate directly to them I should be very much surprised.
2006-08-30 12:03:06 · answer #5 · answered by Buzzard 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't see any reason for that at all!
Even people who are fluent in another language often feel more comfortable speaking in their first language. Who else has a right to say what language they should use? Unless you are trying to listen in on their conversation it shouldn't bother you!
And apart from all the human rights infringements, how would that rule be enforced? There are bigger threats to our society than people wanting to speak in their own language for goodness sake!
2006-08-30 12:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by guest 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Haha! Did you know the Brits were the worst at languages in the EU along with the Irish and the Hungarians? You probably don't speak anything but English. Well, if you believe in democracy, then you would agree that people are free to speak whatever language they want. Nonetheless, I do agree that people living in britain should learn english but they don't have to speak it if they are with people who speak their native language
2006-08-30 11:51:34 · answer #7 · answered by timarnera 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The official language of the US should be English. I am opposed to having to the use of any other languages on any government document, including an election ballot. What language people want to use among themselves is their business but they should not expect their language to be used in any public service.
2006-08-30 11:49:46 · answer #8 · answered by williegod 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not if they're tourists no. But the ones that live here should. I wouldn't go to live in their country if I couldn't speak the language.
2006-08-30 11:46:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
If they live here yes they should.
Think about this the Pakistan cricket team only here for a few months playing in England speak English when playing.
So why not, personally I think its rude for them not to.
2006-08-30 11:55:18 · answer #10 · answered by timone 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋