When you see someone speaking Spanish, what do you think?

Question

Do you get angry? Do you automatically assume it's a Mexican (or possibly Cuban) illegal immigrant? Will you treat someone who looks hispanic or speaks Spanish differently? or even if you wouldn't treat them differently, do you harbor bad feelings for them until you find out they are legal, or do you see them positively until seeing proof that they are illegal?


Asking because my wife is from Argentina, and we're moving there soon, and get used to us speaking Spanish because I am learning and don't want to forget.

esta pregunta es mas para los loquitos aca que siempre dicen que los "illegals" son basura et c.

I want to know, the ones that always say, whatever culture is fine, but illegals are not

when you see someone speaking spanish, which is the first that comes to mind?

che, no decimos tu, decimos vos, boludo

by the way, the woman in question speaks english too, but just because she's in the u.s., should she be expected to speak english to make you feel more comfortable? maybe after making the english language the official language we can go on by illegalizing accents. no foreigners, no british, and no texans.

Actually, I came to Argentina not knowing any Spanish. And most here speak a lot of English... so much so that it was almost difficult to force myself to learn! I can communicate in Spanish now, but I never studied. Luckily everything is easy to spell, but I don't even bother trying to put the accents when I write it.

Answer 1

I think of them as rude illegal alien invaders, That's not right of me but, then again this is the USA and English is our language.
At the least I think all non-English speaking folks should go home where ever that is.. Doesn't have to be Spanish just seems like that's all I hear.

Answer 2

I never get angry. There are annoying situations I find rude, like being the only other person in an elevator when people are talking in a foreign language and you are aware they know English. As far as immigrants in general, why should they NOT want to learn English? Seems a little lazy to expect society to conform to their standards. Realistically, the government should be supporting English classes for (legal) immigrants at community colleges and high schools. The benefits would be enormous. (By the way, I took four years of Spanish, so I don't have anything against expanding your lingual skills.)

Answer 3

I have no problem with them speaking Spanish or any other language;;;just as long as they learn English if they intend to live her,,,,

you are not going to Argentina , expecting everyone to speak English for you...you are being respectful and showing common sense...and that is what all non English speaking people should do..here..

you learn the language of the country you are in

Answer 4

I have answered this question once and I got criticized by my answer but I am not a hypocrite so here goes my point of view. I am an American of Mexican descent my father always told me to speak English in public and Spanish at home period end of discussion, no spanglish either, one language or the other. I really got upset by my fathers rule but now I understand perfectly. It is very rude and impolite to speak another language that the people around you don't understand. I believe that the more languages you speak the better. If you are in the United States of America speak English, but if you only want to speak your native tongue and follow your customs go back home. Once you learn a language you will never forget, its like riding a bike.

Answer 5

It does not bother me at all, it's no different from any other language spoken. I don't look at them any different or think bad because they are speaking another language. I like to think I have an open mind, I know alot of people that speak can speak english and do, but when they are with family, especially their elders they speak spanish. People shouldn't be so quick to assume things.

Answer 6

You should speak the language of the country you live in or plan to live in. I live in the U. S. and hate having to push 1 for English. I should not have to decide what language I want to hear in an English speaking country. If you cant speak or read the language, you should go somewhere else.

Answer 7

To this day I still can't figure out why people get upset. I was on the train the other day and two germans were in front of me speaking German and in the elevator today, two Japanese people spoke in Japanese. What the hell is the big commotion about? Do the people who get angry seriously think they're speaking of the person listening? get over it!

It's obviously fear. People who haven't been brought up with culture in their family fear that they're nobody, they don't exist....so what do they do? They ban together on a ****** forum like Yahoo Answers and form a family racist losers. It's actually funny. Read their responses and you'll see where their brains are actually located.

Welcome to America....the land originally owned by the Native Americans and was taken over by the original illegal aliens from Europe. And today some, not the majority lash out of fear and say comments like "duh, uh...yeah but we built this nation...duh". Please, it was the African Americans who built it up with later generations of desendents from everywhere joining in.

Speak in spanish and anyone giving you a hard time....here's what you tell them....."**** off you prick!".

Welcome, and enjoy yourselves.

Answer 8

It's just another language. I speak Spanish and English and don't feel bothered when others speak their native language.

Answer 9

I think it is great to hear people speaking Spanish. Too bad you will be learning Argentinian Spanish, though. MiRA che. SenTAte tu. They speak differently from anyone else.

Answer 10

The first thing I think is how I wish I could speak another language. And I think about my business, and how much more lucrative it would be if I could speak Spanish and had Spanish speaking clients.