Why go to another country and expect people to speak your language? (Read!)?

Question

I always hear people complaining about Mexicans (etc.) coming to the U.S.A. and expecting everyone here to deal with them in Spanish.
I must be a rare anomaly. My experience is that those Spanish-Speakers who live within the borders of the U.S. actually RESENT white people talking to them in Spanish, and barging in on their private language.

I speak fluent Spanish, I'm pasty white and red-bearded, and they absolutely can't STAND it. It makes them SOOO uncomfortable (which actually used to make me feel like there was something wrong with ME, until I figured it out!)

If there's ANY people who is infamously guilty of travelling abroad and insisting on being spoken to in their own native language, it is the people of the United States of America!

(This question is about LANGUAGE. Don't tell me whether you want immigrants in or out. Those questions are all over here, for you to vent your heart out on!)

OKAY!
Who wants to actually READ the question?
When did I EVER say that we should cater to Mexicans who want us to speak to them only in Spanish?

WHEN DID I SAY ANYTHING AT ALL TO THAT EFFECT?

Answer 1

When you say that Americans go to foreign lands and want people to speak English to them, they are mostly tourists, aren't they? Why would someone going to Rome for 2 weeks be expected to know fluent Italian? Most Europeans know some English anyway and can speak to tourists.
If an American decided to LIVE in Rome, THEN he would be expected to learn Italian.

Answer 2

Are you saying that the Mexicanis are uncomfortable with a Gringo like you speaking Spanish to them? The understanding here is that the Mexicans or Latino's generally find it to difficult to learn the English language, and that is why they want to be spoken to in Spanish or Mexican, and so it is on a lot of the business sites>Have you been out of the country,USA that you have not heard : for English press 1 for Spanish press 2 That is about the Language, ! Press 1 Please! When I travel abroad I usually try to speak in the language of the Country I am visiting, it is an exellent way to increase one's vacabulary and get better at pronounciation.

Answer 3

I visited France a couple of years ago, and studied the language for months before I went so I could at least understand what was going on. The French were very supportive and tolerant of my crappy French, and I had a great time. In Mexico I had the same thing happen, and also had a wonderful experience attempting to speak with the locals in their language. It really helps me to be respectful of non-English speakers trying English.

Answer 4

That and they expect immigrants (notice I didn't say Illegal) to speak the language as if learning a new language were so easy. They keep saying their ancestors did which is pure hogwash. It was their next generation that picked up the language and not the them. Now some of today's immigrants can speak it some but even the US government does not expect if from them unless they wish to become citizens.

They make it sound soo easy yet if it were they would not be complaining about Spanish but speaking it or any other language for that matter.

Answer 5

I personally never understood why we expected them to come here and know our language but we can't expect the same of ourselves. I would hate traveling to another country and being submerged in a language that I had no knowledge about......

As for them being uncomfortable about that...my guess is that they are used to insulting in other languages etc....i have been told if you go to a Spanish speaking country, the people are very supportive of you learning their language and will help you in any way possible. Of course they may think you are trying to think less of them or somethign if you speak to them in Spanish...

Who knows why people are the way they are....sometimes the human race is just plain odd...

Answer 6

Look, immigrants have been coming here for years and learning the language, and not having a problem doing so. I have had conversations with people of many nationalities, and they all spoke english, maybe broken english, but they at least tried. Many south american spanish spearkers just absolutely refuse. The problem is with them, not with us. I have also travelled abroad, and never expected anybody to speak to me in English. France, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Germany, Turkey, never did I expect to hear english from anybody. If I lived in one of those places, I would expect to learn the language, and I would not whine and complain because nobody spoke english. I would bet that if these complainers here went to Spain, they would expect the real Spaniard to change their dielects to be more South American Hispanic friendly. They are just whiners, and they should shut up, or learn to speak english.
I would prefer if they spoke in poor english, a little english even, but not no english at all.

Answer 7

Uh, I really do not know where you went or where you live but, I am anglo, I live in Edinburg, Texas which is so full of spanish speaking only (check your map guy) and I am married to a hspanic man and let me tell you something, you come down to the valley (rio grande valley) and try not talking to them in spanish and you will get absolutely nowhere! I have lived down here for the 38 years that I have been alive, am very fluent in spanish and only speak spanish when I am conversing with someone. By the way, I am milk white, green eyes and light blonde hair(naturally, not dyes), folks are from MN and I do have to definitely disagree with you. Come on down and see for yourself. If anyone reads this and you are from around here, send this guy a note.

Answer 8

I think that's an unhealthy expectation to have - and something I wish more people would understand. It's part of the whole travelling experience, to get new experiences and that might just include having to pick up the local language, or at least enough to get by.

Answer 9

Finally somebody who recognizes that Americans aren't the good guy of every movie like people want to put it. I am a Hispanic legal immigrant, I love this country and I speak the language but I can't stand, humm.. I CANNOT STAND! those people who want me to speak nothing but English, they don't want me to listen to Spanish music, they don't want me to have Spanish signs, and don't want me to speak Spanish with my friends or family. I believe one should learn the language ONLY to communicate with the natives and to do all the processes like filling forms, etc..

Entering a country doesn't mean automatically mean you will do EVERYTHING in their language.

Answer 10

i agree that people in the us when traveling abrod pefer to be spoken to in english but in my opinion if they are living and or working in the us especialy at a job like fast food restraunts they should know english and i know the imagrints in this country that do speak english use there native language to hide things from the unsuspecting REAL americans that dont speak spanish. they use this copout to avoid ansering questions posed to them by police employers and other people of authority

this country was founded on english i shouldnt have to speak spanish to order a burger and fries!!!