Why do people have such a hard time with information being offered in Spanish?

Question

I don't get it. How does it affect you as an English-speaking person to see a sign in Spanish or read a pamphlet that has one side printed in Spanish or listen to a phone message that takes and entire extra 5 seconds to tell the Spanish-speakers to press a different button? Why does that bother people? How is it that the Canadians have been able to live in peace for hundreds of years with their French-speaking population and we resent the Spanish-speakers so much? Are they that more advanced than us? Why does it bother you so?

I'm not saying I think you should have to learn Spanish but why does it bother you that information is offered in both languages? How does it affect you personally?

Yes, trakslag, I actually DID get it. My father speaks German & I speak Spanish. You see, I'm not one of those narrow-minded fools who dig in their heels & refuse to educate myself for fear of change. That's why I will be a success in the future just as I am now. BY THE WAY, did your ancestors learn to speak Cherokee or Lakota when they came here & kicked the Native Americans off of their own land? No, didn't think so. So stop saying bad things about my mother.

Gary K....it "gives them no insensitive to learn English"?!?! How long have YOU been here & YOU don't know English! And ALL of them are here illegally? You need to check your stats & your grammer before you start posting such asinine answers!

Verna...you don't HAVE to read it. They still offer it in your precious English. And OUR country offers it because these people contribute to our economy & need to be able to understand how to pay their bills, etc.

Monreda...so why didn't you answer me in your Native American language? I hate to break it to you but many of them DO pay taxes!

Thank you Old Fogey...for reminding us of the Golden Rule. I have personally been to Mexico many times in different parts of the country. I have encountered people who speak English is every part of the country. These people do not know of what they are speaking. It's all assumptions & very incorrect ones at that.

Dave....my husband is Hispanic & taught himself English to the level that he now owns & operates his own successful mortgage company. Most of his clients are English-speakers. When he came here - legally I want to add - he didn't know a word of English. He was a teenager. What I'm saying is that it's ridiculous to expect that someone BRAND NEW here is going to be able to converse in English right away or understand the street signs, know how to pay their bills, etc. in English! It takes time to learn. Do you want these people not paying their bills because they don't know how? Do you want them causing wrecks on the roads because they don't understand the street signs? I think it would be wise for all of us to ackowledge the need to know both languages. As you said, refusal to learn is ignoranance. We don't want Hispanics thinking we are ignorant now do we?

Yes, person with no name who answered last....happy to critique your answer....do you realize that the US is the ONLY nation I know of in the world that does NOT require their students to learn a foreign language in school. The rest of the world has been light years ahead of us in this area. Remember the joke about what you call someone who speaks three languages....tri-lingual, how about two languages....bi-lingual,,,,one language....AMERICAN. That's not funny to me. We are a laughing stock to the rest of the world because we make ourselves look dumb & lazy by refusing to learn & denying a need to learn.

The "people who immigrated here from other lands" you speak of did NOT conform to the languages that were being spoken here - the Native American languages. We forced the Natives to conform to our standards & those who didn't were killed for it. Now we want to practice a double standard.

Whites have a God-like complex & your answer just solidifies that theory.

Answer 1

To everyone that immediately relates the Spanish language to Mexico and/or illegals...newsflash morons and airheads, do your reasearch-Mexico, Central & South America, Spain, Peurto Rico-all, etc. are Spanish speaking countries. And not all illegals are Mexican, most are, because duh! Mexico is right next store. But we have a high percentage of illegals from Ireland, Romania, India, the list goes on and on. It's the Hispanic race that stood up and made themselves heard. Nonetheless, English has never been nor will ever be the Native language of the US. And in Mexico, their school curriculum always includes English as a must. I am surprised to hear that in Mexico they only speak Spanish, which part did this person go t? I've been to Mexico hundreds of times and 90% of the people I encounter speak English, and very well too. In the Southwest almost every advertisement is in English & Spanish due to the high population of HISPANICS in the US that probably speak some English but because of their accent get mocked by individuals such some of you and in a sense give up. This country is made of different races, creeds, cultures, it's the reason everyone wants to come here. If translation on documents are so bothersome, then maybe you are in the wrong country. You might want to go to a country where only English is spoken. Ask your parents which way to the Mayflower. As my mother says "if you can't make nice in my country, then everybody go back where you/your ancestor came from, and come back when you are done being ignorant" My mother is Gabrielino Native American and Mexican. History obviously has to be re-written, it's wrong or else so many people would have learned the true history of the United States of AMERICA. If you'd like to educate yourselves and/or your children, I've included some helpful websites for your convenience.

Answer 2

Are you primarily an auditory or visual leaner? Figure that out first. If you try to learn knitting visually when you're mostly an auditory learner, or vice versa, it will be very hard and you won't know why. Go to the library and look for beginning knitting books. Get at least one from the children's department, as they have the best instructions. If you are mainly an auditory learner, get a book with really good descriptions of the instructions and read them aloud to yourself. If you are mainly a visual learner, get one with really good pictures and illustrations. Study them well. Getting the right kind of book for your learning style is of key importance when learning a new skill. Knitting's not that hard. Any skill will take time to become comfortable for you, so plan on practicing a few weeks before making anything you want to give as a gift to someone. Your first project may well be something you want to hide in the bottom of a drawer. Don't worry, that's normal. Your next one will be great.

Answer 3

The way I see it, the USA is held together by two things, The Constitution of the USA and a common language. And thank you for your example of Canada.

Canada is very much like the USA, it has a common "Constitution" but not a common language. And as a result of using two languages, every single document has to be printed in both languages addding cost to everything they do. And yes, they live in peace, but they also have had several votes by Quebec about pulling out of the union. Their language problems have come close to tearing the nation apart and I do not want to see that in the USA.

The expectation that stores, hospitals, government agencies will not only have information available in Spanish but someone there that speaks it is one example. Publishing information in Spanish is not helping, it is hurting our country because it does nothing to encourage those who speak Spanish to learn English. In fact, those of us who speak English are often told we have to learn Spanish if we want to keep our jobs.

I feel that if they learned English, there would be no need to print things in Spanish therefore speaking, reading and writing English at a SIXTH GRADE level should be mandatory to become a citizen. I do not believe SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH is too hard for any Hispanic. If you disagree, then all you are saying is they are stupid.

Answer 4

If you are speaking as a citizen of the USA, you weren't clear on that the answer is simple. Unlike Canada where there is a shared history and at least a shared national culture with the French speaking portion, the USA has no history of Spanish as a language until recently. It is endemic of something that has changed in this country, it used to be that immigrants came here and adjusted to the USA, they learned the language and customs. what customs they practice in their homes is their business, my wife and i live much the way she did in her country inside our house for example but out on the streets 99% of the time she speaks English, not German, Russian or Ukrainian. She moved here and adjusted.

What you are suggesting is that we adjust our country to suit Mexican immigrants, a significant number of whom are here illegally.

That is simply not a smart thing to do, nor is it in the best interests of our nation.

EDIT:

there is a good point about how neighborhoods of immigrants used to function as almost enclaves where a language like polish might be spoken in that neighborhood.

That is not a problem, nor is learning Spanish on an individual level a bad thing, it's good to speak multiple languages generally speaking.

The problem becomes offering all government services and paperwork in multiple languages, it becomes expensive and is largely unnecessary. In most of Europe while street signs might be in multiple languages all government paper work is in the official language of the nation.

Sure you can drive around and navigate the streets, and it's fine for business to post signs in whatever language their clients use, even Olmec Hieroglyphs if it makes them money, but the schools only use one language to teach math.

That's where the line must be drawn, government services cannot be offered in multiple languages if the nation is to remain cohesive. Besides if we offer it in Spanish shouldn't we also include every other language? isn't it discrimination not to?

EDIT:

No Golden the USA does not have a long history of being a 2 language culture made up of English and Spanish, it is disingenuous at best to say that we do and a lie at worst to say it.

Louisiana used to be France too, does that mean everyone there should speak French and we should offer government services in French?

Of course not, this is only an issue where Spanish and Mexico are concerned, and oh my if you think they should learn English well then you must be a "racist".

How many times has that word been used wrongly in this thread already?

Though not by you Golden. I wanted to be clear the second part is not aimed at you.

Answer 5

It depends on the situation.

By and large, for me at least, it is the disrespect it encourages. I spent a little over two years in a city that was more than 50% Hispanic, due at least partially to migrant/immigrant workers, and up until that point I could not possibly have cared less about Spanish translations etc. But I do not speak Spanish, and having received responses from Hispanics ranging from glares to name-calling and cursing for my "unwillingness" to accomodate them (not to mention the trouble I had finding a job there because I only speak English) I tend to feel rather resentful when my tax dollars, for example, are used to fund those second-language translations to make it so that immigrants never have to learn English.

I think comparing this to the situation in Quebec is using fallacious logic. Historically, Canada has used both English and French, because Quebec was originally a French colony. The United States does not have a history of using two languages; though we are a country of immigrants, our de facto official language has been English since the formation of the country. Use of Spanish as a secondary language in the United States is a recent phenomenon, and thus does not compare.

It bothers me also because this is a slippery slope. All we are doing now is providing a translation, but how long will it be before those of us born and raised in the US are all required to learn Spanish to accomodate those immigrants who don't care to learn English? If I moved to Spain, France, Germany, China or Japan, I would expect to learn the predominant language of the country. Why is that not expected of Hispanic immigrants to the United States? We don't accomodate immigrants with other native languages to this extent.

Answer 6

In some of our Public Schools Spanish is a required course, brought about by the increase of Illegal Immigration. So yes we are in some cases forced to learn to Spanish Language.
And I don't think its right that almost all consumer products are in Spanish & English, You call A business you get the Spanish or English prompt, our State & FedGovt. sends documents to us in both English & Spanish, Signs are posted all over the U.S. printed in English & Spanish.
When People immigrated here from other lands, they conform and learn the English Language, we did not conform to them and do for them, what have been doing for the Mexican Immigrants, (regardless of their status)
I totally see the frustration that is going on here. And if I was from Mexican lineage I would be insulted not proud, After all it makes it seem like they are too stupid to learn English.
But by having all this dual labeling does prove 1 thing, THERE ARE TOO MANY DAMN ILLEGAL ALIENS IN THE U.S.!


Pamela, you have done so much critiqing of the other answers, will you please critique mine, PLEASE?

Answer 7

Many Hispanics have no interest in learning the English language and it's this refusal to do so that angers the American public. This is America and those who live here should learn to speak English. Immigrants in the past who came to America were undemanding and never expected America to cater to them. They came here legally and were more than proud to learn our language.

Canada's French primarily live in one province, not scattered around the Nation in huge numbers. They keep their population under control like most reasonable people and don't breed like rabbits!

Answer 8

america is an english speaking country. some just cannot accept that we are also multicultural. mexico is a spanish speaking country yet many signs are in english. indeed you can find english language signs in spain.

for the guy up there that said america has no history of spanish language until recently, california, arizona, new mexico, and texas used to be mexico! indeed the entire southwest was discovered by spanish conquistadores long before america was an established nation, also florida. (florida, it's a spanish term). the oldest city in america is Saint Augustine Florida, Castillo de San Marcos (the fort there) was built 1672. it was spanish.

america has a long history of spanish.

Answer 9

Well for one, I as a tax payer , have to pay extra money for documents to be provided in another language.

Do you think the extra cost that companies go to to provide voice menus in spanish, spanish speaking customer service or support, manuals and directs in spanish... do you think that they just absorb that cost.. or do you think it gets passed on to their customers?

Do you think that providing documents , dictation and representation in spanish in courts to illegals .. or even legals who wont learn english.. do you think that that is paid for by them?
no its paid for by people like me and you.

For me personally, I won't hire someone who isn't self motivated enough to learn english.
I know a little of several languages. And if I was planning on doing business somewhere where english wasnt hte predominant language well then yes I would learn that language the best I could.

Answer 10

People are flippin' morons.

When I worked in restaurants, we had spanish workers with a limited grasp of English. I took it upon myself to learn Spanish, and it was a fun experience. Not only could I start communicating with them, but they also tutored my linguistical skills. Now, I am confident to go into any Spanish speaking country and order food, get around, and ask what are the happening things in town. And make new friends.

When I traveled through Europe, it seemed like everyone I met spoke more than one language.

People who are offended by that makes me laugh. They need to grow up, realize that a monolingual lifestyle is detrimental to personal growth, open their minds to an international community and venture out of America and have fun! Experience the world for once.