Why is it that the majority of people living in South Florida do not speak the native language of the friggin' country they chose to live in, ENGLISH?!?!? I'm so frustrated with it already! It has affected me in such a way, I hate living here now and I'm moving soon. There's just no excuse for this, if I moved to Cuba, I'd have to learn to speak their language right?
2007-03-09 08:48:44 · 15 answers · asked by anonymous 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I'm hispanic myself and bilingual (spanish-english), although I admit my spanish is limited. I got by very well around my own back home, but many (not all, of course) Cubans and Colombians DO NOT like anyone other than their own and this is the first time in my life I feel discriminated against, and I'm not used to it!!! I don't treat people badly for where they come from, I love people and to me the more different the more interesting. I just don't like feeling like I'm in another country when I'm not!
2007-03-09 09:03:49 · update #1
To make a long story short, why can't THEY learn to speak English? I am bilingual.. I prefer to speak English because it IS the primary and native language of America.
2007-03-09 09:20:22 · update #2
These were my reactions to making over fifty phone calls to pediatricians in my area and getting "eh q me?" when I ask one simple question.. "Do you except walk-ins?" It's very frustrating people, but thank you so much for your well thought out responses. I appreciate and respect every single one of you who have contributed to my question... or rant as it appears to be now.
2007-03-09 09:28:21 · update #3
1. Did you forefathers learn the language of the indigenous people of the area when they settled there? I think not...
2. My understanding is that the USA does not have an official language, but whilst a majority speak English, somewhere in the region of 25,000,000 US-born Americans have Spanish as a first language - that's not counting immigrants - that is equal to the combined population of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay (which, just in case you didn't know, are Spanish speaking countries).
3. Given that The USA, of which you are no doubt proud to be a citizen, is a vociferous advocate of democracy in every corner of the globe (including those that have made it clear they don't want it), and that one of the precepts of democracy is that people be free to speak their regional languages - the definition of which is the language spoken by the majority of the region's inhabitants - then it follows that the regional language of Southern Florida, where, you say, the majority of the inhabitants do not speak English - must be whatever language it is that the majority speak. So the onus would appear to be on you either to learn more Spanish or move north. Incidentally, the term bi-lingual suggests an ability to use two languages more or less equally, which seems to be contradicted by your admission that your Spanish is "limited".
2007-03-09 09:16:49 · answer #1 · answered by GrahamH 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
True, they should learn the language if they're going to live here, but after reading about Cuba for the past two weeks for a class, I can't help but feel for them. Life in Cuba is just too sad. There are people over there who make the equivalency of $3-4 per month in professional positions. Men and women have been forced into prostitution, just to have enough money for food and clothing. The tourists get treated better than they do. I believe that they should learn English, but I understand that many move here to escape the poverty of their own country (like the Mexicans). I will not hold it against any Cubans or Cuban-Americans that I meet if they don't speak the language. They've probably gone through a lot worse than I could ever imagine.
I agree with your last statement. We shouldn't feel like foreigners in our own country. Foreigners that come here should know English, just as an American visiting a foreign country should learn the language of that country before traveling. I'm just saying that I see why many of them don't speak English; many come here for financial reasons, not political ones. A person's language is a part of him/her, and some feel that by learning English, they are rejecting their cultural past. I can understand that, seeing as how they've come to a country that is so different than their "fatherland." If they had the money/time to learn English before coming here, I'm sure some wouldn't take the opportunity (for these reasons), but others would, if they were given the choice.
Sorry this response is so long. :)
2007-03-09 16:58:18 · answer #2 · answered by Persephone 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
You rant much but say little, young grasshoppa. If you moved to Cuba you could pretend you are deaf and blind and probably survive. I bet people that rattle in tongues are nothing new to them. Should they learn the language so they can tell you how different they feel about things? I think most of them find the U.S. very surreal.
2007-03-09 16:59:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
FIRST OF ALL DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T CALL THE U.S. AMERICA, SHOW THAT YOU'RE NOT A TOTAL IGNORANT, YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT AMERICA IS THE WHOLE CONTINENT, WHICH IS NOW SPLIT INTO NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA RIGHT??
OK, THEN YOU'RE NOT BILINGUAL SINCE YOU SAID YOUR SPANISH IS LIMITED. AND IT'S VERY SAD THAT YOU CAN'T SPEAK VERY WELL THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR ANCESTORS.
HISPANIC PEOPLE LIVING IN THE U.S. MAKE AN EFFORT IN LEARNING THE LANGUAGE BUT YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM FOR IT, THEY HAVE OTHER STUFF GOING ON, LIKE WORKING FOR A LIVING, STUDYING, MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND LEARN BETTER SPANISH, GO BEYOND DUDE.
I SPEAK THREE LANGUAGES AND I'M VERY PROUD OF IT.
2007-03-09 19:37:54 · answer #4 · answered by Rational01 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, remember that this country wants its people to speak english, which is true. Look at the european nations, they just do not speak their native language, they also learn their neighboring countrys language. Maybe this is why in U.S. we need a lot of translators.....but if you learn another language, it will be great!
Adiós!!!
Adeus!!!
Arrivederci!!!
Au revoir!!!
2007-03-09 16:55:01 · answer #5 · answered by memolino2007@sbcglobal.net 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
1. America has no "native language." In fact, I would think that the native language of Florida would be whatever the Creeks or Seminoles spoke.
2. The Spanish settled Florida long before the English did.
3. You, in fact, are being rude for not learning at least simple Spanish when you live in a bilingual area.
2007-03-09 16:51:42 · answer #6 · answered by effin drunk 5 · 8⤊ 5⤋
Are you seriously this dense? Just because someone chooses to live in a nation that is not their native land does not mean they are in any way obligated to learn the language. Is there a law that requires everyone who lives in the US to speak English? Hell no.
2007-03-09 16:54:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 3⤋
I hear you but it is really everywhere!!!! Here in Minnesota we also have a huge problem with it. But we have no laws when people want to move into this country stating that they have to actually be able to speak the langauge they just have to pass a little test, which they can take over and over!!!! DUMB they should have to do speeches in front of Americans!!!!
2007-03-09 16:54:02 · answer #8 · answered by tianawins 1 · 2⤊ 5⤋
You are absolutely right. They come here,and they need to learn our language, live by our laws. Not fight to make new ones to suit themselves. If they hated their country so bad, why do they come here and try to make it like their counrty. This country needs to wake up and bring this crap to a halt.
2007-03-09 16:55:05 · answer #9 · answered by btyboo 3 · 2⤊ 7⤋
yes, when you move you need to learn their language so that communication will be easier for you.
2007-03-09 16:52:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋