WHAT? This is America, right? Who among you think it is ridiculous for us Americans to have to press one, or two, or whatever other number they think is appropriate press!!! I hate this! Why do they not say PRESS 1 for any other language than ENGLISH!!!! COME ON PEOPLE!!
2007-03-16 08:04:24 · 15 answers · asked by VCE 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
EVEN when we do press 1 - we get a person who can hardly speak the english language.. now I see the problem !!! -
2007-03-16 09:11:34 · update #1
PRESS '1' FOR ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH... PRESIONAR '1' PARA CUALQUIER LENGUA CON EXCEPCIÓN DE INGLÉS... SERRER '1' POUR N'IMPORTE QUELLE LANGUE AUTRE QUE L'ANGLAIS... '1' FÜR JEDE MÖGLICHE SPRACHE ANDERS ALS ENGLISCH BETÄTIGEN...
...PARA EL ESPAÑOL, PRESIONAR '1'... POUR LE FRANÇAIS, SERRER '2'... FÜR DEUTSCHEN BETÄTIGEN '3'...
Perhaps you can see?
2007-03-16 08:17:23 · answer #1 · answered by computerguy103 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You might not realized that English is not the official language of USA, it's a language from England. It would be unconstitutional to force English upon others.
Freedom can be a lot of work, isn't it?
The founding fathers hesitated to make English the official language because they were afraid that the British would take back the USA.
Pressing 1 is a very small price to pay for freedom. I hope you'd feel patriotic the next time you press 1.
2007-03-16 14:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's purely business. The company sees they have a lot of customers that have a better handle of Spanish (I assume this is your experience?) so they offer Spanish language services to keep and attract more customers.
Out in Waikiki, there's a lot of stores that have signs saying to the effect "Japanese Yen accepted," why? Japanese visitors make up the large portion of our visitors.
On the other hand, if they did do your "press 1 for any language other than English," I wager you'd instead be whining that you now have to wait through that to get to your English language menus.
2007-03-16 17:42:40 · answer #3 · answered by knowitall 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we should start charging non-english speaking people for the modifications we have to make just to accomidate them. This is America afterall, and the language is English. I spent 8 years overseas and everyday was a challenge with language. But as they told me while I was there (and this involves more than one country) that I need to learn their language as a sign of respect for their culture. So, for foreigners to come here and not take the time to learn our language, I take that as being disrespectful to America. And yes, I hate that "Press 1 for English" garbage. Cheers!
2007-03-16 08:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by krodgibami 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
This may surprise you, but:
Many corporations are multinational and multilingual. In Canada, for example, bilingualism is pretty much required by law.
Many American customers prefer to do business in a language that they feel more comfortable in than English.
This is, as you say, America. Land of the free. Where you do not have the right to never be annoyed, but a company has the right to attempt to serve their customers in the best legal manner possible.
2007-03-16 08:19:39 · answer #5 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is America, so what? If it's illegal, call the cops. If not, suck it up and live with it. English is not even the official language here. Merchants are free to do whatever the law allows to get customers. Ins't that the free-enterprise that America embraces? What's a matter? You can't find the #1 key on your phone?
2007-03-16 08:31:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
many of the human beings responding right here think of that the question right it is that no longer something different than english ought to be spoken. it somewhat is totally incorrect. the biggest question is that those agencies ought to assume that definitely everyone speaks English and in case you pick a distinctive language spoken you need to push a huge type. If no huge type is pressed the language that it somewhat is right now spoken is English. i in my view am insulted that i'd desire to do something, no count number how person-friendly, to talk my countries language.
2016-10-01 00:49:12 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
And why don't we call it American. All those Brits can come over here and get their language first on the list!
Oh... and when you say "People", you only mean English speaking Americans, right?
2007-03-16 08:25:32 · answer #8 · answered by Ernie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cuz some people calling in prolly can't even figure out what button to push for their language, and the company doesn't want to waste their time when they have so many legitimate callers.
2007-03-16 08:13:31 · answer #9 · answered by Happy go Lucky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably because if they said "press one for any other language other then english", and the dude didn't speak english, he wouldn't have a damn clue what the phone just said.
2007-03-16 08:12:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Steve, that was cool.
But, to answer the question, just wondering if you've ever been to another country where the people didn't speak English? If you haven't, try it and then you won't ask such a question.
2007-03-16 08:25:29 · answer #11 · answered by curlygirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋