Why is the United Sates afraid of becoming a bilingual country?

Question

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the USA. People from Latin America are immigrating here more then ever now. If we learn another language, it would help our relationship with other countries and it will give our children (the future of America) a better education to. There are so many benefits of learning another language, but the USA is still to afraid to accept this. Why?

Answer 1

I think that everybody that lives in the USA should know English. English is the native language of the USA. But learning Spanish as a second language would also be good for this country. Learning a second language helps people communicate with other Hispanic people, and also lt helps people in the future get better jobs. Everywhere you go in the USA, you see Spanish, and that is not going to change. To many Hispanics have come to the USA and added their language in the USA. I think it good to have a bilingual country, but people should first learn English, before learning Spanish.

Answer 2

why are people who come from another country afraid to learn a language that is primarily spoken in the country they are choosing to live in? I know if I snuck into Mexico or Germany to live, I would certainly make an attempt to learn their language. And I would not protest or whine when they could not sufficiently communicate with me because I did not take the time to learn their language. Especially if "I went there to have a better life".

People are not afraid to become bi-lingual. As a matter of fact, learning a second language is not only an asset it is a requirement in schools now. Why should we force anyone who lives here legally to adapt so that they can communicate with people who are not willing to adapt to us. Why should it be Spanish they have to learn.

What about french, German, Chinese. There are probably almost as many Chinese in our country as Latinos. What about sign language. Yes, that is considered a second language also and people who know sign language are compensated at a much higher rate to be translators than traditional verbal translators. How many deaf people are in the US now. Do you hear them pushing to make learning sign language mandatory for everyone...... and they don't even have a choice on learning to communicate in an other way.

Answer 3

no. english is part of our heritage & culture. it used to be that people who emigrated here were required to know english just to qualify. that changed because our corrupt gov wanted cheap labor so they loosened up the standards. the citizens of this country should not have to accommodate foreigners. it is the immigrants responsibility to assimilate into our culture. not the other way around. besides you will never have a situation where every citizen knows both spanish & english anyway. but you absolutely must have one unifying language. obviously english makes the most sense. how can your country be united if you dont even speak the same language. i cant imagine it ever being a good thing for a presidential address to be given in english & meanwhile you will have some people who only speak spanish & not be able to understand. also it shouldnt be required that existing citizens learn spanish. but rather as i said, immigrants should be required to speak english. and i agree with daniel that ALL illegal aliens should be deported. no exceptions. they are criminals who broke our laws & are stealing from us & they should be treated as such by being deported.

Answer 4

Let me flip the question around to you. Millions of other immigrants came to the US and learned to speak English. Why can't people from Latin America do the same????????
Spanish is only the 2nd most spoken language in the US because there are 20 million ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!!

Yes there are benefits of learning another language. I speak fluent German. But you are avoiding the real issue (not learning English). America has done business before with many countries of different languages for centuries.

Answer 5

We are more than bi-lingual. Certainly there are more Hispanic spoken that any other language after English but the Amish speak their form of German and there are large groups of french, Chinese and middle eastern dialects.
It is always uncomfortable when you do not understand what is said. There is also a lot of tension that the Hispanics are taking people's jobs. And that scares people. No one likes the unknown and the fear of others has always driven us apart. I think that the language issue is only a smoke screen of other fears.

Answer 6

There are many things that would enlighten and benefit people. Such as a college education, a good exercise program and diet, reading, writing, spirituality, communing with nature, volunteering time to one's community, travel abroad, museums, art galleries, learning French, German,
Japanese, the list is long.

It's not the language, it's the implications. Imagine if me and 10 of my friends moved to a Spanish speaking country. We are going there. We are leaving this country to go to that country. Why would we want to go to another country and make it exactly like the one we left? Would it be kind of us to stand around in groups and speak loudly to each other, laughing and pointing, knowing that the majority of people couldn't understand what we are saying? And when people whisper, giggle, point, or speak in a foreign language, giggle, point, human nature is going to kick in and there are going to be some who are offended.

Let's say everywhere we go, it's a struggle to make ourselves understood. There's confusion, frustration, it benefits no one. Now do me and my 10 friends insist that the entire village we've moved to learn our language? Do we get mad and burn their flag and demand rights?

The American people have worked with Hispanics and Mexicans for many decades. Many American farmers and businesses have hired and housed immigrants. Where I'm from that was common when my grandmother was younger.

The problem we have is that we've tolorated and helped, and now, a large majority of these coming to the country come with the attitude that we owe them something. How do you think the folks that have worked hard and done things legally feel? Or those who have lived here for years and raised families and supported communities fell when they see their race behaving in a way to make them look bad?

Answer 7

It's a prejudice of Hispanics and our language -
America is now dealing with the true cost of spreading "Democracy" into other nations!
The fact that most "Illegals" are from Central & South American nations doesn't make them Mexicans - That's the problem I have when people speak of illegals - they are grouped as if they are all Mexicans, Mexico maybe the border they crossed through - but that does not make them Mexicans, you never hear people complaining about the illegal nationals from China, Japan, Africa, Europe, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Syria, or other nations because they can't imagine them crossing illegally - but they are wrong or ignorant about it, just look & listen to languages spoken in the communitites where they live here - remember there are only so many Visa's and permits given out each year, and we don't have that many political refugees here even though the USA spreads "Democracy" all over the world - if you don't like this result of spreading "Democracy" quit supporting the Neocon parties who believe it's their duty to God to bring their brand of "Morality" to these "savage" nations

Answer 8

Because of being an open immigrant society we have had people from every corner of the word comming here. At one time it was English-Spanish, English-French, English-German, English-Japan, English-Poland, English-Vietnam, English- WHATEVER. I really don't get this "must speak Spanish"" thing. Every Immigrant that comes here speaks ANOTHER language. When they come here and learn ENGLISH.....THEY ARE BI-LINGUAL! Bi-Lingual MEANS the ability to speak 2 languages. There is no GLOBAL rule as to what those 2 languages MUST be. If you go by POPULATION it's Chinese. If you go by business and money it's English. There is no valuable REASON to speak Spanish. MAJORITY doesn't rule in the world business. Otherwise we'd be Chinese, Indian (from India) and Spanish. Third world countries don't WIN because they have the most babies. Successful "bi-lingual" countries...like Canada.....STILL HAVE BORDERS! Go to Quebec.....speak FRENCH. Otherwise.....Speak English. There are VERY FEW AMERICANS THAT DON"T KNOW ANOTHER LANGUAGE. IT"S REQUIRED IN COLLEGE AND IN MOST HIGH_SCHOOLS. SPEAK ENGLISH....and then whatever moves you. Speak "OTHER" to your hearts content!!!! Just SPEAK ENGLISH here.

The USA isn't "afraid of being "bi-lingual" or we wouldn't be a WORLD power. Or a world wide destination for immigration. America wouldn't be the #1 destination ,what does Spanish give me? Tell me what BENEFIT or MONEY it grants me by knowing it? Besides "don't cut the roses". Tell me why I should bother knowing it outside of the fact that the most poor immigrants come from Spanish speaking countries? Why bother learning it? You don't HAVE ANYTHING I WANT OR NEED THAT I CAN"T GET SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! From people who speak English.

Bi-lingual ISN"T the issue.....It's "must speak Spanish" that is.

Answer 9

It is a hassle for those who don't know Spanish, and also they feel excluded and left behind. They have to sit through "para espanol, marca 2", or drive by billboards they don't understand, or hear spanish blaring over the local Walgreens (of course, the exact same content is first announced in English, with the same jingly music etc). They feel threatened by the influx of Spanish-speakers and feel English will soon be the minority and they and their kids will be at a disadvantage.

The way around this is more understanding and exchange between the 2 cultures. also if more people become bilingual or at least learn some necessary words in the other language, then they can use "Spanglish" to bridge the 2 languages.

personally i prefer living in a diverse city...the music, food, festivals are lots of fun and you feel less "closed off" from the rest of the world. I have no problem w/ immigrants coming here, but they should learn English. learning Spanish is pretty easy and can be helpful in terms of communicating, getting a job, etc. but we should not HAVE to learn Spanish in order to get by. Also, it's funny because I was just reading an article about British expatriats living in Spain. They have english-language newspapers and radio stations, but are also learning spanish, their kids speak spanish fluently and go to school with the native kids, and they are adapting to their new country. Contrast that to some spanish-speakers in the U.S. who want everyone to learn spanish to accomodate them. It is only polite, when you are a newcomer in a country, to learn the language of that country!

also the snobbiness of spanish-speakers when it comes to the superiority of their language goes back to Spain. they have a saying:

"la lengua de los ingleses es para hablar con caballos
la lengua de los frances es para hablar con mujeres
la lengua de los espanoles es para hablar con dios"

--> "the language of the englishmen is for speaking with horses, the language of the french is for speaking with women, the language of the spainards is for speaking with God"

Answer 10

I agree that there are benefits of learning another language. And I do think it is wise to learn Spanish ... it is a beautiful language a wonderful culture and great food and very useful. However, the national language and language to function in this country is English whether you like it or not. And English is indeed becoming the language of global commerce. Most countries insist on their kids learning English.

Every country has a national language. The US should be no exception. If I am going to live in a country other than the United States, I would definitely feel obligated to be a good citizen to learn the language, culture and laws.

Moreover, If you look at Canada with its vocal minority who has forced "French" down their throats . .. many things in the world of commerce have to be printed in both French and English . .. it gets confusing and expensive.