I wonder how well some of us would fare if we tried to communicate in some of our friends' native tongues? I often see unkind comments like 'learn to speak English then try again'. in answer to some questions.
2007-05-31 23:39:41 · 11 answers · asked by lou b 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Point taken Goddess. In such cases, I suggest to the questioner a better way of putting the question and try to ensure that I have understood the question correctly in the first place.
2007-06-01 00:00:41 · update #1
Well said Lucy. That's the point I'm making.
2007-06-01 00:19:30 · update #2
I think we should. Most native english speakers are monolingual and because it is the lingua franca many people are arrogant and seem to expect everyone to speak english with good syntax. I actually think people look down on people who cannot convey their ideas in good english.
2007-05-31 23:49:25 · answer #1 · answered by Brandon 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. As someone who is very bad at picking up languages, I have great admiration for anyone who can complete even a simple sentence in a second (or third, etc) language.
2007-06-01 06:48:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about you, but I'm tolerant and as helpful as I can be. Sometimes I can't understand the question though, so it's hard to be helpful then, and "try again" is all I can really say.
2007-06-01 06:56:55 · answer #3 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, but I think that most mistakes are made by people whose first language IS english
2007-06-01 08:44:08 · answer #4 · answered by Dios es amor 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. How about those whose first language is English? Ask them to use a spellchecker or go back to school?
2007-06-01 06:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by Tom Sawyer 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My ire is reserved for English speakers who can not find the Check Spelling button!
2007-06-01 06:43:57 · answer #6 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
how many language these native english speakers speak?
at leat these nonenglish speakers can speak 2 languges, their motherlanguage, and english ....maybe more
2007-06-01 07:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by Lucy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We are tolerant...we have to press 1 for English, don't we?
2007-06-01 06:48:50 · answer #8 · answered by Jrahdel 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I agree we should be more tolerant.
edit: I also agree that the spell check should be used more often.
2007-06-01 06:51:48 · answer #9 · answered by greylady 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's freedom of speech all the way, no matter what language it's spoken in.
2007-06-01 06:49:53 · answer #10 · answered by jamoca 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋