Those who speak English being discriminated against?

Question

Those who speak English being discriminated against
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/08/14/opinion/letters/118320_10.txt

Is it happening everywhere in the nation now?It looks like it's hitting my part of idaho right now.The letter is from a paper 40 miles from where I live.

Answer 1

It's not discrimination. It's only a matter of business. If you need people speaking spanish in your company, so what? if you are not qualified for the job, you can not call that discrimination, can you? like a guy said, if you are working for BMW or SIEMENS or I don't know, Toshiba, or Honda and you are aiming at an executive position, you WILL need to speak German or Japanese. In my country, Mexico, I tried to apply for a job in SANYO electronics, and they required Japanese, I didn't feel rage or anything, or discriminated, I felt under-prepared, I need to speak a third language. I proudly speak english, and I dont feel ashamed because every company in Mexico asks you to speak fluently, of course not, it's a matter of business, why do you try to make it a matter of social philosophy? remember, countries are now interdependent, and the US is a leading country in international business, you should be happy that you live in a country with a really high per capita income, your country is winning in its own game. Companies in the US want money, like everyother company, and if bilingual workers will add value, be sure they will hire, no matter what you feel or think. Right? its economics and capitalism, not social phenomenons class.

Answer 2

It´s absolutely true.They would constantly call you a useless Englishman (vertraagte Engelsman) and that you were not good enough for rank.This kind of abuse would come from officers and troops alike. We had this dumb *** Colonel who probably grew up on a farm a knew absolutely nothing of the outside world, who called English the language of the devil and echoed the views of other empty headed Boere.It would be fine if the abuse came from the normal troops but to have to stand there and hear this from high ranking officers was unbelievable.How could the SADF expect to win a war when officers treat their soldiers like this.The Boere are a bunch of arrogant ***** !!!

Answer 3

This is perfectly legal. Any law designed to prohibit employers from having a language requirement would probably be unconstitutional anyway. Businesses can have whatever requirements they want, as long as they are related to job duties. It's part of the free market. People in other countries that are visited by American tourists get paid more if they speak English, do you have a problem with that?

Answer 4

Rudy G. is saying immigrants must learn English. That is a start. I do not speak Spanish, I grew up in the midwest, and did not figure I'd ever have to learn it... Now I suffer, living in the Houston area, with the big time immigration group that lives here.

I don't mind learning Spanish, but I don't want my livelihood to depend on it. I think that we should be like other countries... We have to learn their language to move there, the Spanish speakers need to learn English to live here.

I also think I have to totally agree with the editorial part that asks what's up with hiring Spanish-only speaking people? If they insist we learn Spanish, they need to insist they learn English... Bilingual is bilingual.. It should not be for us to accomodate them, they want to be here, I don't want to go there!!!

Question: Since parts of Canada are French speaking and parts are English speaking, is there a Canadian requirement for bi-lingual speaking in the country?

Answer 5

I'm fluent in German, and have worked as an interpreter/translator for the Air Force. I sure wouldn't expect Joe Smith at the BMW plant in backwoods Alabama to have that same level of skills because he may have to go to Munich for specialized training at the mothership at some point, though. To make that part of the job requirement is unrealistic. Let's get real.

Answer 6

i wouldn't say it's discrimnation. being multilingial in any language is a sellable skill. if you took one computer programmer that knew 5 computer languages, and another that knew 10 and they applied for the same job, who do you think would get it? i think it's kind of pathetic that many americans are unwilling to learn a second language and for some reason think english is the only language worth speaking. i know quite a bit of spanish, enough to get by, and you get a great deal more respect from other nationalities if you just attempt to relate to them be it thru language or otherwise. latin based languages such as spanish are great in that they are easy to learn and are adaptable over many dialects and regions. just because someone doesn't speak your language doesn't make them stupid. and talking louder doesn't make them understand any better.

Answer 7

I see it in MA as well. If we can't fight it then we need to learn to speak Spanish. It is to our advantage. I studied Spanish years ago and enjoyed it. It is a beautiful language.
For the sake of peace, I think all Americans should be taught to speak Spanish. I would go so far as to include French for our Canadian neighbors. A lot of Europeans are multi-lingual. I don't see it as a bad thing.

Answer 8

It will be a good thing to you and those who can not speak more than one language, HAVENT YOU REALIZE THAT MORE THATN ONE LANGUAGE SPEAKING IS financially better than your only english stament, or let me put it the other way, havent you realize that not only native americans are going, and coming from all over and spanish by ex, is one common and important language in business nowdays, so I suggest you to learn another lang, as soon as possible, and stop thinking that english is the only one, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE.!

Answer 9

America needs to vote on an official language. In order to keep this country from becoming a true and total mess. Spanglish is going to be the new language if an official language is not established.

Answer 10

If there is value to a business in hiring multi-lingual employees, I have no objection to that. Any business should be able to do what it needs to earn a living.

However, hiring workers who only speak one language which is not the predominant tongue, is stupid to say the least. If a customer cannot get service because they cannot be understood, that customer is free to take their business elsewhere. That option is open to English speakers who encounter businesses who employ only (for instance) Spanish speakers.