Speaking English in other countries?

Question

Yesterday, I asked a question about why Americans don't like to hear other languages spoken in the US, whereas they expect to be spoken to in English when they go abroad. Some of you pointed out that there is a difference between immigration and tourism, which is a very valid point. However, I would like to point out that people in most countries are very willing to speak English to both tourists and residents, as English is taught as a second language in most countries. For example, I know from experience that most shops, banks, etc. in Germany will have at least one English-speaking staff member, who will willingly talk in English to both tourists and residents if requested. Americans can and do take advantage of this. So why should we be upset when shops here make sure they have Spanish-speaking staff?

Answer 1

Because the shops here in Southern NM are now having problems keeping English speaking staff! Do you see a little dichotomy here, I went into a dress store to buy my daughter some clothing for school. Not a single member of the staff spoke English they had to call a cousin to come to the store and help me. I knew the cousin we went to school together. She was surprised to see me in a store where no English is spoken. In Jr High School and High School the Chicano population would not speak Spanish to Anglo students trying to learn Spanish. Then as she thought about it she said "I guess you do not have a lot of choice in where you get to shop, it is either in the stores like this or Walmart." She is correct and I hate Walmart worse than I hate all the illegal aliens.

Answer 2

Screamingradical

Interesting… I too have found that when I tried to learn Spanish from people who speak Spanish they didn’t want to teach me. It’s as if they use their language to talk without us ‘people who do not speak Spanish’ from understanding what they are saying.

Well the door swings both ways. At the grocery store the other day I helped translate from English to Spanish. The Spanish speaking person spoke no English and the clerk couldn’t identify the price of the item because it was bagged from the produce aisle. Whatever it was cost the customer dearly because the rang the item up at $6.99 a pound.

It would be smart for people to learn a little English if not to keep from getting taken advantage of.

On the other hand… I don’t really speak Spanish, but I try, especially if I am in Mexico. But… in this country if you speak English with a Spanish accent so thick I have to work hard understanding you… forget it. I am going to pull a Mexican and not even try teaching you English. Like most Mexicans, I don’t have the patience to teach you a language.

Answer 3

You make an excellent point. I love studying languages. Formally, I have studied spanish and french. Informally, I have studied Italian and a little bit of arabic.

The difficulty I find in America is that it is very hard to learn a language if you are not immersed in it. I never had the money nor the comfort level to live for months in another country so I could really learn the language. Since we have a lot of spanish speakers here, I think we should take advantage and join the world in becoming bilingual at least. But you know a lot of people in the U.S. have yet to master English so...

Answer 4

English is in the unusual position of having been the dominant language of two global powers in a row. In the 18th and 19th century, Brittain was a pre-imminent power, and spread English around the world, in the 20th century, that mantle largely passed to America, also an english-speaking nation. As a result, English has become a very common second language around the globe. This is, obviously, convenient for Americans, Australians, non-Quebecois Canadians, and other native English speakers, including, of course, the English.

But, it's really just an accident of history.

As a result, though, having English-speaking staff is a good idea, since, not only will he be able to communicate with visitors from english-speaking countries, he'll also be able to communicate with many visitor from countries where English is a common second language. Obviously, if you're in an English-speaking country, you gain the same benefit, even with no bi-lingual staff.


The next most common second language, BTW, is Modern Standard Arabic. If Americans want to learn a useful second language, it's certainly one possibility. Standard Mandarin wouldn't be a bad bet, either - there are around a billion Chinese, afterall, and we're doing more business with them every day.


Immigrants come to America from all over the world, there's no reason to favor one group of non-English-speaking immigrants over another by catering to thier language, specifically, on a National level. On a local, neighborhood level, of course, it can make a lot of sense to cater to the language of an immigrant group that's prevelent in the area - Arabic in Dearborn, Protugues in the Ironbound, Chinese in the numerous China Towns and so forth. But, it makes much more sense for disparate immigrants (from anywhere to any one place, really) to standardize on the language of thier adopted land.

Answer 5

Basic problem is "English" has been the business language ever since Brits started ruling the world. Historically it was not so before that. Trade was flourishing between India, China, Arabs, Romans and Greeks in the olden world, without a common language for communication. I am not sure how this was made possible. Perhaps our historical ancestors were more alive and free thinkers than we commoners today. That society was not living in so much restrictions as we live in today perhaps. Of course, If history is factual than fictitious as it is being thought of.

In Asia especially in India we have English as the second language and is a must study in curriculum. Therefore, our school going students make sure they score a minimum to pass to the next higher levels in their studies. But we forget the grammar not only of english but even of our own mother tongue as we move on to specialization at higher levels and college education.

Therefore, most people feel shy to speak in front of a native english speaker in an incorrect language of theirs. As this might be annoying to the listener.

As long as trade flourishes between nations it is unavoidable to have a common language for communication. But people in Asia however, are broad minded and love English but would not tolerate forcing English on them any more, as it was a colonial language.

Answer 6

You've answered your own question...the difference between resident and tourist. If someone is living somewhere, they should learn the language. While just being a visitor, be it for tourism or business, it is nice if the person speaks the language, but not really required, since they are probably paying a premium to have people in hotels, banks, etc. that are able to speak their language.

Also, English is the business language in the world. It was French, and if you went to major business centers or tourist locations, you could usually find someone that spoke French, though, like I said, at a premium.

Answer 7

I would say the main difference between the English-Foreign language and the Spanish-English debate is that Americans are not breaking into other countries en masse and demanding English language classes, free health care, English language street signs and government accommodations as Spanish speaking immigrants do here.

Answer 8

These are not tourists you are talking about. These are immigrants (illegal or otherwise) that have come here to live. I do not feel offended when I here someone talking in another language. I feel offended when that someone demands that I learn their language to be able to communicate with them. This is America and the language used in America is English, that is accepted worldwide. Why is it not accepted by the people that want to come here to live. As far as "expected to be spoken to in English when I go abroad", that is the last thing I would expect and I don't know of anyone that does expect that. My personal opinion is that if I were to go to another country I feel it would be my responsibility to learn their language or I would be in a world of hurt. I think this is just another smoke screen to mask the true issue.

Answer 9

It is not an issue of the speaking of the language

it is the demand that we accommodate other languages in the documents that are necessary to run the government.

It costs us too much money to make all the different languages available for government documents since we have so many different nationalities represented here.

Many other nations are more homogeneous and do not cater to English because of immigration issues, but because of monetary ones.

American tourists spend the $$$ so a little catering to them helps the bottom line.

Private industry and individuals should be able to speak whatever language they want, but individuals should be responsible for their own translation costs when dealing with government documents.

Answer 10

i'm pro-multilingual but i'm also an advocate of learning the language of the country you reside in. i speak plenty of spanish and don't mind trying to communicate with our spanish-speaking americans, however it doesn't help their cause if they can't help themselves and at least make an attempt to learn enough to get by. and there is a huge difference between tourism and residency, but if i knew i were to be travelling to a country that didn't use english as a primary language, i would make sure to verse myself in enough of their language as to not look like the ugly american.

and to correct autism_mom's answer:
the term third world country is no longer politically correct. the term currently used is developing nation.