Spanish has been the US's second language for as long as I can remember, why change that ?

Question

For decades, Spanish has been listed alongside English as a language in the US in world factbooks. Maybe if people don't like that they can leave the US and find a country that speaks only English?

Answer 1

I Disagree. There was not a "press one for English" option until the past decade. If you choose to cater to foreigners feel free. I dare you to move to Mexico or Spain and not learn Spanish.

Answer 2

Well sincE my first language was Spanish and only speak it at home. Snce I live in Chicago and only operate with English I learned it. And well since I k ow Spanish and English I know Italian. So since I know Spanish and Italian then I can understand french Latin Portuguese, since there the languages of love and from Latin. But I want to learn : Hindi , arabic , Hebrew , Japanese , Korean , Chinese . But the onle I really want to learn is between Hindi and Japanese .

Answer 3

I can see both sides of this argument, but personally the extra five seconds for "push 1 for Spanish", does not really bother me.

You are also correct about the historical use of Spanish as a language, in the Southwest and CA it was the only language for many years. It is part of our American heritage.

Answer 4

Why not learn the first language.. why is there a ESL (English as Second Language) class at public schools.. in Japan Korea China and most of europe signs are in the common language and english.. if english is used more commonly around the world .. wouldnt everyone benefit from learning it.. and it is English not American.. we all learned it so can they..

Answer 5

For all the people complaining... I really don't see why what you are complaining about actually matters? What.. are you afraid they are talking bad about you in the grocery store or something? So you waist 5 seconds on a phone call to hear the press 1 for English command... are we really that lazy that we can't press a button? And do any of you actually have to deal with them on a daily basis? Even so... if they know they are going to an English speaking only area.. they usually bring someone to translate for them! by the same logic... if I know I'm going to a spanish speaking only section I bring someone more fluent than myself or a dictionary and pick a person that looks like they have a lot of patience to help me! But really.. how often do any of us have to do something like that? I've done it ONCE in the last year.. and I live in a state with a very large Hispanic population.


This whole issue is a lot to do about nothing. It's pointless bickering over a non-issue. We have MUCH more important things to stress over.

Answer 6

English is the language of business.
Besides you typed your question in English for a reason.

Answer 7

Why? The MAJORITY in the USA already speaks the MAJORITIES language. ENGLISH. And the last time I checked, the US Constitution was written in english

Answer 8

Only in the West and South West but not anywhere else. In the East it's almost a sin to speak Spanish. It's not that highly though of. It's more like a dirty language thanks to people like Cheech and Chong. I know I want nothing to do with it. We are in America and if you can't speak good English is suggest you go where they speak your language. This is our country not Mexican's.

Answer 9

No. Years ago we didn't have all this bs written in Spanish. I agree with Chi Guy.

Answer 10

And why are they so special. Look at all the other people who came here and didn't ask for any special treatment.