English Only?

^ that's what I expect when I go to another country.

Not read the whole thread (lack of time) but here is my grain of salt

Native North ameican languages are the Amerindians languages

The US has no national language  >> no law ever stated it was English

A good deal of the US was made from stealing territories to the Spanish and Mexico after the colonization, another huge part was bought from Napoleon, and the last bit from Russia. Puerto Rico is originally Hispanophone etc...

well i have talked to a lot of American tourists here in my country (Mexico), i always try my best to speak in english and make them more comfortable in his stance be more polite too.... they always thanks me and appreciate the effort i do...

AtLossForWords wrote: There is this country called "Canada" North of the border where there are two official languages known as English and French.  They sing their anthem in both langues, print both languages where possible, and the majority of it's citizens speak both English and French.  Why can't the US speak both English and Spainish, or expand the education of foregin languages in schools.   The United States is one of the few countries in the civilized world where the majority of it's residents refuse to learn a foregin language.  You can go halfway across the world to Russia, and easily communicate to not everyone buy many people in English, but if a Russian were to come halfway across the world to the US knowing only Russian he wouldn't be able to publically express himself.    Studying foreign languages is difficult, but it's something that should be done.

In a book called How to Learn Any Language, by Barry Farber, there's a joke that goes:  Q: What do you call a person who knows 2 languages?  A: Bilingual.
Q: 3 languages?  A:  Trilingual.
Q:  4 languages?  A: Quadrilingual.
Q: 1 language?  An American.

I wonder if they speak Spanish to the shop owner, because they expect he might understand, given the similarities between Italian and Spanish?  Or maybe he looks like he might be from a Spanish background (and yeah I know the sign says "Geno's"...)?

It's not unusual for immigrants to go into a shop owned by another immigrant and expect to speak a language other than English.  Here in Toronto, or any big city with a Chinese population, if a Chinese goes into a Chinese store, guess what language is used?

So I think the shop owner may be overreacting somewhat.  But, I also agree that one should learn the language of the country they are living in.  I knew a Chinese girl whose mother had been in Canada 20 years and still could not speak English except for a few words.  Incredible...a great opportunity to learn another language, totally wasted.

ALFW:  Good post, but one point by the way: the majority of Canadians do not speak both English and French.  Most English speakers here cannot speak French.  We learn some French in school but not anywhere near being proficient.

rushaholic wrote: They are people too.  But, illegal immigrants are CRIMINALS.  They are BREAKING the law.  That makes them criminals.  Obviously, it is not the same as murder or rape but they are breaking laws nonetheless.  Last time I checked, this was still a country where the rule of law governed and not public opinions.

Edited by NotAProghead - June 13 2006 at 00:13

moonlapse wrote: AtLossForWords wrote: There is this country called "Canada" North of the border where there are two official languages known as English and French.  They sing their anthem in both langues, print both languages where possible, and the majority of it's citizens speak both English and French.  Why can't the US speak both English and Spainish, or expand the education of foregin languages in schools.   The United States is one of the few countries in the civilized world where the majority of it's residents refuse to learn a foregin language.  You can go halfway across the world to Russia, and easily communicate to not everyone buy many people in English, but if a Russian were to come halfway across the world to the US knowing only Russian he wouldn't be able to publically express himself.    Studying foreign languages is difficult, but it's something that should be done.    So I think the shop owner may be overreacting somewhat.  But, I also agree that one should learn the language of the country they are living in.  I knew a Chinese girl whose mother had been in Canada 20 years and still could not speak English except for a few words.  Incredible...a great opportunity to learn another language, totally wasted.  >> women are often kept at home and are not encouraged by the community to meet otheres outside . Fairly frequent with Muslims also. This in order to keep more control over "THEIR" women. Has Chinatown grown lately past Spadina? ALFW:  Good post, but one point by the way: the majority of Canadians do not speak both English and French.  Most English speakers here cannot speak French.  We learn some French in school but not anywhere near being proficient.

Edited by Sean Trane - June 13 2006 at 06:03

This thread touches on the topic of immigration from time to time. One thing my wife and I learnt from researching the story of her family's movement to the US from Eastern Europe is the attitude of each wave of immigrants to the next. You might think they'd have fellow feeling for each other, but that's not the case. It's particularly interesting reading contemporary sources from (in this case) the first 20 years or so of the 20th century. The loudest protests against the Eastern European immigrants were from the previous generation of immigrants - mainly Italian in the stuff I've read. Once a group has been allowed in, the fear takes over, (fear of the unknown other), and you suddenly find them arguing that enough is enough, we don't have room for more immigrants, don't need them, dirty stinking "_________".

No Cawl, Welsh Cakes and some Cheese on Toast with a nice cup of tea.

NetsNJFan - do you have a brain or what? I specifically said it wasn't an American problem - read the f+++ posts before you reply - it shouldn't be difficult as I did write in English...

Fair enough - I officially reinstate your brain

My post, however, wasn't about problems with immigrants; it was about the way each wave of immigrants changed its views once accepted - the shift from being an outsider to being accepted brought with it a need to find some other group to look down upon. It's cyclical.

Edited by crimson thing - June 13 2006 at 20:06