It is not my fault that you do not speak English!

[Lace Neil Singer]

"We don't speak Japanese, we don't speak Manderin, and we don't speak Satsuma!"

XD

Anyway, my grasp on languages other than English is a couple of random words in German, Spanish and Japanese (Achtung, Puta and Hai; wow, I'm really going to get far on those! ) and really scrappy schoolgirl French. XD

And yes, I do get annoyed whenever I get a blank stare from a foreign person at the checkout as if they expect me to instantly be fluent in their language; however, a broken "Sorry, I don't speak much English" will do wonders for me, cuz it shows me they aren't being rude when they don't speak to me; however, I can't read minds and if someone's fixing me with a blank stare, my instant thought is that they're being rude to me and ignoring me.

[FuzzyKitten99]

I really wish that the government would require more language studies throughout school. If you go over to Europe, and you only speak one language, it makes it harder for the people there to accommodate you, but if you give them a choice of two to work with, it's much easier for them. Most people in other countries with an education are multi-lingual, and it's scientifically proven that it makes them smarter. Plus, once you pick up one other language, it's easier to pick up new ones after that.

Having the government FORCE people to learn another language is socialism, borderline communism. You should not be forced to learn a foreign (meaning one that is other than English) language via the school system. The government already meddles enough in the education system as well as everywhere else in out lives. I agree there should be more options than the basic German, French, & Spanish. But it should all be voluntary.

It is not up to other countries to accomodate you. If you choose to move to another country (not forced via slavery or the like), no one is making you live in a place that likely speaks a different language. If you decide you do not want to learn the native language, it is your fault, not theirs.

It was once a source of pride that immigrants to this country learned even a spot of English.

[Shabo]

It is not up to other countries to accomodate you. If you choose to move to another country (not forced via slavery or the like), no one is making you live in a place that likely speaks a different language. If you decide you do not want to learn the native language, it is your fault, not theirs.

It is in the US-- IF and ONLY IF there is a certain percentage of the population that lives in that same area. For example, if you are the only one of your heritage in your town, you are SOL, but for places in the southern areas of the country where Spanish speaking immigrants give the natives a run for their money, then yes, the government is required to make accommodations for them. So if they don't want to learn English, they really don't have to.

[Kusanagi]

Years of exposure to anime has given me basic understanding of Japanese. But most Asians in Vancouver are Chinese, Vietnamese or Korean. When I do encounter Japanese people, they're usually tourists and I am a giant scary looking white man who seems to understand some of what they're saying. So I end up Gaijin Smash(tm)'n them and they flee once they realize someone nearby actually understands what they're saying. -.-

I've already registered two Gaijin Smashes so far this summer.

Someone enjoys reading the adventures of a certain English teacher in Japan, doesn't he?

First thing my sensei stated: Anime japanese is NOT the same as everyday japanese. Anyone who has delved into it past the OMG SO KAWAIII stage will realize that speaking like that in public is asking for a beatdown.

[Lace Neil Singer]

You mean, my one word of Japanese is useless? Damn you, Kusanagi!

[blas]

I don't know about you guys, but I took 5 years of French in school, and since French and Spanish are somewhat similar, if I hear people talking in Spanish, I try to pick up words that sound similar to French.....

Then I talk to a few of my friends who took Spanish in school, and yes, the two languages are very similar, wordwise. Spelling's a bit different.....but it works.

[Sliceanddice]

Just wanan say something I AM HAPPY WE ARE TOTALLY UNABLE TO TAKE ORDERS IN ANY LANGUAGE BUT ENGLISH AT MY NEW JOB

[Kusanagi]

The grammar structure of Japanese is actually very similar to spanish, as it's the reverse of English.

In english, we usually go [subject][verb][clarification] In japanese, the verb almost always ends the sentence and there's about, oh, 30 different ways to conjigate each word on the end depending on slang, how you speak, dialect, and the relationship between you and the speaker. On the plus side though, it cuts down on ALOT of unneccessary words. Heck, you even conjigate conjigations and can string together several verbs at once.

Once you get the grammar structure itself down, the rest is basically vocabulary. It's a very hard stumbling block to overcome for people who have spoken english all their lives.

[Format C]

I got fired from a job once because of a situation like this. I had just moved to Tucson. This man comes in and starts speaking Spanish. I didn't understand a word. After him going through about 10 sentences, with me telling him I didn't understand every time he stopped to breathe, he looked at me kinda weird and said, in English, "Why you no speak a Spanish?"

I told him, "Because I live in America." Unfortunately my boss, heard me and told me that I was gone.

That boss is a POS if he fires you for not speaking Spanish. English should be the official language of the USA, but there is no official language.

[FuzzyKitten99]

It is in the US-- IF and ONLY IF there is a certain percentage of the population that lives in that same area. For example, if you are the only one of your heritage in your town, you are SOL, but for places in the southern areas of the country where Spanish speaking immigrants give the natives a run for their money, then yes, the government is required to make accommodations for them. So if they don't want to learn English, they really don't have to.

There are two problems with your logic.

First, by your definition, anyone who does not speak English that lives in an English-dominant area (which takes up 95% of the whole continental US), should be FORCED to learn English-especially if they want to obtain a driver's license, but so far the inability to speak or read English has not stopped them from getting one, much to the chagrin of other drivers. While it may be in your best interests to learn the language of the dominant population in your area, it is not up to the government to decide what is best for people on that level. To say government knows what is better for you that you do, is patronizing and insulting.

Second, why should citizens of one country be forced to learn the language of immigrants who choose to come here, regardless of the population of the area? If the people who were born here don't want to learn the language of people who were not, it is their perogative. It should not be forced upon ANYONE to learn the language of immigrants who come here voluntarily.

Again, forcing someone to learn another language other than their native one is socialism that borders communism. How many countries have (or had) citizens who are happy under such systems?

[protege]

OK. This has started to turn nasty. I don't think anyone here has a problem with those who *attempt* to use the local language. After all, I'd rather get broken English (or Spanish, or whatever) than try to translate. People like that should get props--at least they're making an attempt. After all, learning a new language can be difficult for some people. I've taken several years of Spanish. Can I speak it fluently? Nope--I usually screw up when I try to conjugate the verbs. However, I do know the essential questions--where is the bathroom, can i order another beer, etc.

With that said, please continue the debate on Fratching.