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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,198
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,198 |
Originally posted by MxRacerCam:
jesus davo, are you looking to pick a fight???
Uhhhhhhh.....no moreso than you are. I'm just trying to have a conversation. I'm trying to understand someone's point of view (which I don't do very often) and I'm being accused of 'picking a fight'.  
Originally posted by MxRacerCam:
he's saying that people shouldn't have to learn the language of the foreigners who are visiting their country, not that it's a shame if those foreigners don't learn the country they are visiting's language! i think everyone can agree, buy a translation book when you're travelling.
sheesh.
He's saying it's a shame (or he's ashamed of) when Americans talk to people in English when traveling. Yet foreigners shouldn't be expected to speak English WHEN THEY LIVE HERE. Now, you try to explain that to me.
It's not completely ridiculous to assume someone speaks English, especially someone who may work in a tourist hot spot. Having said that, it is less than productive to assume so, but far from being shameful.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,163
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,163 |
Before I shop in chinatown for Herbal cures I must check first to see if there is a clerk there that speaks good english. What is the big deal
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 203
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 203 |
Originally posted by Davo:
Originally posted by MxRacerCam:
jesus davo, are you looking to pick a fight???
Uhhhhhhh.....no moreso than you are. I'm just trying to have a conversation. I'm trying to understand someone's point of view (which I don't do very often) and I'm being accused of 'picking a fight'.
Originally posted by MxRacerCam:
he's saying that people shouldn't have to learn the language of the foreigners who are visiting their country, not that it's a shame if those foreigners don't learn the country they are visiting's language! i think everyone can agree, buy a translation book when you're travelling.
sheesh.
He's saying it's a shame (or he's ashamed of) when Americans talk to people in English when traveling. Yet foreigners shouldn't be expected to speak English WHEN THEY LIVE HERE. Now, you try to explain that to me.
It's not completely ridiculous to assume someone speaks English, especially someone who may work in a tourist hot spot. Having said that, it is less than productive to assume so, but far from being shameful.
When traveling to another country and you dont know the language of course you'll be speaking your native tongue, but he said its a shame when Americans, for ex, try to speak english to non-english speaking people because they dont understand what the American is saying, this usually leads to frustration of both parties mainly the American b/c he cant get his point accross. But, when there are foreigners living in a certain country they dont have to learn or speak that domestic language because they really wont be associating with them socially, the people they seek out is people that speak their own language, so its not really important enough to get time off or waste money to learn the language. Remember, most of the jobs that immigrants take dont require too much communication between them and their bosses that isnt implied in the job.
-ivan c.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 322
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 322 |
Maybe my first post on this wasn't quite clear enough. I wholeheartedly agree that people who live in this country, as well as visit this country, should make an effort to speak english (since it is the language spoken by the majority). I tried to back this up by saying that when you go to another country (visiting or living there), you should make every effort to speak that country's language.
I also said that many American's will vacation anywhere without knowing even an inkling of the language of the land which they are visiting. All I am saying is that there is a bit of a double standard between what we expect of those who visit/immigrate to this country (that they speak english or not bother coming), and what we expect when we visit other countries (that the people in those countries should speak english for our benefit).
When I taught middle-school level Spanish last year, I was asked by several students why they had to study the language. My response typically consisted of "so you can be more knowledgable of different cultures other then your own; so you can travel the world without a language barrier; and so if a foriegner you meet in this country needs your assistance, you can help them out (and they will be more receptive since you know their language)".
Think about it... when you travel to far off lands and come upon someone in some remote village who speaks your language, how does it make you feel? I automatically get a sense of comfort, despite how little of my language that person knows.
I think it's the same way in this country. If someone from Columbia comes here to work and they see signs that they can read, and encounter people they can talk to in their own tongue, they automatically feel more welcome.
An effort to understand a language or a culture (and be accepting of the differences inherent in that culture) will do more to propel this country (and the whole world) forward as we cross the cultural boundaries that we have drawn up around ourselves. This applies to English, Spanish, French, Japanese... take your pick.
I hope this clarifies my viewpoint a bit...
-Chris
2000 SE Sport V6 5spd
(all stock except for EO brakes)
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