Folks Online Are Sharing Stories About The Times They Were Called Out For Not Speaking English In The US
Let’s take a second to appreciate all of the wonderful things that come with speaking different languages. Of course, it’s a given to be able to communicate in your mother tongue, but knowing more than one language definitely seems like a great advantage and an excellent skill. With around 1.35 billion people worldwide who speak English natively or as a second language, it’s surely a winner in the list of the most spoken languages worldwide.
Anyone using more than one language can come up with probably more than a few comical situations arising from the daily use and occasional misunderstanding. Some people, for one reason or another, tend to take offense at others for using different languages. This one man’s tweet sparked quite a discussion with some unexpected twists and a reminder that the USA actually has no official language.
More info: Twitter
A Twitter user was approached by a lady who told him to “speak English, we are in San Diego,” and so he asked how to actually say ‘San Diego’ in English
Image credits: Flickr
The post went viral with nearly 770k likes and exploded with comments regarding the short but powerful story told by @ArtyCurry
Image credits: ArtyCurry
As Da(Y)go Brown, who goes by @ArtyCurry on Twitter, shared in his viral post, this lady approached telling him to “speak English, we are in San Diego.” And that didn’t catch him by surprise as he immediately asked her how to actually say ‘San Diego’ in English. This tweet kicked off a conversation among the users that pointed out some clear arguments and encouraged people to share similar stories, which turned out to be quite a few.
Image credits: TheKing_SD
One user immediately commented that due to many Latino people living in San Diego, the lady should have known already about a great number of Spanish language users. As well as being in the top 5 most used languages in the world, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the USA. And the other comments reflected that some people are still not aware that, for example, Puerto Rico is a US commonwealth or that many people are actually fluently bilingual.
Not so much of a surprise, but there are many Spanish language speakers in the USA
Image credits: collettecollage
The post comments had quite a few examples of similar situations that happened to people
Image credits: 1d_ft_glee
Image credits: barefootbaristr
Examples of people claiming English being the official language reminded another user of a story where a woman was speaking a different language and was ask to speak English, not ‘Mexican,’ as “you’re in America right now.” Turns out it wasn’t even ‘Mexican,’ but Navajo, and the woman cold-bloodedly replied that “if you want to speak English, go back to England.”
This girl shared that she can’t wait for someone to challenge her with the language point
Image credits: mawanji13
Many people who speak other than English as their native tongue tend to be bilingual, and so do their kids
Image credits: laurenkmeow
So the probably forgotten fact in the USA, drum roll, of not having an official language, made it to the topic. The most commonly used language in the country is, by any means, English, which makes it de facto, with approximately 78% of the US population using it at home. Spanish is also widely used (around 13.4%), as well as other ones. What is the most amazing is that the majority of other language users also speak English, making them bilingual.
English is just one of the languages in the USA, as there is no official language
Image credits: taralynnnnns
So saying ‘it’s America, speak English’ is unjustified
Image credits: SheriLlewellyn
Other users expressed that people should mind their own business
Image credits: McnicolSalazar
Twitter user Stephanie Salazar shared that perhaps overhearing conversations in different languages shouldn’t be any of the eavesdroppers’ business, as well as feeling superior if they only know one language over those who speak two or more.
Image credits: mend555
Since the viral post that started the discussion was set in San Diego and questioned the origins of the name, this user stepped right in
Image credits: e_galv
Image credits: DreamWorks Pictures
On a serious note, these people decided to explain the origins of ‘San Diego’
Image credits: arthur_affect
In some comments, pictures spoke for themselves
Image credits: 1BrownOnTheTown
Image credits: Ancestor_Cult
And for all of the monoglots and polyglots out there, this person brought up some of the history and geography surrounding the region
Image credits: in_dems
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White Americans: "OMG! I'm 12% Italian, 40% British, 20% German, and 28% Swedish!" Also White Americans: "gO bAcK tO yOuR cOuNtRy"
Hah there was an ancestry ad on telly when I read that, it was perfect timing XD
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As someone who speaks multiple languages, I have never understood why anyone would try to limit another person's use of language. And as for Americans telling someone to speak English-- hello! Americans have completely bastardized the English language, so they have no room to talk.
In my first weeks as an exchange student in the US I got this great compliment how my English was better than most (white) American kids. That same person was very proud of everyone she got to know from all over the world in her position and learning about languages and cultures. Most people are awesome and embrace diversity. And they are very aware of how deprived many US citizens are from experiencing the greater world out there. It's just that loud minority that keeps messing it up for everyone.
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Probably the funniest thing I ever heard in England was a redneck from Georgia telling a bartender, "Spake Anglish, ya gottdam furner!".
“Rednecks” from Georgia can’t afford to go to England.
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I'm so Midwestern-white looking I bleed mayonnaise, but I was singing to myself in Gaelic at the grocery store and some old lady barked at me to speak English. In hindsight, I should have answered in Klingon, the only other language I speak barbecue I'm a giant nerd.
I never understood why people demand english. Are they frightened by a skill they don't possess? Do they feel they have a right to listen to anf understand everything spoken? Are they just scared of other cultures? The mind of an idiot is forever a mystery.
Maybe they think that anything other than English is a secret code used to discuss plans for world domination or for mean gossip about them. And yes, mean gossip might happen if someone doesn't mind their own f*****g business.
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All children should be raised with at least two languages. It's good for the brain.
Absolutely, Something, but why does it have to be Spanish?
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Damn right! I appreciate the sentient but we definitely don't want them either.
Load More Replies... I love the sound of others speaking a foreign language. It reminds me of my travels and for a moment, I feel like I'm in a truly culturally diverse country. I really don't understand the threat these "English only" morons perceive when faced with foreign language. Half of the time, the nimrods can't even string grammatically correct sentences together to save their lives.
They're threatened by bilingual people because they do not have that skill. It's intimidating to people who barely speak one language and are not interesting in any way.
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Some people: "DON'T SPEAK OTHER LANGUAJES IN AMERICA!" Same people in France: "WHY DONT'YOU SEPAK A-ME-RI-CAN!?"
Ah, les français, LOL. They're open to foreign languages (with a few exceptions), but heaven help some whose French isn't perfect! I've met Americans who got by nicely in France with decent high school French, but folks who try to speak French to their relatives in France can get laughed at by Tonton & Tatie Dupont and their offspring.
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I like the "I wasn't speaking to YOU" and 1st Amendment responses! Americans really can be idiots.
It's true, Brandy, however it doesn't have anything to do with any language. There are smart people and idiotic, arrogant people everywhere in the world.
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The "official language" argument is moot - it's being academic without actually making a point. Official language has nothing to do with casual conversation or what you're 'allowed' to say in public, it's just for various requirements that certain official/government/public information needs to be in those languages.
..........And that is more than generous, Troux. The official/government information is not printed in my language, and I do not complain.
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Most Americans can't speak their native language properly. It's embarrassing.
I remember visiting the United States and seeing a bumper sticker on the back of a car that said: "Your in my country now, speak American." From the bad grammar to the fact that the idiot thought that "American" was a language, I had no idea where to begin.
Living in USA since 21 yrs and when i arrived here I spoke no English. No one has ever called me out on it, in fact, people tried to help me. BoredPanda works hard to make villian out of USA in every single post. There is always “America is evil” nonsense in every post, as if the rest of the world is perfect.
Agree, J P; the secret ingredient: you were willing to learn English.
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Funny how, for Americans, any foreign language sounds like Spanish. For example, I speak Serbian, and every time I say something in Serbian, to, say, my sister, there is always someone who asks me "Why are you speaking Spanish?" Has anyone else had this happen?
French in my family's case. We're Canadian and it was on a camping trip, so we could laugh it off. If it happened constantly, it might drive me a tad bonkers.
Load More Replies... When I worked at a call center customers would apologize for their English skills. I always told them they were amazing because they could speak more than one language and asked that they be patient with me because I couldn’t speak their primary language.
What makes this even more fun is the fact that most (US) Americans living in Europe are horrible at speaking the language where they live, even people who have lived here for 10 years+
I'll never be C-level at Polish or B-level at French, but I can get by and not murder the pronunciation. It's the blasted grammar that trips me up. I'm sorry that offends, but I suspect if I really did live somewhere 10 years where all I heard was not-English, I'd forget my English. Heck, I was raised with it and sitll lose it sometimes b/c it wasn't teh only language in my family!
Load More Replies... Actually it is a good question. Location names often are different depending on the language spoken. Vienna / Wein, Germany / Deutschland. When traveling internationally, you must know this. Based on the language spoken where you are, Svizzera, Suisse, Svizzera, and Svizra all refer to Switzerland. (Sometimes I miss the obvious)
Sorry to be *that person*, but it's "Wien", not "Wein".
Load More Replies... I would NEVER say this. I'd say: If you intend to visit or to live here, please learn enough to get by, which is courtesy to the nation you visit (e.g., learning German for a job in Germany!), but otherwise... say what youw ant, whatever. My family members still speak two-three languages and we're all USA born and bred, so WTF is the deal with this "Speak English" crap?
Americans are a funny lot, they'll go to say... France or Spain or Germany, speak in English the whole time and get upset when they come into contact with someone who doesn't speak English because HOW DARE YOU NOT SPEAK ENGLISH!? HOW ARE YOU TO ASSIST ME WHEN I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU!? but don't you dare speak anything other than English is America because they'll go f*****g mental if you do. To be clear: Not ALL Americans, I've met some genuinely nice ones in my travels!
Could've started with that disclaimer, please? I know my grammar is never great, but I work hard to be A-level at any language if I intend to visit the country, especially if not staying in major tourist destinations where multilingual staff are more common. I was raised to think this was courteous. In the USA.
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Depends on what part of the country you are in. People living on either coast are more likely to see the advantages of knowing multiple languages.
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Some people are petty moronic imbeciles with too much fake pride and not enough education or common sense and then there are those who are all of the above and racist. I love diversity and for those people who don’t like it I have to say one thing...tough sh*t stop being a problem. Chances are if you get injured or grow old and need medical care, someone from another country or better yet is bilingual, will be caring for your sorry ass.
My ancestors didn’t travel 5000 miles to the United States just for it to be taken over by immigrants! /epic sarcasm
I remember when I was in Canada with a friend (we both Mexicans), and got a little lost on a botanical garden, so we stopped to ask directions to a guard. The lady, after giving us some directions, asked us where were we from (because of our accents) and when we said we were from Mexico she kinda brighten up and asked us if she could practice a bit her Spanish, and we just got some 15 min. Chatting with her, mutually exchanging tips to improve her Spanish and for us to improve our English. That was real wholesome. Never during our trip there were asked to "speak English" or French, when we were chatting among us in Spanish.
Historically: Languages are dying. Some of these must be spoken and read so this part of a heritage is not lost. Speaking and reading English doesn't have to change your culture. Worldwide people speak their family's native language and the common language of those around them. Ignorant people use this is a way to measure a person's worth. Anyone different is not as good as they are. Refusing to accept other cultures limits business opportunities, your social circle, and creates a barrier. Almost everything in our world is influenced by several cultures. Maybe a limited education is a preference and a small world of like minded people is desirable. We choose how big our world is. We choose our goals >>> and what we need to know achieve them. Insulting others is never wise. Two women were talking about my sister. My mother replied in the same language. Did they think Americans aren't smart enough to know two languages? Do they look down on us? These people need a reality check.
Culturally: My parents are immigrants, English is not their first language. The food we ate, things we owned, traditions, and holidays we celebrated were based on their culture, not what is common in the US. Many of my parents friends were from the same culture. At family gatherings, they spoke in their native tongue. All of their children spoke English, some spoke both languages. I grew up thinking I wasn't American, until we moved to North Dakota. Nobody is more American than wheat farmers and cattle ranchers, yet they followed the traditions from the old country. At 13, I felt like I belonged here for the first time. My son's heritage is mixed, he is 100% American. One day he returned from work, "Worked with a crew who were speaking Portuguese. They were laughing when I walked up. Quickly someone told retold the joke in English so I could laugh too. It did not make them less Portuguese." He grew up with 2 cultures and is proud of both. The workers were Portuguese and not ashamed
Knowing two languages is an advantage, there are more opportunities in business and it good for your brain. However there are advantages to speaking English, some facts #1 English is the most common language spoken world wide (It is the native language of 370 million people, 980 million learn English as a second language. Mandarin, Hindu, and Spanish are next). #2 International business is conducted in English. #3 It is considered the language of science and technology More published in English #4 When traveling internationally, more people know English as their second language #5 Statistically, those with high English proficiency are more successful academically in predominantly English speaking countries. If you are a parent, do you want your children to speak English? Again, speaking more than one language is an advantage.
I also don't get why they say "This is America", and not "This is the United States"?
It has some logic. Just like Mexico, the complete name is "The United States of Mexico" but we call them Just Mexico. The odd part is that the US chose the continent's name to make theirs.
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I had the opportunity to spend time in Europe. I was self-conscious about my inability to speak anything but English. My self-consciousness disappeared when I realized that in Europe you change countries, languages, and money (this was before the EU) faster than you change states in the US. I still made the effort to learn a few words in the local language. Truly grateful for all the bilingual people out there. And then there was the man in the crowded Bavarian gift shop who switched between 5-6 languages as he waited on tourists.
American = Ignorant. Which is unfortunate because not all Americans ARE ignorant, the majority just make it SUPER F*****G DIFFICULT for everyone who isn't, to prove they are not.
I don’t understand how people can say “speak English, you are in America” and at the same time be so proud of their multi European background, whilst they know absolutely nothing about the country they claim to come from. If someone is an immigrant let them keep their language together with the English language, it will only enrich the entire community. Learn from each other, don’t look down on people that has mastered the task of learning several languages.
I try and see things from both sides and so feel if you are in a country, any country, you should have a good knowledge of the main language spoken. I am not saying only that language, just be able to converse. Unfortunately in the UK the main language is English, yet so few immigrants bother to learn it, even when in profession where they have contact with English speaking, i.e. Doctors, Dentists etc.
In western Europe, most people have to learn at least one foreign language at school, and a lot of people, especially the younger ones, are bilingual. Strangely enough for many Americans, here, knowing more than one language is viewed as something positive. On top of fluently speaking French, English and Dutch, I understand, read and can speak bits of German, Italian and Spanish, and try to use them as often as I can. Besides, the more foreign languages you know, the easier it is to learn a new one.
I'm "american" and embarrassed to say so. In general, americans are so egotistical and entitled. So few americans speak a second language and rarely more. They expect the world to speak english and cater to them. The majority of americans cannot even speak or write proper english. Even when they go to other countries they expect the locals to all speak english.
By the way. Few native United States of Americans speak English. execpt as an ugly and misspelt dialect
I live in San Diego & am constantly astounded by this attitude (we live in East County, which is basically 12% white). Let me ask you this, fellow English speaking white folks - if you & your s/o went on vacation to a non-english speaking country, would you conduct private conversations in THAT language? If my husband & I went to Paris (or Venice or Berlin, etc.) I can pretty much guarantee you that we would still speak to each other in our native tongue of English. Why the f**k would you assume others wouldn't? And I do want to reiterate a point made in the article - the majority of English speaking americans ONLY speak English, whereas the majority of "immigrants" speak AT LEAST 2 languages.
Interesting that the US has no official language. Because Germany on the other hand is only defined by language. Because German is only the name of the language that the tribes in Germany had in common.
It's also super weird to me when people say that our culture and heritage and language and traditions etc. have to be protected, but those are things that keep evolving and changing over time and it's the natural order of things. Also, most of our ancestors moved around from country to country, continent to continent, town to town etc. and it will keep happening for as long as humans are around. I can't read our oldest family bible, the old Finnish language is so different and the font definitely doesn't help. Also, some of our cultural heritage was already f****d up when christanity was forced upon us a long long time ago. Some people seriously claim that christianity is the original religion of Finland.
I live in Southern New Mexico and Friends are always bugging me that I don't know enough Spanish
This reminds me of the time when a German lady yelled at me and my then fiancé that we should speak German like everyone in Germany. I'm sorry to tell you that she also called us "Polish pigs", unfortunately for her we now live just above her and she still runs away as soon as she sees us and says "hello" back only when there are other people around.
Bored Panda has a lot about that dysfuncitonal third world contry. I am indeed a bored panda.
Me who lives in SoCal: hey they mentioned my favorite city (because of temperature and I lived there some time)
Please, I mean disrespect when I say this, but America has its language apart from English as they have a lot of different words for many different things from what we have. eg faucet for tap and flat / apartment; wardrobe / closet etc. They also spell words differently like omitting the U from words like colour and flavour. It's called American English and other countries like Australia and Ireland who have English as their 1st language are the same. Example being in Ireland a cupboard is called a press and in Australia flip flops or sandals are called thongs.
People who react like that are just jealous that they are not intelligent enough to know 2 languages.
English is not an international language. Its so strange that some americans only understand english, and other humans know & understand more than 4-5 languages excepting their native language. I speak& understand italian, spanish, english, french, german and I have also a mother tongue,
Went to the National Air and Space Museum in DC. Foreign cousin said, "We would never have such a place where I live." My reply, "You don't have a space program, so you can't have a national museum like this "
Uhm. But they could still have an Air museum? I assume they have planes? Also - you can still have a space-museum with no space-program. I'm confused.
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Imma be honest with you. I just clicked because of the San Diego part
But America is a continent so yes has more languages than just English
Not only on America...I live in Germany and one lady told me I had to talk English in my own country because we were in an approx. 50 km radius of an army base.
The America-bashing is getting quite tiring to me. There are a lot more good people here than the awful ones that BP loves to serve up as fodder for discussion. Negativity spreads like cancer.
Sorry for that, I get you, but unfortunately most ilogic, stupid, outrageous stories come from the US. Is the good people from the US that, by calling out the stupid ones, make the news to the other parts of the world. The anti-vaxxers, Karens, flat-earthers, Trump, stupid influencers, horrible health system, all comes from the US despite ALL the good things that you have there. Is unfair, I know, but sadly is true.
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Why should anyone speak English in America? English is the language of the English, Americans seem to forget that and think they own the language and the English stole if off them. God America is brain dead.
My cousin was vacationing with us in Arizona. She only speaks Spanish since that is the language they speak in her county. Some old man heard her speaking and demanded she spoke English. She came to spend money in the US as a tourist and somebody wants her to speak English. Ignorant and racist people are the daily bread of this country.
My great grandmother was born in Canada. She spoke Ukranian, Polish, Russian, French, German, Cree, and Norwegian. Her English was good, but accented, since there were not a lot of English speakers around her when she was a kid. ....///... I wish I was half as smart as she was.
There's medication for what you have. I think it's called Thorazine.
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Yes, it is tedious and repetitive, but I do appreciate that you aren't trying to argue that it isn't true.
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White Americans: "OMG! I'm 12% Italian, 40% British, 20% German, and 28% Swedish!" Also White Americans: "gO bAcK tO yOuR cOuNtRy"
Hah there was an ancestry ad on telly when I read that, it was perfect timing XD
Load More Replies... As someone who speaks multiple languages, I have never understood why anyone would try to limit another person's use of language. And as for Americans telling someone to speak English-- hello! Americans have completely bastardized the English language, so they have no room to talk.
In my first weeks as an exchange student in the US I got this great compliment how my English was better than most (white) American kids. That same person was very proud of everyone she got to know from all over the world in her position and learning about languages and cultures. Most people are awesome and embrace diversity. And they are very aware of how deprived many US citizens are from experiencing the greater world out there. It's just that loud minority that keeps messing it up for everyone.
Load More Replies... Probably the funniest thing I ever heard in England was a redneck from Georgia telling a bartender, "Spake Anglish, ya gottdam furner!".
“Rednecks” from Georgia can’t afford to go to England.
Load More Replies... I'm so Midwestern-white looking I bleed mayonnaise, but I was singing to myself in Gaelic at the grocery store and some old lady barked at me to speak English. In hindsight, I should have answered in Klingon, the only other language I speak barbecue I'm a giant nerd.
I never understood why people demand english. Are they frightened by a skill they don't possess? Do they feel they have a right to listen to anf understand everything spoken? Are they just scared of other cultures? The mind of an idiot is forever a mystery.
Maybe they think that anything other than English is a secret code used to discuss plans for world domination or for mean gossip about them. And yes, mean gossip might happen if someone doesn't mind their own f*****g business.
Load More Replies... All children should be raised with at least two languages. It's good for the brain.
Absolutely, Something, but why does it have to be Spanish?
Load More Replies... Damn right! I appreciate the sentient but we definitely don't want them either.
Load More Replies... I love the sound of others speaking a foreign language. It reminds me of my travels and for a moment, I feel like I'm in a truly culturally diverse country. I really don't understand the threat these "English only" morons perceive when faced with foreign language. Half of the time, the nimrods can't even string grammatically correct sentences together to save their lives.
They're threatened by bilingual people because they do not have that skill. It's intimidating to people who barely speak one language and are not interesting in any way.
Load More Replies... Some people: "DON'T SPEAK OTHER LANGUAJES IN AMERICA!" Same people in France: "WHY DONT'YOU SEPAK A-ME-RI-CAN!?"
Ah, les français, LOL. They're open to foreign languages (with a few exceptions), but heaven help some whose French isn't perfect! I've met Americans who got by nicely in France with decent high school French, but folks who try to speak French to their relatives in France can get laughed at by Tonton & Tatie Dupont and their offspring.
Load More Replies... I like the "I wasn't speaking to YOU" and 1st Amendment responses! Americans really can be idiots.
It's true, Brandy, however it doesn't have anything to do with any language. There are smart people and idiotic, arrogant people everywhere in the world.
Load More Replies... The "official language" argument is moot - it's being academic without actually making a point. Official language has nothing to do with casual conversation or what you're 'allowed' to say in public, it's just for various requirements that certain official/government/public information needs to be in those languages.
..........And that is more than generous, Troux. The official/government information is not printed in my language, and I do not complain.
Load More Replies... Most Americans can't speak their native language properly. It's embarrassing.
I remember visiting the United States and seeing a bumper sticker on the back of a car that said: "Your in my country now, speak American." From the bad grammar to the fact that the idiot thought that "American" was a language, I had no idea where to begin.
Living in USA since 21 yrs and when i arrived here I spoke no English. No one has ever called me out on it, in fact, people tried to help me. BoredPanda works hard to make villian out of USA in every single post. There is always “America is evil” nonsense in every post, as if the rest of the world is perfect.
Agree, J P; the secret ingredient: you were willing to learn English.
Load More Replies... Funny how, for Americans, any foreign language sounds like Spanish. For example, I speak Serbian, and every time I say something in Serbian, to, say, my sister, there is always someone who asks me "Why are you speaking Spanish?" Has anyone else had this happen?
French in my family's case. We're Canadian and it was on a camping trip, so we could laugh it off. If it happened constantly, it might drive me a tad bonkers.
Load More Replies... When I worked at a call center customers would apologize for their English skills. I always told them they were amazing because they could speak more than one language and asked that they be patient with me because I couldn’t speak their primary language.
What makes this even more fun is the fact that most (US) Americans living in Europe are horrible at speaking the language where they live, even people who have lived here for 10 years+
I'll never be C-level at Polish or B-level at French, but I can get by and not murder the pronunciation. It's the blasted grammar that trips me up. I'm sorry that offends, but I suspect if I really did live somewhere 10 years where all I heard was not-English, I'd forget my English. Heck, I was raised with it and sitll lose it sometimes b/c it wasn't teh only language in my family!
Load More Replies... Actually it is a good question. Location names often are different depending on the language spoken. Vienna / Wein, Germany / Deutschland. When traveling internationally, you must know this. Based on the language spoken where you are, Svizzera, Suisse, Svizzera, and Svizra all refer to Switzerland. (Sometimes I miss the obvious)
Sorry to be *that person*, but it's "Wien", not "Wein".
Load More Replies... I would NEVER say this. I'd say: If you intend to visit or to live here, please learn enough to get by, which is courtesy to the nation you visit (e.g., learning German for a job in Germany!), but otherwise... say what youw ant, whatever. My family members still speak two-three languages and we're all USA born and bred, so WTF is the deal with this "Speak English" crap?
Americans are a funny lot, they'll go to say... France or Spain or Germany, speak in English the whole time and get upset when they come into contact with someone who doesn't speak English because HOW DARE YOU NOT SPEAK ENGLISH!? HOW ARE YOU TO ASSIST ME WHEN I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU!? but don't you dare speak anything other than English is America because they'll go f*****g mental if you do. To be clear: Not ALL Americans, I've met some genuinely nice ones in my travels!
Could've started with that disclaimer, please? I know my grammar is never great, but I work hard to be A-level at any language if I intend to visit the country, especially if not staying in major tourist destinations where multilingual staff are more common. I was raised to think this was courteous. In the USA.
Load More Replies... Depends on what part of the country you are in. People living on either coast are more likely to see the advantages of knowing multiple languages.
Load More Replies... Some people are petty moronic imbeciles with too much fake pride and not enough education or common sense and then there are those who are all of the above and racist. I love diversity and for those people who don’t like it I have to say one thing...tough sh*t stop being a problem. Chances are if you get injured or grow old and need medical care, someone from another country or better yet is bilingual, will be caring for your sorry ass.
My ancestors didn’t travel 5000 miles to the United States just for it to be taken over by immigrants! /epic sarcasm
I remember when I was in Canada with a friend (we both Mexicans), and got a little lost on a botanical garden, so we stopped to ask directions to a guard. The lady, after giving us some directions, asked us where were we from (because of our accents) and when we said we were from Mexico she kinda brighten up and asked us if she could practice a bit her Spanish, and we just got some 15 min. Chatting with her, mutually exchanging tips to improve her Spanish and for us to improve our English. That was real wholesome. Never during our trip there were asked to "speak English" or French, when we were chatting among us in Spanish.
Historically: Languages are dying. Some of these must be spoken and read so this part of a heritage is not lost. Speaking and reading English doesn't have to change your culture. Worldwide people speak their family's native language and the common language of those around them. Ignorant people use this is a way to measure a person's worth. Anyone different is not as good as they are. Refusing to accept other cultures limits business opportunities, your social circle, and creates a barrier. Almost everything in our world is influenced by several cultures. Maybe a limited education is a preference and a small world of like minded people is desirable. We choose how big our world is. We choose our goals >>> and what we need to know achieve them. Insulting others is never wise. Two women were talking about my sister. My mother replied in the same language. Did they think Americans aren't smart enough to know two languages? Do they look down on us? These people need a reality check.
Culturally: My parents are immigrants, English is not their first language. The food we ate, things we owned, traditions, and holidays we celebrated were based on their culture, not what is common in the US. Many of my parents friends were from the same culture. At family gatherings, they spoke in their native tongue. All of their children spoke English, some spoke both languages. I grew up thinking I wasn't American, until we moved to North Dakota. Nobody is more American than wheat farmers and cattle ranchers, yet they followed the traditions from the old country. At 13, I felt like I belonged here for the first time. My son's heritage is mixed, he is 100% American. One day he returned from work, "Worked with a crew who were speaking Portuguese. They were laughing when I walked up. Quickly someone told retold the joke in English so I could laugh too. It did not make them less Portuguese." He grew up with 2 cultures and is proud of both. The workers were Portuguese and not ashamed
Knowing two languages is an advantage, there are more opportunities in business and it good for your brain. However there are advantages to speaking English, some facts #1 English is the most common language spoken world wide (It is the native language of 370 million people, 980 million learn English as a second language. Mandarin, Hindu, and Spanish are next). #2 International business is conducted in English. #3 It is considered the language of science and technology More published in English #4 When traveling internationally, more people know English as their second language #5 Statistically, those with high English proficiency are more successful academically in predominantly English speaking countries. If you are a parent, do you want your children to speak English? Again, speaking more than one language is an advantage.
I also don't get why they say "This is America", and not "This is the United States"?
It has some logic. Just like Mexico, the complete name is "The United States of Mexico" but we call them Just Mexico. The odd part is that the US chose the continent's name to make theirs.
Load More Replies... I had the opportunity to spend time in Europe. I was self-conscious about my inability to speak anything but English. My self-consciousness disappeared when I realized that in Europe you change countries, languages, and money (this was before the EU) faster than you change states in the US. I still made the effort to learn a few words in the local language. Truly grateful for all the bilingual people out there. And then there was the man in the crowded Bavarian gift shop who switched between 5-6 languages as he waited on tourists.
American = Ignorant. Which is unfortunate because not all Americans ARE ignorant, the majority just make it SUPER F*****G DIFFICULT for everyone who isn't, to prove they are not.
I don’t understand how people can say “speak English, you are in America” and at the same time be so proud of their multi European background, whilst they know absolutely nothing about the country they claim to come from. If someone is an immigrant let them keep their language together with the English language, it will only enrich the entire community. Learn from each other, don’t look down on people that has mastered the task of learning several languages.
I try and see things from both sides and so feel if you are in a country, any country, you should have a good knowledge of the main language spoken. I am not saying only that language, just be able to converse. Unfortunately in the UK the main language is English, yet so few immigrants bother to learn it, even when in profession where they have contact with English speaking, i.e. Doctors, Dentists etc.
In western Europe, most people have to learn at least one foreign language at school, and a lot of people, especially the younger ones, are bilingual. Strangely enough for many Americans, here, knowing more than one language is viewed as something positive. On top of fluently speaking French, English and Dutch, I understand, read and can speak bits of German, Italian and Spanish, and try to use them as often as I can. Besides, the more foreign languages you know, the easier it is to learn a new one.
I'm "american" and embarrassed to say so. In general, americans are so egotistical and entitled. So few americans speak a second language and rarely more. They expect the world to speak english and cater to them. The majority of americans cannot even speak or write proper english. Even when they go to other countries they expect the locals to all speak english.
By the way. Few native United States of Americans speak English. execpt as an ugly and misspelt dialect
I live in San Diego & am constantly astounded by this attitude (we live in East County, which is basically 12% white). Let me ask you this, fellow English speaking white folks - if you & your s/o went on vacation to a non-english speaking country, would you conduct private conversations in THAT language? If my husband & I went to Paris (or Venice or Berlin, etc.) I can pretty much guarantee you that we would still speak to each other in our native tongue of English. Why the f**k would you assume others wouldn't? And I do want to reiterate a point made in the article - the majority of English speaking americans ONLY speak English, whereas the majority of "immigrants" speak AT LEAST 2 languages.
Interesting that the US has no official language. Because Germany on the other hand is only defined by language. Because German is only the name of the language that the tribes in Germany had in common.
It's also super weird to me when people say that our culture and heritage and language and traditions etc. have to be protected, but those are things that keep evolving and changing over time and it's the natural order of things. Also, most of our ancestors moved around from country to country, continent to continent, town to town etc. and it will keep happening for as long as humans are around. I can't read our oldest family bible, the old Finnish language is so different and the font definitely doesn't help. Also, some of our cultural heritage was already f****d up when christanity was forced upon us a long long time ago. Some people seriously claim that christianity is the original religion of Finland.
I live in Southern New Mexico and Friends are always bugging me that I don't know enough Spanish
This reminds me of the time when a German lady yelled at me and my then fiancé that we should speak German like everyone in Germany. I'm sorry to tell you that she also called us "Polish pigs", unfortunately for her we now live just above her and she still runs away as soon as she sees us and says "hello" back only when there are other people around.
Bored Panda has a lot about that dysfuncitonal third world contry. I am indeed a bored panda.
Me who lives in SoCal: hey they mentioned my favorite city (because of temperature and I lived there some time)
Please, I mean disrespect when I say this, but America has its language apart from English as they have a lot of different words for many different things from what we have. eg faucet for tap and flat / apartment; wardrobe / closet etc. They also spell words differently like omitting the U from words like colour and flavour. It's called American English and other countries like Australia and Ireland who have English as their 1st language are the same. Example being in Ireland a cupboard is called a press and in Australia flip flops or sandals are called thongs.
People who react like that are just jealous that they are not intelligent enough to know 2 languages.
English is not an international language. Its so strange that some americans only understand english, and other humans know & understand more than 4-5 languages excepting their native language. I speak& understand italian, spanish, english, french, german and I have also a mother tongue,
Went to the National Air and Space Museum in DC. Foreign cousin said, "We would never have such a place where I live." My reply, "You don't have a space program, so you can't have a national museum like this "
Uhm. But they could still have an Air museum? I assume they have planes? Also - you can still have a space-museum with no space-program. I'm confused.
Load More Replies... Imma be honest with you. I just clicked because of the San Diego part
But America is a continent so yes has more languages than just English
Not only on America...I live in Germany and one lady told me I had to talk English in my own country because we were in an approx. 50 km radius of an army base.
The America-bashing is getting quite tiring to me. There are a lot more good people here than the awful ones that BP loves to serve up as fodder for discussion. Negativity spreads like cancer.
Sorry for that, I get you, but unfortunately most ilogic, stupid, outrageous stories come from the US. Is the good people from the US that, by calling out the stupid ones, make the news to the other parts of the world. The anti-vaxxers, Karens, flat-earthers, Trump, stupid influencers, horrible health system, all comes from the US despite ALL the good things that you have there. Is unfair, I know, but sadly is true.
Load More Replies... Why should anyone speak English in America? English is the language of the English, Americans seem to forget that and think they own the language and the English stole if off them. God America is brain dead.
My cousin was vacationing with us in Arizona. She only speaks Spanish since that is the language they speak in her county. Some old man heard her speaking and demanded she spoke English. She came to spend money in the US as a tourist and somebody wants her to speak English. Ignorant and racist people are the daily bread of this country.
My great grandmother was born in Canada. She spoke Ukranian, Polish, Russian, French, German, Cree, and Norwegian. Her English was good, but accented, since there were not a lot of English speakers around her when she was a kid. ....///... I wish I was half as smart as she was.
There's medication for what you have. I think it's called Thorazine.
Load More Replies... Yes, it is tedious and repetitive, but I do appreciate that you aren't trying to argue that it isn't true.
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