Is it laziness when parents use their children as translators for everything?

[Anonymous]

If they refuse to learn English (not even basic things or their own address), don't even try and use their children as translators for everything would you call that lazziness?

I was expected to even translate insurance policy forms at the age of 10. At that age, I didn't know what foreclosure meant nor how to explain harder terms. Even now as an adult, I still can't translate everything.

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

It used to really annoy me.

[user1516]

No. It’s annoying, sure. But it’s necessary. My parents are old and I mean OLD so they obviously don’t have the capacity to learn a new language at this stage in their lives. Maybe when they were younger sure, actually they did learn another language but with time they ended up forgetting it (not completely they can still communicate fairly). I think that these absurd racist folks down in the comments need to sit the f down and mind their own business when it comes to this because I bet their raw doggity ass cheeks can’t even speak more than 1 language. I wouldn’t even be SURPRISED. anyways, much love to my bilingual , trilingual and other lingual folks who help their parents out when they need it, may god and the universe bless you completely💖

[Asker]

Your case is different than mine. My parents' reason for not learning where just the pure fact of having an me, their American child. They admitted that if they didn't have me then they would've been forced to take English courses and spoken the language by now. That's why I think folks like them are lazy.
They could've learned it, aren't old like yours and don't have disabilities.

[Asker]

It it were because of very old age or learning disabilities then that's different. The case I'm talking about is immigrants that simply refuse to learn for the sake of having an American child and because they simply don't feel like learning at all nor care. If that's not laziness then I don't know what it is.

[libsaretards]

It depends.

If the child already knows the language and they are simply going on vacation somewhere that speaks the language, then it is ok for the parents to have their kids be the translator since the time they would be staying in the country would not justify trying to stress over learning a new language. The parents should still learn some basic phrases just in case though.

If it is a more permanent situation then the parents should learn the local language. For example, Mexicans from Mexico moving to the U. S. where English is the official language of the U. S. (do not care to hear liberal arguments as English is the most widely used language here). The parents would need to learn English since most things here are English based and their kids will not be around all the time. Even if the kids were around all the time, it is not their burden to translate important matters for their parents just because they do not want to learn the host nation's language.

[Asker]

My parents are definitely full of excuses for not learning English. They admitted once that they had the capacity, money and time to learn if they wanted to and there was no other option but since they have an American child (me) they decided to do what's more convenient, easier and accessible to them.

[Asker]

This is what I called that lazziness. This isn't a case of much older folks that can't learn due to advanced age nor learning disabilities. My parents just didn't feel like learning nor even trying since they have me.

[Somoneelse]

No. You can't force older people to learn a completely new language. When a person gets older, the ability to learn new things such as languages gets less. children are way more capable to learn new things. So I can understand why parents use them for translations.

[Asker]

This makes some of us less interest in the translation major. My parents were surprised that I had zero interesting in majoring in that. There is no fun if it's something you grew up doing and it was a routine.

Some other relative expected me to translation hard legal terms. No way. Just because I'm trilingual doesn't mean I can translate every single thing, esp legal terms. Strangely while other immigrants learn the language, the ones that can't even count 1-10 seem to be either from Mexico or other Central America countries. I wonder why.

[shaysh87]

You need to understand that in every situation, people are gonna look for the easiest way out. Asking your child to do everything is easier than learning a completely new language yourself. When you're someone they can use and rely on, why would they need to learn anything? I grew up translating for my parents so I have immense insight on this.

You learn English by interacting / speaking with English speaking people, not by staring at a few vocab books. You learn by DOING. Frequently many of these non English speaking people stay huddled within their own racial communities with no interest in branching out and speaking to native English speakers. This is why they do not speak English

[Asker]

You said it all. Even though they had multiple opportunities to take English courses and even got offered for a very low cost (they had no money issue, had plenty of time and could've afforded it), they admitted it that if they didn't have me and had no translators available, they would have spoken English by now... by force.

[Asker]

yeah humans always like going on their comfort zone and do what's convenient and easy for them unless there is no other option.

[shaysh87]

just because you are taking an English course, it really does not mean you will learn English well that way. Like I said, you learn by speaking English to native English speakers, not by simply memorizing things in a book.

Personally, my parents were so entitled thatt they would yell at me whenever I didn't want to translate for them.

[Slartybartfast]

I wound up writing software and doing loan amortization schedules for my stepdad and some of his church and work friends when i was little. It made me feel proud and useful. I was 12 or so and I think my stepdad was actually proud of what I could do which was something my mom never was.
My stepdad and I were two very different people, he was the high school football jock and bully (his words) I was the small kid that like to read and program computers.

There's a Chinese restaurant I used to when I was working as a network engineer for a large Telco and had to travel. The same guy was there it seemed like he worked 14 hours a day seven days a week. He couldn't have been older than 15. His parents and family didn't speak English and so he was always needed up front.
I know at times he was exhausted but he was also proud of his contribution to his family.

So I would say, it depends on if the parents are giving him the respect he deserves for his ability.

[LikeALog]

The sad part of it is the parents are probably going to live the rest of their lives in a community (neighborhood) with others of the same ethnic background. When the children grow up and move away, the parents will be unable to go anywhere. Hopefully, a multi lingual neighbor will come to their aid.

I saw this in a grocery store. A lady who spoke no English was trying to shop for something. She looked Asian, unfortunately no one in the store spoke her language. She left empty handed.

[alice55]

Yes and no some people are just dumb and can't learn a new language (often they would just make it seem like they put zero efforts into it even though they spend hours trying to learn but just cannot do it.
I have to help my mother for everything (she can't even turn on the tv alone) but that's cause she's dumb (she deny it but even when I write her down everything on how todo do things she can't do it), she can't even log on a site with a password...

Some people are just dumb and do as their child you're quite forced to do everything for them.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not laziness. It's ignorant to believe that learning a completely different language is easy.

Take Spanish as example. There is only 5 vowel sounds. English has 14. As an adult it's as foreign as someone speaking from Mars.

What is laziness & ignorance is countries allowing foreigners into the country and not supplying language courses so that the people can at least learn a conversational level. That way the immigrants can integrate better into society. Have a better chance of getting jobs. Etc.

[Asker]

They had multiple chances to take English courses and it was even offered to them long ago. They made excuses that since they have an American child, there was no need for them to learn nor try. If that's not laziness then I don't know what it is.

[Lionman95]

No because there could be other reasons that keep them from learning the language.
The older a person gets the harder it is to learn something new.
It could be laziness but it could have other reasons. I can understand though you that it really annoyed you.

[Asker]

Then why are immigrants from Europe and other countries learning English meanwhile it's always either Mexicans or those from Central America that fail to learn?

[Lionman95]

Because most of European countries have a higher and better education on average than Mexico or Central America. People therefore have a better common knowledge and already know some English words before entering the country.

[_Angelsbaskett]

I never saw it as laziness in my case, before my mom could speak English me and my sister were her only hope in helping her talk with English speakers, that was years ago tho, now she has picked up English words and can speak to a English speaker with no problem, she can struggle sometimes and we still help her when she need the help. But I don’t think laziness

[nopedydoo]

I feel the same way. Since I was around 8-10 I was writing emails, resumes and cover letters for my parents. I still have to help my mom write a basic text to a coworker. I thought leaving for college would get me out of that... nope. My mom frequently calls me asking me to write up something that she can copy paste.

[Adam1978]

It's not lazyness because they don't just do it to skip learning, they do it to have an excuse to be with their children especially if they are grown. How many times have you had to teach your mother some simple tech and keep doing it. They are lonely and use it as an excuse to bug you.

[adidas0169]

I find it lazy and complete disrespect. if your going to live in a foreign country that speaks a different language then you do learn the damn language if you can't even try to do that then in my book YOUR NOT WELCOME HERE. stop expecting everyone to fit your needs. it was your choice to be here not ours.

[user1516]

❄️❄️❄️

[Anonymous]

sometimes, and they are surely naïve if they expect a kid to translate official/legal documents and such.
At least learning the basics is possible for anyone who makes the effort. And it is a bad excuse to just say you can't because you are too old. Yes, it is easier for kids who are kinda programmed to learn. But they are also just thrown into it in school, they really have no choice than to learn. If adults did the same they would also over time.

[purplepoppy]

No. It takes years before you can translate with any degree of confidence. Most adults can manage an hours of lessons a day at most but children will naturally pick up a language alongside their own with ease simply though exposure.

[Waldoe]

you can teach them... repeat the "English words" and say the translation... do this everytime... they will learn from you... example repeat the English "what do you want to buy" then translate... say " English " and translate... everytime... "Hello" guten tag...

[lovedejj_xo]

Well I can’t speak for others but within my field I won’t speak to someone that can’t speak English without requesting a translator and I’ll cancel if it has to be the child.

[Hangry06]

I wonder who paid for you to learn that language 🤔

[Stevefiveo]

It is very hard for an adult to learn a new language.

[Asker]

I see more adults learning a language than those that don't. I've noticed this same trend: other immigrants from Europe and elsewhere learn English while many Mexicans have been living more 20+ years and can't even count 1-10.

[Uptowngirl88]

Yes, the parents need to take their asses to school and learn English

[ChefPapiChulo]

no its ignorance to expect people to do what you want them to do.

[Asker]

I don't like translating and find some concepts hard to explain it in another language. So was it right to be forced to do something I don't want?

[ChefPapiChulo]

just look at my original opinion for clarity.

[Asker]

Ok I got it now.

[Anonymous]

Lazy or not, it's a problem. You shouldn't be allowed to immigrate to a country where you can't speak the language.

[Shiningtempest]

I don't view it as laziness if they use their children as translators.

[Asker]

So if there were multiple chances they could've taken English courses long ago and it was even offered to them with a very low cost but they refused because they have an American child (me) and so they didn't even bother nor try, that's not laziness?
They admitted once that if they didn't have me they would've been forced to learn.

[Shiningtempest]

Unfortunately, not everyone has time available to take English courses.

[Asker]

If you read my other updated replies, you'll see why I think my parents' case is an example of laziness. They actually had the capacity, money and time to learn if they wanted to. They admitted it once. They refuse to because they didn't care to learn since I was their easiest access to them.

[Shiningtempest]

If they don't want to take English courses, nothing could be done besides respecting their decision.

[chapawapa]

I would say no... You don't know the situation