America Land of the Free.. Free to speak English only (Page 2)

[MostPaloney23]

English isn't the official language since there's none. It's better to know it but not knowing another language is disadvantageous at minimum and xenophobic at worst. Good luck not knowing/having a resource that knows Spanish in So Cal or the Southwest

[yucychan]

I plan to travel around the world, so does that mean I need to to learn every single language or dialect in my lifetime?
I speak both English and Mandarin well, with English being my stronger subject.
I took a couple of lessons in Korean and Japanese. I do have plans to learn Spanish later. And it's just because I want to learn them. And not because I'm going Korea or Japan or Mexico.

[HungLikeAHorsefly]

I think most people who insist everybody speak English probably don't live in urban areas where people speak a lot of different languages.

Also, being a typical American I don't bother to learn languages when I travel abroad so I can't very well expect others to do the same. I'll just use crude hand gestures and talk louder if you don't speak English

[A-man-22]

The point you made at the end is 100% what I believe.

If you go to a country you should speak the local language.

While English is a universally understood language I feel it's better if you at least try to speak their tongue.

Of course this standard also holds for them. You come to a English speaking country you should at least know basic English.

[Phillip_Pinto]

Ur not obligated to speak the language. But if u want to be understood, u better. It's impolite to go to another country and expect them to speak ur language... French and Spanish people do that all the time in my country so they just get ignored if they refuse to try and be understood.

[buttcrackjoe]

You won’t get by in America unless you speak English unless you are in very small cultural pockets like Miami, Puerto Rico among others. The US constitution was written in English and the 13 original colonies were English colonies so yea, fucking SPEAK English.

[AlexanderBrunnrgaard]

It's the dominating language, therefore the indigenous one? All countries have them, and obviously you can't have multiple main languages everywhere. And I fully agree that you should speak the languages of all countries, *if you're moving there*, but as a tourist it just so happens that English is the international language most widely known and wielded by people in the world and therefore the most appropriate and easy way to communicate with one another.

[genericname85]

learning another language is a skill you should acquire because it makes you adapt to different thinking patterns. if you move to a different country you of course should learn the local language. there's no excuse for not doing that but there's also no excuse for you not to learn a second language.

[Matt57]

I just think they should learn enough English to have a decent conversation and find their way around where they are touring in the country. I agree with your last point, that’s something everyone should do if they are traveling in a different country. I have at least learned enough German for Germany when I go.

[Likes2drive]

If you’re going to live here then you should speak the language, but obviously if you’re visiting you won’t be speaking much of ours just like if I’m visiting some different countries I can’t be expected to know all those different languages so I need a tour guide that can translate

[kestrelkil]

You do know that for a large portion of time European (white people) moved here and didn't learn the language. For example Minnesota, Kentucky. For fuck safe there where places in Kentucky where no one spoke English and German was the common tounge. So try again racist

[markscott]

Probably more non-English speaking people came to America, than did English speaking people. It was very common for children, particularly farm children, which was the main occupation, to not speak English until the went to school.

[Smegskull]

There is a tonal problem. Foreigners speak English with an annoying accent and we understand them yet if I learn a foreign language but pronounce everything with my English accent they don't understand me. (Which means they are being deliberately obnoxious or their language is objectively inferior)

[BeHappy1985]

You shouldn't presume that because many Americans took Spanish they can understand it. Many of them took Geography and can't finda Canada on the map. I even was asked once if I take the train or the bus to Poland...

[HM313]

But I know many people in the us that speak other languages. But it’s ok as long as you deal with formally in English, but you can chat in other languages. That’s what I know.

[Twalli]

A lot of people in other countries know English. Even if they don't you can talk with them. My sister had a conversation in Italy with a woman who did not know English and my sister didn't ( and doesn't) know Italian.

[sheepdip]

Oh my, yes, if the country does not have a unifying language, that will really show those mean conservatards, and won't impact social cohesion, integration amount communities or bridge communication gaps.

[JamesBoradil03]

i think you shuld speak the national language in any country you live in. if i lived in mexico i would learn the language.

[_Jay_]

Yea like isn't that the point of visiting countries? To learn language or have someone who understands with you?

[ZeussLightningBolt]

I don't know. Ask Tucker Carlson.
There is a difference between being bilingual and not knowing the local language.