Forcing foreign people to learn our language

[Saben]

Well, I think if you go to somone's house then you should speak the language they want you to speak and if you go to someone's store then you should speak the language they want you to speak and if you go to their country you should speak the language they want you to speak. So if McDonalds opened up a French branch in Australia if I wanted to go there then I should be expected to speak enough French to go through the processes required to order a burger, even if it is Australia where the official language. If McDonalds was sensible in a country like Australia they would make it a bilingual store where people could order in French or English (or a solely English speaking store like most of them are already anyway), but they have the right to choose any language for private communication.

Immigrants however should still need to know the official language for citizenship in addition to as many other languages as they want to know and government offices should never provide another language at the exclusion of the national language. Good customer service dictates that translations SHOULD be made available, but excellent customer service isn't always worth the dollars it costs. Providing things in non-official languages is a politeness, it isn't something that should be required.

And gumby_30, don't worry about it. Sometimes isn't easy to know how someone means to say a certain thing. Your words alone were a little bit harsh but maybe you didn't mean them that way, just try to think about your arguments a bit more in the future so you can decide if they are appropriate and also decide how to best say them so people will read them in the way you want them to be read. There is nothing wrong with having an argument and having different points of views and there is even less wrong with changing your mind when other people share their points of view if you feel the new point of view is "right".

[Sophita]

[sybillious]

it's already been stated that it was about usa; if it were about the global community, then the main language of country x would apply. no, to expect someone vacationing in the us to learn our language fully is ridiculous, especially if that is the only time they expect to encounter english speaking citizens.

we're referring to those who LIVE here, not visit; living in a country yet refusing to learn the main *yes, even though there is a large hispanic population, english is still the main language* language of the country *declared legally or not* is foolish; the individuals will at some point in time *the exceptions would be elderly who can't/won't adjust* need to interact with others outside their little worlds, making basic communication necessary-so, yes, learning that language is necessary.

if you were to relocate to another country, a person would need to learn it, since you won't necessarily have the luxury of coming across others that will speak your native language-to expect that is asinine; another country/culture, your choice to be there, a wiser, practical person would adapt to fit in and try to be a part of the new country's ways, rather than cling stubbornly to what held true in their old country.

*when in rome, do as the romans do-speak italian; when in japan, japanese, etc.*

it's called applying common sense, which in today's world, is rapidly going extinct; too many people are self oriented, expecting the world to change to fit their needs-life doesn't work that way, you are but one of many, YOU have to change, not the world.
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to paraphrase my fellow mod, parallax:
I hate my job with the passionately burning intensity of a thousand fiery suns.

[Lunarblade]

[Horned Loa]

[Blaze Silven]

Personally I think that its not the U.S as a whole just a certain group of people who think that If you don't know how to speak our language, then you don't belong here. That is only partially true up to a point. I'm not saying I'm one of those people, but think about it: What if someone came into you work or school and that person didn't know how to speak your language. how would you communicate? You are not going to take the time to learn theirs, because you are in a country where your language dominates. You also want to help them, but you don't know where to start. it is really confusing for me to understand something I don't know.
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[Lunarblade]

[Horned Loa]

[Ezekiel]

[Rakuna]

If they're not here to, you know, live, then no.

But, if they plan on living here, it helps a lot to know the primary language of the country. Otherwise, you might miss a lot. Not to mention, it would be frustrating for those who don't speak the immigrant's language. Don't expect much out of living here if you can't communicate with or understand most of the population.