National lanuage

[cyan]

Should English be our only and official language? I think it should be and this link really makes me mad. :mad: Are we Americans or are we Mexicans?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/democrats_spanish_debate

[Linkster]

This debate has been going on for eons - only this time its Spanish - it used to be italian, german, and many other languages over the last 125 years

The point is that the US has always "advertised" itself as the "melting pot" of the world - where all are welcome - and just to make sure you understand my point - Im not referring to any illegal immigrants

Spanish speaking people make up one fifth of this nation right now - so Im sure that any politician that wants to win a majority in an election better play to that base

The debate over whether we should have things in the US inspecific languages is really a mute point - we already do have it and its not going to change because a percentage of citizens dont like it - as long as corporate America plays to that base - which they do - evidenced by phone answering machines - then its not really a "choice" that anyone else has - so its kinda useless to worry about it

[mwillman]

This is a nation of many nationalities. While english is the majority language I see no reason to give some form of national status.

[Moby]

Should English be our only and official language? I think it should be and this link really makes me mad. :mad: Are we Americans or are we Mexicans?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/democrats_spanish_debate
Why does this make you mad?

Spanish is the 3rd most spoken language on Earth. English is 2nd.

[Linkster]

I suppose that I should have also pointed out that if English were to become an "official" language - it would lead to a real problem in this country as most people can't speak or write it correctly - as evidenced by the title of the thread

[cyan]

Should should be capitalized and so should English. I skipped a g in language and a i in official.

but if we start accepting Spanish as a second language then we get closer and closer the being like Quebec. Countries have always done better when there was a unified language holding them together. But do we put Italian, German or French on our papers. Usually there is a Spanish side and an English side to all the papers.

[Moby]

Should should be capitalized and so should English. I skipped a g in language and a i in official.

but if we start accepting Spanish as a second language then we get closer and closer the being like Quebec. Countries have always done better when there was a unified language holding them together. But do we put Italian, German or French on our papers. Usually there is a Spanish side and an English side to all the papers.
I still don't understand why this makes you so mad. What is it about Presidential candidates campaigning to the largest ethic group in America that brings up this emotional response instead of an intellectual one?

I really want to know because I've seen the party that so many consider to be strong seem very emotional the past couple of years. John Bohner crying, Lindsey Graham barely able to keep speaking, Giuliani talking mostly about terror. What gives?

[LadyMod at scam.com]

Should should be capitalized and so should English. I skipped a g in language and a i in official.

but if we start accepting Spanish as a second language then we get closer and closer the being like Quebec. Countries have always done better when there was a unified language holding them together. But do we put Italian, German or French on our papers. Usually there is a Spanish side and an English side to all the papers.

Bologna or Baloney, take your pick. For over 200 years we have been fine just the way we are, why change that now?

What holds us together is the fact we are Americans, not merely English speaking people.


LM

[Maj.Stress]

The point is that the US has always "advertised" itself as the "melting pot" of the world - where all are welcome - and just to make sure you understand my point - Im not referring to any illegal immigrants


Is it safe to say that "melting pot" means taking many cultures and making one?

Traveling around a major city you might see some street signs in english with vietnamese signs above them. What is the purpose of that? You label the streets mulitlingual but every other sign on the road is in english. Is that safe? Do they know what the speed limit is for a given zone? Are the people that need these type of signs able to communicate in an emergency?

I think a standard language for the country is a good thing. I know I'd have a really hard time going to a non english speaking country and finding my way around without learning the local language.

[Linkster]

Maj Stress - thats just because our education system sucks basically - every other country seems to have no problem teaching their students a second language fluently

as far as street signs - I would say that since you have to take a written test to get a DL - it should be safe

[cyan]

I still don't understand why this makes you so mad. What is it about Presidential candidates campaigning to the largest ethic group in America that brings up this emotional response instead of an intellectual one?

I really want to know because I've seen the party that so many consider to be strong seem very emotional the past couple of years. John Bohner crying, Lindsey Graham barely able to keep speaking, Giuliani talking mostly about terror. What gives?

I am a democrat. This is partly why i am angry. My own party is purposefully undermining us with this. I have no problem with campaigning to Hispanics. My problem is they are doing it in Spanish. We should do nothing to promote Spanish instead of English. in the industrial revolution there were no campaigns in Italian. English should be our main language. All signs, forms and official papers should be only in English. We should learn a second language or even a 3rd one. but English first( I personally want to know like 4 launages at some point in my life)

I think we should be unified when it comes to language. Imagine how hard governing in India is.

[moonman]

English should not be made the official language until Americans learn it.

[cyan]

English should not be made the official language until Americans learn it.

Americans do know English.

[moonman]

Americans do know English.

:lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2:

[cyan]

:lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2:
are you talking about some of the slang we use. look at Scotland. how many proper english speaking people do you think would understand a Scotsman with a thick accent?

[Linkster]

cyan - most US teachers cannot speak proper english. How would someone that cannot form a proper sentence be able to teach their students a language?

[LadyMod at scam.com]

mass-debating.

Say that fast 5 times.

ROFLAMO :lmao2: :lmao2: :lmao2: :thumbsup:

[cyan]

cyan - most US teachers cannot speak proper english. How would someone that cannot form a proper sentence be able to teach their students a language?
never met a teacher that could not do that.

[moonman]

cyan, I'm not referring to accents or colloquialisms. BTW, that's a multisyllabic word for slang. I'm talkin' basic grammar. The double negatives, the misuse of pronouns such as who and that and the misuse of the proper tense. The basics, lol.

C'mon cyan two things Yanks don't do well is grammar and geography. Just admit it and have laugh. Honestly, you don't get out much, do you? For most of the past century and this new millenium most of the world has been scratching their heads at us trying to figure out how a people so grammatically inept and unable to communicate could be so rich.

Those would be places where grammar is valued more highly than in the USA. which is to say everywhere but the USA.

[Linkster]

never met a teacher that could not do that.

Is there a possibility that you just didn't recognize it ?

[moonman]

cyan spelled 'language' thus "lanuage" in the topic description. Case closed.