Should English be the only thing spoken in the United States, or should we have to speak Spanish also?

â™¥ On

we're in AMERICA. we speak ENGLISH. when we go to their country they expect us to learn their language they need to learn ours. I'm sick of people who live here who don't speak english. I don't go to your country and expect you to understand me and accomodate me just because I can't speak your launguage. sooo frustrating.

FoxAmericaLover!

English only. You can learn other languages too. But, English should be the only official language. My father speak fluent Lakota, Spanish, French and of course English.

I am me

when you go to Mexico u speak Spanish when people come to America they should speak English

deborahmoore69

English should not be the only language spoken here. However, I don't think it should be MANDATORY to speak another language if I live right here in the USA. (it should be a choice or an elective to learn another language).

I'm very frustrated at times when I drive up to a fast food restuarant like McDonald's (where a lot of mexican immigrants work) and I order in plain english something simple on the menu, and my order STILL comes up wrong! It's like, why should I be forced to succumb to formulating my sentences every which way to communicate when they should "understand or know" how to speak English? (especially working in a drive thru window where your communication skills should be sharp!). I'm not trying to be rude when I discuss this subject, but I do think immigrants (or people from other countries who migrate here)should make a conscience effort to learn the native language English that we Americans were taught to know.

The Mog

English should be the official language of the USA, but of course people will continue to speak other languages such as Spanish.

fetid_billy

There are many countries that have more than one language (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium etc..) and they seem to get on just fine. If people feel the need to speak their native tongue I guess you should let them. Learning Spanish is probably a good thing as it is the 2nd most spoken first language in the world.

Crooks Gap

This is America and our national language is English. While I think it would be in opposition to our Bill of Rights and personal freedoms in general to demand that it be the only language spoken in this country, there does need to be a line drawn.

Twenty years ago in California, ballots for elections were printed on one side in English, and in Spanish on the other. This was eventually stopped; the argument being that in order to become an American citizen and thus gain voting privileges, a person needed to be able to read and write English. I agreed with this.

Yes, California has a large Mexican history and population, but English is taught in the schools, and while Spanish may be the language many speak in their homes, English is still the way for them to navigate the world outside of that.

Again, this is America and our language is English. Speak what you'd like in your own homes, but don't force it on the rest of us.

I don't see the need for billboards in languages only a portion of the population can read, or labels on products at the store with incomprehensible instructions.

I understand that many companies now add multiple languages to their labeling process because they ship products all over the world and this can have the benefit of costing the consumer less overall. For reasons I do not fully understand, it still annoys the crap out of me.

So yes. This is the United States of America and our language is English. I do not believe that any other language should be required of us in our own homeland. I may be small-minded about this, but that's what I think.

Rock H

This is the land of the FREE.
You should be able to speak any language.

You should not have to speak Spanish, but if you look at the "new world" Canada down to south America Spanish rules.

Also Europeans know how to speak 3-5 languages.

tina

only scumbags leeches talking spanish....

Lucifer

fuuck that! I aint speakin no spanish

This is America jack!

marie l

English only.

PhantomLover

SPEAK ENGLISH OR GO HOME!!! BUT PLEASE LEAVE TACO BELL WITH US!!!!

Maria32183

Why would you limit people from being able to expand their knowledge of foreign language? Obviously if you come to this country not knowing English, you should learn it. But there are also people who come to this country in order to travel for business or pleasure. If people of the United States don't bother to learn a differnt language, how can you communicate with new people you may encounter. Or, what if you go to a different country, shouldn't you at least be familiar with their language in order to get around? No one has to speak only English or Spanish, but having that knowledge under your belt is an advantage.

Zac

This is a very tricky issue...on the one hand, I understand the diversity angle - it is not our place to dictate ones means of expression [see the First Amendment for further information.].

On the other hand...
I personally believe that if you truly want to be a part of a new culture than it behooves one to learn its language & customs. [the "when in Rome' theory]

I think bi- & tri-lingual signs are a nice courtesy to non-english speaking guests in our fair nation, but that's all it should be: a courtesy...NOT an obligation. Citizens should not be forced to accomidate those who choose not to participate.
My favorite example of this is the sandwich shop owner in Philly who posted a sign stating that he reserved the right not to serve people who could not or would not order in english. I don't neccesarily agree with his actions, but I understand his reasoning. He should not have to expend extra capital from his own pocket to accomidate non-english speakers if he chooses not to...In fact most, if not all retail establishments have a sign posted somewhere on the property stating the management's right to refuse service to anyone at any time. This particular business owner was just being more specific than most.

Was it legal? Yes. It's his place, he is the owner & as such may legaly refuse to serve whomever he pleases.
Was it the right thing to do? That's not for me to say.

However I will say that if you want to live here & take part in our culture, [and job-market] then learn the language. If not, well, don't get mad when you find out ignorance isn't so blissful after all.

mcCody-g

We shouldn't have to speak it, but it would be nice if we were given the opportunity to. I wasn't even offered foreign language class in public school until 7th grade. Just think of being able to speak spanish fluently by then! Even just traveling to somewhere cool like Cancun for spring break and being able to speak spanish would open so many doors. I don't think we should feel threatened by spanish being part of our country. We should feel excited that our children would get to add that to their education. It is, after all, a way for us to be part of the world, not just americans.
Also, businesses "cater" to spanish-speaking people not because they feel sorry for them, or have to, or feel pressure to...It's all done for the business to make money. That's what it's all about. SO before you get mad at hispanics for coming here to try to get a better life, get mad at the money hungry businesses that bow down to the mighty dollar.

here to help

first you should ask if only english should be spoken, its messed up to point out one language, especially spanish when people can somewhat understand it, but theres other languages spoken that NO ONE can understand it unless you speak that language, like the middle eastern languages and the asian culture languages.

so your question should have been should english be the only thing spoken in the united states.

warrenwhyte2008

its america learn english

sittin tight

Would you be expected to speak spanish in Mexico?

missjules81

English only please...why should I have to push 1 for english....???

THE TRUTH

pretty soon we all have to estalish spanish as a second language,

isieasy7

Money rules, the future is bouth English and Spanish, every company have now the Spanish option.

Renegado

Both languages are spoken by millions of people, we can't decide against any of those.

da chet

There are quite a bit of very vehement answers in favor of English, and while I do agree that illegal immigrants really don't have many rights in a country which they only live in (not have responsibility towards), we are all missing a very important point. How does any language become the primary language spoken? Majority of speakers. Already in the United States, we have many more people who do not speak English as their first language than who do. Granted, it's not just Spanish spoken, but those of the legal immigrants who come here and try to make a way for themselves and their families make up the new American demographic, much like the older European immigrants. When America was in its first years, so much German was spoken (because of so many German speakers) that it was proposed as the majority language. Many countries have numerous official languages and that is because of those who live there. So if so many people live here speak another language, and they are legal citizens, why not expand the official language group to include another with a majority number of speakers? So what if we have to learn a little Spanish (or whatever). They learn at least a little of English to get by, and whether or not it is official, Spanish will still be widely spoken and many of us who come into contact with those citizens day after day will have to hear it. Why not at least understand what they are saying? Don't retard yourselves.

Winger

English...If I went to Mexico I would expect to have to learn Spanish...why should it be any different here?

Mendi8a

We shouldnt HAVE to speak Spanish, we should allow it to be spoken though.

Bucky Ruckus

Let's change the official language to Esperanto and piss EVERYONE off!

sassyk

Yes, English should be the only language. If we are forced to speak Spanish, what about all the other immigrants who come here. Will we have to learn all their languages?

Willy Average 317537

Oblow English. No Oblow Spaniel. Canadians don't expect us to learn Canadian.And the Brittan's don't expect us to learn British, And Australian's don't expect us to learn Astralean.

Daisy

Well, I don't think you should be arresting people for speaking another language, but I don't think we should be catering to people who do not speak English. Signs and government forms should only be in English and it is up to the citizen/immigrant/visitor to learn the language if they want to be able to function properly in the society of the USA. If they have problems and need help with interpretation, it should be their own problem and they need to come up with someone themselves to help them. We should not be providing and paying for interpreters for them. I'm all for people learning other languages because it only expands our understanding of other cultures, but it should not be a requirement of anyone in the USA to have to learn a language other than English. Other people coming here need to take it upon themselves to learn English. It should be a requirement for immigration to the USA.

cyndi71mom

You are opening a HUGE can of worms here!!
Okay - this is AMERICA!!! It was founded by immigrants from all over the place!! My ancestors alone are from five different countries and yet, they ALL learned how to speak the language. It is disrespectful and rude for immigrants to come into our country and expect us to learn THEIR language. They come in here and want signs in their language and newspapers and radio stations and TV channels... we have to have special teachers to teach them in our schools!! You know what - LEARN THE LANGUAGE OR GET OUT!!!
But that is just my opinion.... LOL!

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