Why is it such a big deal for America to be bilingual?

*sue*

I don't think it's that big of a deal. it's just that it's America and the first language expected to be spoken is english. It's easier that way since the majority of people here has english as their 1st and probaby only language. I personally think it's good to know more than one language seeing that America is pretty diverse.

no_spin_zone_factor

the big deal as you call it is that Americans don't like having something forced on them.

thebox

I agree with a few of the answers. I don't have a problem myself learning another language. On the other hand, I don't like being forced to learn another language. If you come to a country where the majority of the people speak one certain language, you need to learn it.

Xenia

English has been the language we've always used. Why the hell should we change? Because hispanic people are coming here? It's THEIR choice, we're not changing OUR way of communication for THEM.

Henry VIII

Canada is bilingual in Quebec Province. The rest of the country is mono lingual in English eh.

I don't think it is so much a problem if the US is bilingual but what two languages would we have? Also one group of people don't want to just assimilate and encourage their language be also spoken as the French in Canada have done. The ones in the US insist we speak to them only in their language and have no desire to speak English.

FOX

There isn't a big deal with being bi lingual. But, English should be the language we all communicate with.

Crazybird

Most Americans speak another language. We have people from ALL OVER THE WORLD HERE!!!!! It is essentially already bi-lingual...there's just 1 common language. English. Nobody cares what OTHER language you speak.....just speak English. In Canada all the people who speak French stay in 1 area. All the Spanish speakers are all over and it's not right to make people learn 2 different languages to live and work in this country. Learn all the darn languages you want. Just speak English. No biggie.

It is making countries weaker with all the different languages.

becky b

The deal is this, this is OUR country..why should we
change just because someone doesnt want to speak OUR language. America has been an english country and hopefully will always remain one. If you go to Germany guess which language you have to speak..German, if you go to France guess which language..French, why should we be singled out??!!

My Business Plan

Because English is the language of Business the world over.
And Americans do not want to be FORCED to learn Spanish, French, Arabic or any other language. If people want to come here, and become citizens, then they should be more than happy to learn our language. If they don't want to assimilate into our culture, then they should go home. It costs business, billions of dollars a year to accommodate people who refuse to learn the language.

mikea_va

It is not a big deal. I speak another language and I know the benefits of it. That being said in America we speak English!
Millions of immigrants came to the US and learned to speak English!! Every immigrant should follow that example!!!!

DAR

I speak another language. Who are you to say it should be Spanish? (It isn't.)

People coming in should adapt to the country they join not expect us to take on their ways. We ARE a melting pot, and we do adapt some elements of the cultures that join us, voluntarily. The southwest culture is different from the mid west culture for that reason, in part. However, foreigners don't have a right to come here and say America should be different.

We speak over 200 languages here. We need English to speak to eachother.

james

First off Canada is not exactly bilingual. A good share of people in Quebec speak French and are excessively intolerant of english speakers whereas back when it was run by english speakers they had bilingual schools and street signs now all the english is being torn away. English is the language spoken everywhere else. The french speakers are also seperatists so not the best example for you to use. EVERY society that has allowed multiple languages in the public forum has fallen apart from within. No one is saying you cannot speak french (we do up here) or spanish or some other language at home or socially but when it comes to government and business there should be one language. Commonality binds us together and that is important or soon we become not one people but groups of peoples who have NOTHING in common.

Fedup Veteran

That is only in MONTREAL...Not FULLY across Canada like you are implying. And the facts stands that Montreal has their problems because of it.

A bilingual country can not survive because there is not cohesiveness there. It is what unites a country and makes it possible for people to COMMUNICATE.

elltea

have you even been to america, the 2 main languages are english an spanish, most speek english but there are millions that speek spanish, you can take you drivers lic test in spanish, in alot of town they speek several languages, like LA, new your, san fran and others so do you know what your taking about i dont think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

longroad

It would be nice. Many of us have had a hard time mastering English and really unable to find energy to master another, while a sibling masters three languages. Think it has something to do with aptitude.

squirrel squirrel

do you mean being able to speak two (or more) languages or being able to speak Spanish?

hopflower

Nothing. I am bilingual. The key is that everyone should be then. Including those who come here and make no effort to speak English.

bunnygrl43

thats not the problem. no one has a problem with being bilingual. its just that no one wants to be forced to learn another language. I'm good at spanish I like spanish but doesn't mean I like the fact that i was required to take the course for 2 years in order to graduate. and also its not fair to other immigrants who come to these country and take the test. take the esol classes to learn the language. there are more people in the U.S that speak english than speak the other languages. and also other countries are beginning to require students to learn english in order to be more succesful. don't you think its a step back? if your good and want to learn it I say great. but to be forced is something that is unwanted. and almost everyone in the world speaks english so their has never being a point in being bilingual.

I Am Fat

United States of Amexica baby! Changing the stars to tacos!

onetwothree

You mean 'The United States', not 'America'

'America' is a continent and many languages are spoken there: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and many, many Indigenous languages.

It's no big deal to have a bilingual country. It has nothing to do with the language. It's the fact that many people are illegally in the US. It's not what they speak.. They are breaking the law!!!
.

Kawaii

Nativist sentiment.

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