Why is it that 70% of Americans think immigrants should speak English fluently to become citizens?

SMBR

Maybe its because sharing a language is both the key to partcipating in society as well as individual success?

People who dont speak the language of the country (not just US - this applies to any culture) do not assimulate and become part of the culture -- they wall themselves off in closed comunities. We want people to come to USA to be PART of the country -- not just occupy space.

Also if you cannot speak the dominate language you are doomed to poverty, or at best minor success in the limited scope of the barrio / ghetto you live in.

Also, if the 1st generation does not make a good effort to speak english, then their children will likely have trouble too, with the consequence of the next generations also being doomed to poverty / marginal social participation.

It is not so much xenophobia as the intuitive knowledge that anyone who cannot effectively communicate is unlikely to be a successful, productive member of society.

wichitaor1

It is not really racism. Sure, there are bigots that bandy around the "speak English" diatribe. But, to be successful in American society, people need to speak to dominate language: English.

~~Sich regen bringt Segen~~

It's simple really. English is the language of the land. And everywhere around the world, it's becoming evident that English is the language of prosperity.

Think about it this way. If you walk into Wal-Mart and ask where the Hot Pockets are to an immigrant who doesn't speak english, there are problems. It's not convenient for anyone when there are language issues. Problems arise, miscommunications and errors come about. Employers don't want to hire people who don't speak English, so it's really better for their own good that they speak English. They don't have to stop speaking their own or leave all of their cultural backgrounds, because that would be Un-American. But since basically everyone in the U.S. speaks English, it works better for everyone.

gomanyes562

Currently, you only need to know basic English in order to become a citizen. You need to write simple sentences like "This is a dog".

Commandant Marcos

You can't press 1 for English in Mexico either.
The french have petitioned to separate from English Canada what about that? Turn the TV off and start educating yourself

RicMon87

that's what I think, but I don't know about the "fluently" thing. I think it's pretty difficult to do that, it'll take a very long time.
I think if they learn English, that's enough for me.

Michelle My Bell

If you want to live in an English speaking country then you need to learn how to speak English!!
I understand they need to be here a while to learn, that doesn't bother me, it's the people who have lived here for years and feel they don't have to learn that irk me.
It's not a question of racism at all. America has always let immigrants in. What do you think America (or Canada) would be like now if the people coming from other countries (hundreds of different languages) never learned to speak English and everyone just spoke the same language? How on earth would anyone ever get along???

lisa425lisa

Because English is the American language. It wouldnt be right for a bunch of Mexicans to tell people of France that they should also start speaking Spanish.
If they want to immegrate here, they should learn OUR language, we shouldn't have to adapt to learn theirs.

rhsaunders

Because a person cannot function effectively as a citizen without knowing English. It is the language of the law, of politics, of business, of civil discourse generally. It is not necessary to know English to immigrate, but it is required knowledge -- and properly so -- to become naturalized.

qwerty

They should be fluent in English if they want to live here. If I were going to move to France I would want to be (and would be expected to be) fluent in French.

Doug favors universal insurance!

I think that English should be required. I am not a raciest, but I think they should be able to speak the English language. If you went to their country, you would have to know how to speak their language if you hoped to be successful at all. There are many business in Miami that requires you to speak Spanish just to work. I am not for that. I think we should all know more then one language, but in the USA, English should be the required language. I agree, we are made up of many culture, and I love culture but in this case I think you not correct. Great question

jerseygyrrl

Paranoia - they think if someone is speaking another language they must be talking about them.

susieq8163

because this is america , we speak english. If you want to have part in this melting pot speak english I am sick and tire of pushing english instead of spanish when I go to take money out of my ATM. If i move over seas and wanted to live there I would learn there language and not
EXPECT them to covert to my language or make special things just for me.

elle55407

I agree with the first answer. If I were immigrating to another country, any country that doesn't speak English as their first language, I would be required to learn that language.

Glad you are happy with the way things are in Canada. However, I do believe we have about 1000% more immigrants than you get there. (I know that is an exaggeration, but I did read somewhere we out number you in immigrants 10 to 1.) So how many people do we need to accomodate? Here in Minnesota, we have a huge Hispanic population...like everywhere else in America...and we have had to accomodate that. We also have a huge Hmong population. So in the not so distant future, we'll have to accomodate that, I have no doubt.

When the original immigrants came here, guess what??? They had to learn to speak English, or they were SOL. I know this for a FACT, as my grandparents on both sides came straight over from Germany. NONE of them spoke English when they arrived. But they learned damn quick or they would have starved to death.

ENGLISH is our national language. If they want to make America their new country, they are going to have to accomodate us!!

Just an opinion. But it seems a fairly popular opinion. And I totally agree with it.

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

English is the official language of the US. Thus, all American citizens must speak English so that they will understand each other.

allieluvsorli

Well, someone coming into your country speaking French would be fine, but what if they only spoke Spanish? Or Chinese? Or Russian? Get what I'm saying. Don't try to act like you're all superior just because you have 2 official languages instead of 1. Tourists are one thing, but someone wanting to live in another country, whether it is America or China, should learn the language first.

El Chile

just as long as English has not been declared official language in the USA .you can speak any language that you like , it is in the constitution , it's called (Freedom of Speech)
best regards . saludos. if that 70% Amer's wants everyone to speak English is because they want to know what everyone is talking about. no big deal.

blu_raven_13

I think that a universal language for this country is a good idea. Or if you are going to have language options you need to have them all... If you call a company for help and you have the option 1 for English and 2 for Spanish or whatever i think that you should put all the languages. i think that it is unfair that certain languages get presidence or certain cultures have to learn English and others don't...

fathead

Racism? No. It is the law.

Oh, you are Canadian. Of course it seems insane then. Goes with that territory.

ken erestu

I wish it were that simple. America is made up of people from different cultures, people who speak different languages.

Luckily Federal laws provide for citizens, residents who are not English proficient. In this manner, our government seeks to incorporate ALL those who have the will to become involved.

By the way, you can get 70% of people to agree to anything if you ask the question right.

Sergio D.

there is no official language of the united states so i find it quite irrelevant. plus, its easier to demand when you don't have to take action yourself.

Easter Bunny

Because Americans think America runs better if it's somewhat homogenous, at least as far as communication goes. I wouldn't call it racism. It's a little different then Quebec, which, by the way, as you know, many there would love to leave Canada.

whcwarrior_10

maybe because english is the language here.. just like going to Russia, requires you to speak Russian, you cant press 1 for english there...

Jennifer M

Because America WASTES millions of dollars each year employing translators for each and every language known to man for each and every county in the united states. Also, it is hard to have a good working environment when no one speaks the same language. I worked construction for a few months and had to quit because every time I had to instruct someone on what to do or even where to sign a delivery slip (that they'd signed a million times before), I had to waste time and money finding someone to translate for me, because the only answer I'd get when I would point to the line and ask them to sign is a "no habla" at which point I would get my translator and they'd have a good laugh at me for not speaking spanish- excuuuse me for not taking a language course in high school- I enjoyed art more. So, can you understand why it's so frustrating to the flawless workings of society. It may be cute and charming where you come from but here it's just a royal pain in the neck!

mikea_va

Everyone knows that this country was based on immigration and people from different cultural backgrounds. That is not the issue! Knowing another language is a great benefit and no one is disputing that! But, everyone also knows that everything against illegal immigrants is NOT about race!!

Of course you need to be fluent in English in order to become a US Citizen!! If you go to another country you need to know the language in order to become a citizen. Not only is it common sense, but it is only right! For example - go to Germany and tell them you want to become a German citizen but don't want to learn German. How do you think that would go over???

AveGirl

Because they came here. They have plenty of time to learn English while they are waiting to become actual naturalized citizens and actually it is required in order to become naturalized. Most people here are not full citizens that are immigrants who keep talking in their own language. If they want to become citizens, it is a requirement. It should be worth it to them. If not, they don't have to stay. We should not be forced to learn every language on earth to become diverse. We are not leaving here, we do not force people to come here. Also, I have never heard of a Canadian who comes from a French/English area who feels good about that. If you don't speak French, hope you know what they say about you.

bgdadyp

first of all if you are going to be in this country you need to be able to communicate. .secondly only a goof ball would get their facts from a game show.
the question only replied to those polled... not to every person in America..... i also watched that show and they even said OF THOSE POLLED.... so next time either google the information you want or pick up a book.

is that how you teach? by telling the kids to watch t.v.? if so no wonder our education system is so screwed up.

Elfstone

Because in America, people speak English... You can come from a different culture and still learn to speak English. In my opinion, becoming an American citizen without being at least semi-fluent in English (I think you don't have to have like a degree in English, but you should be able to communicate fairly easily), would be like passing a math class but not being able to do arithmetic. Also, it's kind of hard to be an American if you have nothing in common with other Americans. Countries are made up of individuals, but the individuals also form the Country. If the people have nothing in common, they cannon truly claim to be a group; they are simply a gathered bunch of individuals. The founding fathers shared ideals.
I believe that it is not fair to force everyone who wishes become a citizen to have perfect English (plenty to Americans born in the States don't have perfect English), but they should have to be able to at least talk to people.
Also, America was founded mainly by a group of fairly wealthy middle-aged to elderly white males...

LadyZania

If I were to move to another country where most people speak a particular language, I would be expected to learn that language. The natives of that country would not be expected to accommodate my inability to speak their language by learning mine....now would they? Why should it be any different here? When you go into someone Else's country, you must learn their ways...that is only fair. There is nothing wrong with holding onto your own heritage, but you also have to accommodate the natural born citizens in your new country, as well. Our ancestors are also guilty of not accommodating the natives when they came here and took over. It was wrong then, too! *sm*

bob

It has nothing to do with racism. Thats a liberal trick they use to make it sound like you're being a big bad racist if you think everyone should speak english. You're not. There are immigrants from all over europe who are white and don't speak english. They should be required like everyone else to learn the language. You need to be able to communicate with your neihbors to get along in society. What if you are dying on the floor and screaming for help in a foreign language. Your neihbors won't call 911 and you will die.

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