Re: Maps-Maps-Maps! ?
Reply #137 –
But, many a native-born US citizen speaks only his mother tongue-- and gets enraged when "immigrants" don't/won't/can't learn it fast enough.
The only surprise here is that the US isn't larger. Typically you get two years of foreign language in High School, more in college. In addition, you have servicemen picking up other languages while posted overseas.
I find this comment ironic:
skifaster6 answered 9 years ago
5% tops. We make it to easy on them. I have made a personal pact never to hire anyone that does not speak 100% good english from now on for my company. Everyone else should do the same. You want to live here, then speak the language or get the hell out...
It would appear the poster that demands people speak English doesn't know the language all that well himself. Anyway, the folks that are enraged would be so much if they didn't upset themselves so much, especially over non-issue. The data shows that new arrivals indeed are learning English. Having said that, I understand how the enraged folks get their incorrect impressions: telephone IVRs saying "Press 1 for English..." bilingual food cans, them speaking Spanish among themselves.
I have a personal story. I'm only second generation American born on father's side. At Christmas as my Sicilian grandparents' house, the adults spoke Italian sometimes among themselves. They also spoke perfect English.
A quote from the article:
"The last people you have to tell that English is important are immigrants," says Rumbaut. "English is already the de facto language of the country and of the world."
One complaint heard is that if you go to a foreign country--- Spain as an example-- you would have to learn Spanish if you expect to live and work there. Maybe, maybe not. If Jax's maps are any indication it's possible to get by just on the English language in a large part of the world because people make an effort to learn it at least as their secondary language-- for professional reasons if for no other. People who primarily speak English seem to have the most trouble with other languages-- we can't stop looking down at others long enough to even try to learn any other language, then have the nerve to yip at others for not learning English.