Official Languages for the US

[AFPheonix]

There's a reason why we call Hillsboro "Hillsburrito" these days

(yes, completely tasteless joke, but in a lot of places in town, there's more spanish signage than engish)

[ShockQueen]

I guess there is a silver lining to being this far north of the border AND away from the coast. When I was in Denver and California, I was SO sick and tired of people asking me if I spoke Spanish in Spanish and then look digusted when I couldn't understand them, and then demand a manager in clear ENGLISH!

I suppose technically, Engilsh isn't our native language. We speak AMERICAN or AMERICAN ENGLISH. Imagine if we adopted QUEEN'S ENGLISH as an official language. What a bottled-up mess that might be, but that's just my weird humour.

The point is.......as has been said from many a source, is we really should have an "official" language. I don't care about the fact that we're the "melting pot" anymore (I think that pot's full folks), that ideal has pretty much been overrun with "hey....an easy country to get into - let's GO!" Our border security is weaker than just about any other nation's, and we're just a bunch of pushovers led by lobbyists who keep touting the flag of "Who's gonna do the work that the illegals are doing now if we get rid of them?" It's like those panhandlers who look physically fit enough to work, but don't.

I was shown a t-shirt once that says "Press 1 for English - Press 2 to move out until you learn English". Tasteless I know, but........it does get the point across.

And for goodness sakes people.....if you're going to have foreign language as a requirement in high schools, please offer MORE THAN ONE FREAKIN CHOICE!!!!!

[NightAngel]

I'm in an area where I hear Spanish as often as English and it really doesn't bother me one way or another.

As for schools I can tell you my oldest son is learning German. Cool, right?
I asked him, "Son, when are you ever going to need to know German? Why aren't you learning Spanish?" He had absolutely zero idea when he was ever going to need to know German but, "Mom, I'm REALLY GOOD at German!"
Yes, I'm proud of him.

His father speaks French fluently. Other than the couple of months he spent on foreign exchange in France 20-ish years ago guess how often he's needed to know French?
If you answered "never" you win a cookie.

[CancelMyService]

What's funny is if you go toward the northern border in New England, you won't hear Spanish but you'll probably hear French instead.


The whole "move out until you learn English" argument is completely hilarious when you consider the areas where Spanish is spoken the most (Texas, Southern CA, Florida) were provinces of Spain or Mexico before they were ever part of the US. It's not like the people there decided to start speaking a different language just to be difficult,

[Boozy]

...the areas where Spanish is spoken the most (Texas, Southern CA, Florida) were provinces of Spain or Mexico before they were ever part of the US...

People should have the good manners to completely abandon their culture and language entirely after their lands have been purchased and/or invaded by the United States.

[TennesseeWhiskey]

Which version of English should be the national standard? You might think I'm being glib, and I kinda am, but you travel around the US and tell me there isn't a sometimes substantial difference.

I don't mean accents either, there's entirely different words for things depending on which part of the US you happen to be in at the moment.

Should it be Southern US English? Midwestern English? Hell, even here in Pittsburgh we have our own "Pittsburghese" which can be almost as baffling to newcomers as a totally foreign language.

I don't see what's so bad about Spanish being a secondary language in areas with a significant Hispanic population. It's like the parts of Maine that are predominantly French speaking because of their proximity to Quebec. I wonder why that's never the source of outrage like Spanish is............

Why, Southern should be the standard, of course, honey! Especially since our English is the closest to the Queen's English!

If Spanish is a SECONDARY language in areas with a significant amount of Spanish speakers, fine. However, I don't see why we English speakers should bend over backwards to learn Spanish. We never asked them to come here, and, if the situation were reversed, we emigrated to a Spanish speaking country, and expected them to put up signs in English and for them to learn English for us, they'd laugh their asses off.

[NightAngel]

Okay, since as far as I know the ONLY group of people who have been able to come up a universal language of any kind is deaf people- I vote for International Sign Language to be the "official" language.

Everyone can continue to speak their own language outloud amoungst themselves but when you encounter someone who doesn't speak your language then everyone can revert to sign.

Problem solved. Have a nice day.

[BroomJockey]

Actually, that's not true. There's ASL (American Sign Language), and a few other forms. I'm fairly certain the individual letter signs are internationally recognized, and some simple words, but with a list of sign-languages like this, I doubt that much is common.

[NightAngel]

International Sign Language
Also known as Gestuno but most commonly refered to as ISL.

Granted- it's more of an agreed on set of characters than a whole language but at least they were able to agree on that and use it effectively!

I've kind of been looking into learning sign language because I have so many deaf people who shop at my store. I'm hoping that it'll be the one language I can actually learn.

[BroomJockey]

Hey, that looks fairly interesting. I've toyed with learning sign language, as well as other langagues, but with that list of sign languages I posted, didn't think it would be useful, and saying anything with the individual character signs would take forever. Are they expanding it, or is it the same since it was created? If they're increasing it, even if slowly, that would be a huge thing.
Just goes to show, regional differences don't have to be a barrier.

[NightAngel]

I can't really answer those questions as I'm just starting researching this stuff myself.

I think it's pretty cool though- one language for all people without trading in your own.

[rahmota]

I'll vote appalachian english. We've actually got vowels and consonants unlike southern that just has vowels... (Just kidding. I love the south.)

As for Sign language the only sign language I know is either military or driving related and usually only takes one or two fingers.....

As for invented languages whatever happened to Esperanto? I read about it in college and it was used heavily as a joke in Red Dwarf. Is there still any one using it any major thign going on with it in the real world?

Also speaking of military the international language for airline and military pilots is english so there is precedent for that.

[Greenday]

Yea, I only know how to curse people out in sign language and also how to say "Your mom." Thank you Maxim Magazine.

Maybe everyone should just go back to Latin.

[Seshat]

I think it's pretty cool though- one language for all people without trading in your own.

Problem: blind people.

Just thought I (and my blind friend, and my severely vision impaired friend) would throw a spanner in the works.

[NightAngel]

Maybe everyone should just go back to Latin.

Latine loqui coactus sum.