DC Cookie: Controversy Week: Hablo Ingles

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Controversy Week: Hablo Ingles

If politicians vote to make English the official language of this country, that’s one thing. It’s really no different than having an official flag, an official bird, or an official song; all perfectly acceptable national identifiers. Frankly I’m surprised the matter wasn’t constitutionally settled in 1776 by the radical former Brits who penned the Declaration.

What really gets my blood boiling, however, is hearing the phrase “You’re in America, speak English!” Expressions like that just reek of entitlement. It’s basically the equivalent of saying “I’m too ignorant and lazy to learn how to communicate with you via any other tongue than the germanic one that my aryan dumb-ass was ever forced to learn.” You don’t hear Belgians bitching about foreigners not knowing Dutch. You don’t hear Italians shouting “Imparano Italiano, idiotichi Americani” Why? Because they can all speak four to six different languages fluently, and probably understand the basics of an additional three.

How embarrassing for America that, as one of the leading nations of the free world, its people have the ability to communicate only with themselves. Not to mention, this fact is virtually flaunted. I am personally humbled that I have gone from speaking and reading English and French effortlessly, as well as Italian with relative proficiency, to barely being able to utter a single coherent sentence in either of the latter languages. I don’t find the opportunity to practice, and hence, I find myself envying my friends who are so considerably multi-lingual that they even dream in foreign dialects.

For the love of education, stop being so self-righteous and enter your children into some foreign language programs. The only possible result from broadening our minds is an improvement to the American image and influence abroad.

29 Comments:

At May 23, 2006 11:46 AM, Anonymous said…

If your in living in this country and working at any sort of establishment where you must deal with the public on a daily basis - you really should learn/know english well enough to do your job. That's not too much to ask, as most of the residents of this country speak English and deserve to be spoken to in it. I don't want to have to learn another language just to order my falafel, quesadilla, or fajita at whatever establishment I visit
At May 23, 2006 11:52 AM, O-FACE said…

*First I wanna say that this great that your breaking from the norm of hot ass pics of you and your fellow chicas groping each other-*which I don't mind* Its nice to learn where you stand on issues and feel comfortable defending them...With that being said...This is the frickin U.S. of A. We are the modern day Roman empire. Why should we have to learn any other languages when we control, manipulate, and dominate everything...You go to all the other country's schools and they are teaching kids english...There is a reason for that ya know. The world is learning english....so should immigrants who come here.
At May 23, 2006 11:54 AM, DC Cookie said…

If it weren't for people who spoke other languages, you'd never even HAVE falafel, quesadilla or fajita.

Enjoy your shelter...
At May 23, 2006 12:12 PM, Anonymous said…

Just as Americans shouldn't expect to get by with English in non-English speaking countries, visitors and residents of the US should be expected to communicate in English.
Unless you're Native American, in which case, you have a legitimate beef...
At May 23, 2006 12:17 PM, Anonymous said…

While I completely disagree that "all" folks in France, Italy, et al. speak 4-6 different languages, I absolutely agree that we in the US should be sending our kids to either language immersion schools, or to foreign language classes at the earliest age possible. It only makes sense. Growing up in NYC, I went to a french language school - it was fantastic.
At May 23, 2006 12:32 PM, Anonymous said…

I hear the French are very understanding of tourists who don't speak their language. ;)

In Europe, it's a necessity to learn all these different languages because there are so many small countries. Going from England to France to Germany is like going from Boston to Atlanta to Dallas, except that in the US, all three places speak the same language.

I'm not against learning a foreign language, and I would certainly be as patient and understanding as possible with a tourist who is trying to communicate. But if you're coming here to make a living, it only makes sense that you need to learn the common language that everybody else speaks. There's a benefit to conducting all commerce in a single language.
At May 23, 2006 12:39 PM, Miss Scarlet said…

Ha, I love all of the anonymous comments.

I was going to say something similar to what Wiz said about the closer proximity of other countries in Europe. I have never been to Europe but I would try to learn as much as I could when visiting other countries to at least attempt the language.

I wish more people had an interest in learning other languages. When I was in elementary school I told my teachers I wanted to learn Chinese and they laughed.
At May 23, 2006 1:04 PM, A Unique Alias said…

I'm inclined to agree with Anonymous comment #1. Granted, there's no reason to be rude ("You're in America, Speak ENGLISH!"), at the same time, if you plan on starting a life in America, you should probably learn English.

Tourists don't get that rap from me - - I lived next to the Nat'l Zoo for and I understand. You're here to see the animals, not strike up a conversation or support your family.

It's different, though, when I can't get the jerk behind the counter to give me a simple _______ because they are wholly ignorant of the language that Americans predominantly speak.
At May 23, 2006 1:29 PM, Phil said…

BOOO Cookie!!! Hsssss!!!!

(just trying to get in the spirit)
At May 23, 2006 1:48 PM, Anonymous said…

Mon dieu Cookie, what have you started?
Si je me bien rappelle, tu proviens du Canada. C'est evidenment plus facile d'apprendre le francais dans l'ecole. But despite the spelling mistakes of Anonymous commentator # 1 (it's "you're", not "your"), the point is relatively valid, as the political reality in this country has not been conducive to the preservation of distinct minorities and ethnicities. Whereas in other parts of the world (Asia, Europe) the nation-state was generally created from a single, common language and ethnicity, the American identity was built primarily on values. Yes, there was a continuity of European (English Language, French ideals) institutions and imperialism. It was, after all, how the fledgling new nation managed to expand rapidly at the expense of First Nations (Native Americans) and a handful of Mexican settlements (yes, the northern lands of the other fledgling state, Mexico, were mostly populated by First Nations, not Spaniards or mixed race Mexicans).

Going back to the Canadian experience, the British had no choice but to respect the rights of the newly conquered French peoples, as they greatly outnumbered the British at that time ("je me souviens"). Now, please don't take this as either condoning or accepting imperialism and ethnic subjugation. It is merely an observation. To reiterate, this great country of the United States of America chose to build a society based on European values and a single language. Yes, you can easily operate a Government using two or more languages (India, SchWeiße, etc.) The question is entitlement, as one commentator put it. Even when the Roman empire was at its peak, bilingual signs were common (e.g. Greece and Spain). I have seen these signs myself at several museums in Europe. You can indeed preserve a local language without jeapordizing the central institutions.

Having said that, "the new Rome" need not follow the same strategem for integration. If the people's representatives choose to have an official language to enshrine a universal lingua franca, so be it. They are, at least theoretically, the rightfully elected representatives of the people. Minority rights, in turn, are protected by those very same European ideals I just spoke about, entrenched in the U.S. constitution. Languages can be preserved over millenia, despite Government intervention. Thus, no matter how you feel about an issue, you must make those feelings known to your elected representatives. After all, "all politics are local", as Tip O'Neill used to say. Then again, I guess he never did get to read "Taxation Without Representation", on the back of the DC license plate. Who knew blogging would become an avenue for democratic expression. You would make the founders proud!

-Raincouver.
At May 23, 2006 1:52 PM, Carrie Broadshoulders said…

I agree with Cookie except in terms of me being in the elevator with you and you and your coworkers are chatting in spanish. I think in closed environments, to keep people from thinking you are talking about them, you should speak english. If you all are alone, by all means, rattle on in whatever language you want.
At May 23, 2006 2:02 PM, DC Cookie said…

That's why it's good to have a warm smile. Oh...and also why it's good to learn other languages.

I've often thought Vietnamese would be a good one to know (a la Seinfeld)...
At May 23, 2006 2:12 PM, Anonymous said…

For the record, I'm completely in love with the idea of learning foreign languages and I plan to enroll my kids into emersion classes to accomplish that very goal.

That being said...

The US is a magnificent place to live for many reasons and it is for those reasons that the US has become a melting pot. We each probably encounter 20 different cultures on a daily basis and each with their own native tongue. Most have chosen to learn English, but what if they had chosen otherwise? If I were to apply Cookie's logic, I should then learn the various languages because asking them to conform would be equivalent of saying “I’m too ignorant and lazy...” And where do we draw the line... How many must we learn before we can, in good conscience, stop calling ourselves "ignorant and lazy"?

I happen to think it’s the other way around. Exactly how self-righteous of Americans would it be if we were to move to Mexico and choose not to learn Spanish? Wouldn’t it be ignorant and lazy to move to smack-dab-middle of France and choose not learn French? (I’m not talking visit, I’m talking move… for months/years at a time.) Aren’t those who move to America and choose not to learn the English language doing exactly that? Aren’t they the ones who are reeking of entitlement… The ones who are being self-righteous? …lazy?

And with that, my Aryan dumb-ass will close by saying in my native Germanic tongue… You’re in America, speak English!
At May 23, 2006 2:38 PM, DC Cookie said…

Ornac - best rebuttal I have heard yet! And if we had a staged debate, I suspect I would lose. Despite that all this is coming, from a man who is currently taking Spanish lessons.

Let me clarify and soften my position a little bit. I agree that English is incredibly important, and the benefits for foreign nationals to learn English when in America are infinite.

I just hate to see people who are clearly trying to assimilate being knocked down for their broken words and thick accents.
At May 23, 2006 2:49 PM, Heather B. said…

Well VK just said it best, but I would have to agree that patience is a virtue and Ms. Cookie you make a wonderfully valid and true point.
At May 23, 2006 3:13 PM, DC Cookie said…

Feel free to e-mail me with suggestions. Tomorrow's post is already covered, but I have 2 more days in the business week.
At May 23, 2006 4:32 PM, *** said…

VKent made some very good points. I also think it's important to note that a lot of the immigrants who come here are uneducated, and many can't read or write even in their own language. Schooling isn't always an option for a salvadorean farmer. If they were educated, they'd probably be here on a work visa and not serving you fajitas.

Patience is definitely the key. For someone who never learned how to learn, a new language can be a huge undertaking.
At May 23, 2006 4:46 PM, The Senator said…

Sounds like your readers might be in violent agreement.

I happen to think schools should require that students take at least 4 years of a foreign language to graduate. Many already require kids to complete X number of volunteer hours to graduate.

The world is increasingly interdependent. The U.S. is finally realizing this.

Also, might I suggest you say U.S., and not America, Miss Cookie? If we are going to be all politically correct during controversy week, America probably refers to much more than the U.S. -- assuming you are referring to non-English speakers in the Western Hemisphere in your post.
At May 23, 2006 4:51 PM, DC Cookie said…

Understood. Unless we assume that I'm also including Canada in my tirade (also a traditionally English-dominant country)...

Thanks, Webster. :-)
At May 23, 2006 5:20 PM, Barbara said…

Incredible that we wrote about basically the same thing today. I'm living proof that knowing Spanish in this country can be a big help!
At May 23, 2006 7:28 PM, Anonymous said…

Education IMHO has little to do with learning a language. Made evident by the fact a 2 year old can do it.

[pointing at big shiny object with wheels] : “Car”
[2-year-old says]: “Car”
[2-year-old thinks]: “Car, Got it… Next”

This is the whole idea of immersion (sorry I misspelled in earlier post)…
I’m speaking of people who choose not to learn English. Those choosing to short-circuit the immersion process by avoiding English speaking channels on television and radio, only shopping at native tongued stores, refusing to converse in English with their children who are themselves just learning the language, or generally avoiding other opportunities that would bring them closer to becoming a part of mainstream society.

Yes, it does take time to learn a new language regardless of method and for that there is a little patience involved. To be clear, I don’t go around spouting “You’re in America, Speak English!” to every non-English speaking foreign national I encounter.
Why not? Well because I do understand that each individual has a unique story and who am I to judge.
At May 23, 2006 8:56 PM, Anonymous said…

YOU'RE IN AMERICA. LEARN ENGLISH! In my humble opinion, it's so disrespectful when people come here (many illegally---don't challenge me on this one, the numbers don't lie) and expect to have social services, education and healthcare at their disposal yet they can't even learn a lick of English. Why bother? They don't need to. Not too long ago I was in Starbucks and there was a "Now Hiring" flier in Spanish. Another time, I was at a prominent shopping mall in the DC area. I kindly asked the salesclerk if she had a shirt in my size and she responded to me IN SPANISH. Como?!? Isn't it great when you hear about so-and-so being in this country for 20 years yet they can't communicate on a basic level in English? It's sad and the argument that "Maybe they don't have the time, opportunities or resources to learn our language" can only go so far. The desire to embrace American culture and values plays a big part in whether or not people are motivated enought to try to assimilate while still retaining parts of their own unique culture and language, too. It's not all economics. For the record, when I was in Spain (and Mexico, for that matter), I spoke mostly Spanish to the natives even though many people I encountered tried to speak to me in my native tongue: English. Not only was it an opportunity for me to brush up on my foreign language skills, but it was also a sign of respect to those whose country I was visiting. By the way, Cookie, I'm not lazy and I'm proud to be an American.
At May 24, 2006 9:48 AM, Anonymous said…

Immigrants should learn English. We, native speakers, should be patient when speaking with those who are obviously not as proficient. The problem is with those that avoid and/or don't care to learn English.

There is nothing more aggravating than calling a customer support line and the automated response FIRST speaks to you in Spanish saying '..for spanish press 1..' then switching to English, '..for English press 2' WTF! This is the USA.

I also happen to speak Chinese natively. Funny thing is that when in China, Taiwan, or HongKong...unless with family I will speak English. Why? Well they will treat me better thinking I'm a foreigner than if I spoke as a native. Obviously this isn't the case here in the US.
At May 24, 2006 10:02 AM, Carrie Broadshoulders said…

Also, it's important to note that Americans are not the only people on Earth who speak English and frankly all of the financial world markets and political entities have accepted English as the most widely used language on this planet for conducing business. It's not a racist or ignorant thing to think that immigrants who come here should at least try to acclimate to English. As someone commented earlier, not all immigrants speak Spanish either and frankly I'm too damned old to try to learn Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. etc. So to me its racist to assume we should learn Spanish when there are plenty of other immigrants from other countries who do not get the same respect.

English is not a white thing or an American thing. It's a widely accepted and most widely used language for communicating outside of the United States. It's not my fault I was lucky enough to have been raised in a country where English is our native language, which I'm sorry, but it is.

I'm patient and do not expect everyone who comes here to speak perfect English. But if you want acceptance and equality, you have to be willing to give a little in return.
At May 24, 2006 10:46 AM, *** said…

You know kids, it's not going to be too long until this really is a bilingual country. It's not racist to encourage people to learn to speak spanish, it's logical. Just as logical as for a new immigrant to learn to speak english. Amazingly enough, there are countries in the world with more than one official language! And people survive!
At May 24, 2006 12:31 PM, Mybrid said…

While I agree that learning multiple languages is beneficial anywhere in this global economy, I'm actually on the side of "You're in America, Speak English!"

I'm an immigrant myself in this country. I come from Israel. I knew coming in here that English is the common language and I'd have to use it on a daily basis. I don't expect anyone else to adjust to my language. I don't expect bank tellers to speak Hebrew. I don't expect college professors to speak Hebrew. Heck, believe it or not, but I don't even expect they read the bible in HEBREW (need I remind everyone that it's the ORIGINAL language of the bible?!) in the churches here.

I live in America. I speak English.

And for the sake of communication among ALL immigrants to this country, it only makes sense that everyone settle on ONE language that is required of everyone.

Why? Because _I_ didn't grow in the United States, and _I_ didn't get the chance to learn Spanish in school. And living here and having to adjust to Spanish-ONLY-speaking-immigrants, aggravates the hell out of me! If I could learn this language, so can they! (How difficult IS it to learn the word "TRASH" in English, instead of me having to write "Basura" on my office trash???)

I grew up in Israel where every kid speaks Hebrew and studies English at school. Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish are second choices in most schools. But nothing aggravated me more when one million Russian immigrants arrived in my country and all of a sudden WE had to adjust to THEIR language. We had to accomodate them absolutely everywhere! From having bank clerks who speak Russians, through teachers who speak Russian, through Bus drivers who speak Russian! I hated what this did to my country where all the signs switched from Hebrew to Russian. And I hate seeing it happen in the U.S.

And while it is true that every European country teaches other languages, I don't recall the French being so accomodating to the English speakers.

Nor should America accomodate any other foreign language. There has to be ONE language spoken by anyone living in any one country. ESPECIALLY with America being so welcoming to foreign immigrants.

Both my European parents speak about a dozen languages, but they knew perfectly well that when they immigrated to Israel they're expected to speak Hebrew, and when they lived in England they were expected to speak English and not any other European language. It only makes sense.

If you're in America, speak English dammit (yes, I'm one of those)!

If you come to live in Israel, speak Hebrew dammit!

If you want to learn other languages - that's absolutely fine and welcome, but the minimum expected is to speak the language of the country.
At May 24, 2006 2:15 PM, Anonymous said…

Miss Cookie,

I believe that we have lost track of the issue here. The question is whether or not the official language should be English, as opposed to whether or not we should accommodate those who are not native speakers. As Ms. Mybrid explains above, a large influx of immigrants can and does create a culture shock. In my native Vancouver, there was a large influx of Asian peoples in the 80's, mostly from Hong Kong and the Punjab. They speak Cantonese and Punjabi, respectively. Much like the Russians in Israel, it was necessary to recognize the linguistic and cultural idiosincracies of these groups to fully integrate them into the mainstream. As you well know, Canada had pursued a social policy of multiculturalism. This means that the identities are protected, while encouraging integration. Thus, if there is a need to learn English or French, schooling is provided for them.

The challenge in the U.S. of A. is that many of the newcommers are not recognized. Many do come ilegally and thus it is more difficult to reach them. It is also common to stay within your own communities, much like the Poles, Germans, and Italians did before them. It was not uncommon to find these newcommers unable to speak English. They did, however, increase the population and their children became assimilated, just like their children. So when you think about why they don't speak English, think about your forefathers, and how difficult it must have been for them to set aside Yiddish, Polish, or their respective native language. In this era of instant gratification, we expect every newcommer to be similary, instantly fluent in English. I ask you: be part of the solution, not the problem. Encourage them to speak English, nicely. Ask capitol hill (in between raids) what they are doing to integrate these newcommers. You, the citizen, have the voice, and the power. Exercise it.

- Raincouver

P.S. Ms. Mybrid, the Christian gospels were written largely in Greek (as well as other languages), depending on when and were they were written. I believe that you may be referring to the T'orah which is indeed Hebrew, potentially derived from Old Cannaanite. More information: Angel Saenz-Badillos, A History of the Hebrew
Language (Cambridge, 1993)
At May 25, 2006 1:11 PM, Mybrid said…

Last Anonymous commentor: Yes I was referring to the Torah. Of course for me, as a Jew, the Bible is synonymous with the Old Testament written in Hebrew, and is a literal translation of the word "Torah" in Hebrew.

I keep forgetting that the word Bible in America encompasses the Old AND New testaments.

Sorry. Didn't mean to confuse anyone.

I will now attempt to speak English and not Hebrish. :-)
At May 30, 2006 12:42 AM, Drunken Chud said…

meh.