NOAA Weather

[Troubleshooter]

Language in an academic sense is ok, but outside of that it is a barrier.

If everyone spoke the same language it would be much easier to find ostensibley legitimate things to hate each other for.

[lookout123]

"We are all Americans who should speak English and only English!"

what a load of crap. people who are multilingual are not spat upon. they are too be commended. i've never heard anyone say that we should ONLY speak english in this country, but rather you should be able to speak AT LEAST english.

why is it chic to ridicule americans who only speak english? because they can't speak spanish? they are in an english speaking culture, why should they have to learn a second or third language so they can communicate to someone in their own country?

americans who only speak one language (english) in america = lazy, stupid, ethnocentric

mexicans who only speak one language (spanish) in america = poor, misunderstood, disadvantaged... WTF?

[SmurfAbuser]

Originally Posted by lookout123

why is it chic to ridicule americans who only speak english? because they can't speak spanish? they are in an english speaking culture, why should they have to learn a second or third language so they can communicate to someone in their own country?

americans who only speak one language (english) in america = lazy, stupid, ethnocentric

Sure, people who come to the US from Mexico should learn to speak English. I don't think anyone has an issue with that. I just find it interesting that Americans who go overseas DEMAND that people in other countries speak English--that's why we're often called lazy, stupid and ethnocentric. I've done a fair amount of traveling, and it blows my mind how often I see Americans get frustrated and/or pissed off because someone in France, Russia or China can't speak English. When I was in Germany I once saw saw an American question a merchant as to why he didn't take AMERICAN DOLLARS. I wanted to hide under a rock.

Should people who move to other countries learn the language? YUP, regardless of who they are and where they're coming from.

[warch]

I believe the start of this was that the government dare offer the weather in Spanish. If your English version is available, what do you care? How are you slighted or inconvienced in any way? What are you really so afraid of?

The Latino boom in our city has increased the amount of Spanish language signage and services, and enhanced my existence through mercados, interesting radio stations, and excellent food!

Travelers of all origins can/may choose to be insular assholes but they'd miss what's great about exploring new places and people. My experience has been that no matter how ignorant, (I speak one language and often do that poorly) if you act with respect you'll be met with it.

And as a former food service worker, the ugly customer thing is pretty lively English on English, as well. Jag's caution is well stated.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by warch

If your English version is available, what do you care? How are you slighted or inconvienced in any way? What are you really so afraid of?

Depends on how much money was spent on it I guess. Reading about how much California spends printing ballots in all the various languages helped me form my opinion on the matter of a national language, not fear.

[wolf]

In order to vote, you must be a US Citizen. People born in the US are citizens by default, and should be able to speak English. Naturalized citizens must show proficiency in English as part of their citizenship requirements.

There is no reason to print ballots in multiple languages.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by wolf

In order to vote, you must be a US Citizen. People born in the US are citizens by default, and should be able to speak English. Naturalized citizens must show proficiency in English as part of their citizenship requirements.

There is no reason to print ballots in multiple languages.

There are a lot of requirements to be able to vote.

Speaking English isn't one of them.

What about a deaf person? Required? Oh, read English. Blind person? Disenfranchised? Special cases you say? What about understanding? Comprehension? What level of knowledge is required?

I think this whole thing STINKS of "I'm in, now let's slam the door, before I have to share with those icky others".

We have so many people for whom English fluency is not the reason they don't vote, it's a shame. Why then should we place obstacles in the way of people who do care enough to vote?

This is self correcting by the way. There is no one involved enough and cares enough to vote in this country that also thinks that they should not learn English. Somebody that motivated is gonna learn some English too.

[warch]

Yes, we value our immigrant bootstraps, right?

So is it cost effective to have informed citizens, informed voters? ...realizing that legal immigrants, US citizens might have various levels of English language fluency at any moment, is it worth the money to make sure they can better understand the issues they are voting on, or maybe know what immunizations to get for their kids in public school? Its sounds to me like a question of equal access.

I support the public funding of ballot translations not only on the grounds of access but also on the grounds of a good investment in a more informed group of voters. I dont think it discourages the learning of English, even if those kids will still need to translate for grandma. It helps engage new immigrants more immediately in a larger community.

We also have a lot of Hmong citizens around here that are exempt from the English proficiency requirement- such that it is, mostly due to their old age and dedication to the US during Vietnam. Hmong translations are found for most public documents.

[warch]

Anyone here grow up in the US with a home language other than English?

[BigV]

My son, he's deaf. Doesn't speak English. Home language SEE sign and ASL

[busterb]

Pie. "No, it wasn't unique. I took Spanish and German. Russian, Italian, Latin, Greek and French were also offered". One thing for sure you didn't go to school in the south in the 50s and 60s.
One thing that crosses my mind is how long before some egghead in DC, thinks we need new road signs? in 25 flavors.
Of course the international road sigs are a 1/2 ass flop. And metric system, god how can a dumb american handle units of 10 OMG.
Some places you go overseas they just give you an international DL., if you have a current one. Not Germany. In army we had to take the same test as anyone. Working with blueprints overseas, you can forget the inches & feet.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by BigV

My son, he's deaf. Doesn't speak English. Home language SEE sign and ASL

Is your son illiterate, or do you expect him to be so when older?

[BigV]

Originally Posted by wolf

Is your son illiterate, or do you expect him to be so when older?

No, he is not. Naturally I do not expect him to become illiterate later.

As a matter of fact, ElderSonofV has been accepted into the Honors Program at Gallaudet University, including a Merit scholarship and a Presidential scholarship. We are extremely proud of him.

But literacy is not a function of English fluency.

The English, the whole English, and nothing but the English, is at best, short sighted. Like any monoculture, there are great opportunities for economies of scale, but with proportionally great risks. Language is a medium of exchange of ideas, infomation. Having one medium only necessarily inhibits that exchange.

Your car's engine communicates it's power to the wheels through the transmission. But you don't just drive around in your favorite gear, do you? What about shifting? Your retirement fund grows your future wealth through your investment choices. You would choose only XYZ, Inc, though, would you? What about diversification? Your body is nourished by what your put in it, and your mind by what you put in it. You wouldn't eat only one food or read only the cellar, right?

Variety is the spice of life. Diversity is good. Vive le difference!

[Troubleshooter]

Two words...

Lost in the translation...

[Kitsune]

why is it chic to ridicule americans who only speak english?

More importantly, I was actually trying to figure out why anyone would be upset to see NOAA weather in Spanish. Is there really anything wrong with that?