Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks Adopts English-Only Ordering Policy

[munchkins 0]

So even tourists who don't speak English well won't get served?

I wonder how the anglophone world would react if a bistro in Paris had a sign reading "c'est la France - parlent français" -- even the french aren't that bad though

I do not think that that is quite the point, it is about immigrants that many times basically refuse to learn the language of their adopted country. As a tourist, I always try to make myself understood, again by learning the basics, at the end of the day, how hard is it to learn. please, thank you, may I, and enough to get by, not hard at all.

But to have thousands of immigrants who will not learn the language is a bit rich to say the least. I wonder how all these immigrants who set up in the same areas and get angry at this type of thing would feel if thousands of english speaking people moved into their towns in their countries and would not learn the language, bet they would not like it either. I find it just down right rude.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Hmm -- I wonder how well the Europeans/Americans/Canadians/Aussies who live in say, Hong Kong or Singapore are doing with the local language? When I lived in Hong Kong I could speak Cantonese a bit but can't read it to save my life, which was better than most Westerners. Thank god people were tolerant and still gave me my congee when I ordered in English

I'm not saying don't assimilate but I don't think Europeans/Americans/Canadians/Aussies do so well when the shoe is on the other foot.

A restaurant seems like a weird place to get all worked up about assimilation

Edited June 13, 2006 by robinklake

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I find it just down right rude.

An immigrant who does not put in enough effort to learn English is not rude. Just stupid and complacent.

[irishgirl73 0]

I totally agree with him

I think it is kinda funny(sorry I don't want to pi$s anyone off) but I do. They are making such a big deal about it here. All I can say is this...........when I went to Mexico-I had to speak spanish because they didn't know English very well. (nothing against mexicans-just an example)If people are here & they want to order something-learn the language & ask for it.

By the way-those cheesesteaks are the best

when in Rome people!

Edited June 13, 2006 by irishgirl73

[Fandango 1,439]

Will I be flamed for this?

I think that's fine. I agree with it...

<ducks>

Are the employees supposed to know a dozen or more different languages to accomodate all for whom English is not their first language? I don't think it is at all unreasonable for immigrants to make a serious effort to learn the language of their adopted country, at least at a basic survival level. If an American goes to another country and expects to have everyone bend over backwards to accomodate them, they are called "the Ugly American." But when Americans treat foreigners coming here the way Americans are treated in other countries, we are called "racist."

that's an excellent point.

[CarolineM 0]

That french example...what's the point? If they had that sign up...Great! Oh well...their country, their perogative.

The French have a dislike for Americans because of our arrogance. You should see the way we are represented by tourists in most places. It's an American arrogance, and it's really embarassing. I've travelled a lot and seen it EVERYWHERE.

It's not just the language...but I mean it is KINDA the same ... If you travel, make an effort to RESPECT the culture of the other country by at least learning enough to get by for your few weeks vacation...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If an American goes to another country and expects to have everyone bend over backwards to accomodate them, they are called "the Ugly American." But when Americans treat foreigners coming here the way Americans are treated in other countries, we are called "racist."

that's an excellent point.

Being a bad guest in someone elses home and being a good host when someone visits your home are two different things. Let's not mix them up.

[munchkins 0]

Hmm -- I wonder how well the Europeans/Americans/Canadians/Aussies who live in say, Hong Kong or Singapore are doing with the local language? When I lived in Hong Kong I could speak Cantonese a bit but can't read it to save my life, which was better than most Westerners. Thank god people were tolerant and still gave me my congee when I ordered in English

I'm not saying don't assimilate but I don't think Europeans/Americans/Canadians/Aussies do so well when the shoe is on the other foot.

A restaurant seems like a weird place to get all worked up about assimilation

No I am not saying that we do, , I have always tried and found that where ever you are if you do just that the response you get is helpful and although sometimes amusing the locals appreciate it. One of the problems with all this is that the English language is spoken in about 90% (or something like that) of the countries of this world and the English can be lazy in learning another language

I find it just down right rude.

An immigrant who does not put in enough effort to learn English is not rude. Just stupid and complacent.

And also agree with this but still think it is rude

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I have travelled and seen the way Americans are -- it can be embarassing (but so can british people, australians, israelis, germans -- we hardly have a monopoly on it.)

But most English speaking people speak English no matter where they go in the world -- if they saw a similar sign in Mexico, France or Honkers I'm not sure they would be so understanding.

[Fandango 1,439]

If an American goes to another country and expects to have everyone bend over backwards to accomodate them, they are called "the Ugly American." But when Americans treat foreigners coming here the way Americans are treated in other countries, we are called "racist."

that's an excellent point.

Being a bad guest in someone elses home and being a good host when someone visits your home are two different things. Let's not mix them up.

I've traveled all over the place and when Ive gone to non-English speaking countries, I never expected everyone to still know English just to accomodate me.

[CarolineM 0]

Right...they wouldn't...hence my point about Americans being so disrrespectful of other cultures IN the other country.

[hockeygal 0]

It isn't like the government implemented this rule. It is one guy who can make whatever statement he wants in his own shop. If people get offended, they can go order a cheesesteak in whatever language they like at the place down the street.

Maybe cuz I am from Quebec, language and signs and rules are water off a duck's back to me. Someone tried to get into an argument with me once because the new Xerox machine was set to English and not French! And this was in an English university!

If I am hungry enough, I will order the sandwich in whatever language the shop wants, especially if they will coach me. I just don't see the big deal.

[ChristinaM 0]

Would anyone here go and live in Mexico and expect to get by without ever knowing how to say "please", "thank you", "I'd like..." and the names of key items in Spanish? Or live in Quebec and not learn French? Or Hungary and not learn Hungarian? It's a matter of being able to get by - you can't expect the natives of a country to speak your language just because you don't speak theirs.

The owner of the restaurant is of Italian heritage. Why on earth should he feel compelled to speak any language other than English (and Italian, if it is his native tongue) unless he so chooses?

If we stop enabling the lazy and complacent in the name of political correctness, maybe they will be encouraged to assimilate - which can only be a good thing.

[CarolineM 0]

Ya'll have to understand that our perspective here on VJ is VERY biased. We are ALL multicultural people being that we are invloved with NON Americans. MAny of us are WAY more well travelled than the average American. We all understand different cultures and most of us probably embrace them - is there anyone here who would completely REJECT the culture of their SO? I'd say not...

but we are a unique social group...Just take that into consideration

If we stop enabling the lazy and complacent in the name of political correctness, maybe they will be encouraged to assimilate - which can only be a good thing.

OMG Christina - you are a genius

[springrobin 0]

If they want to put a sign in the window, that is fine with me. If the people can read it/ understand it, then they know to order in English (I'm talking bi-lingual people, not illiterate people). If they don't like it, go across the street and buy from the other place. I would hope that if someone who genuinely couldn't speak it, and were a tourist or a new immigrant, they would help them out while ordering.

I know when I went to Austria, I struggled to order in German. I did a horrible job, but the people there were nicer to me than my friend who just tried to order everything in English and was pushy.. Maybe Geno's had a lot of pushy people that refused to attempt to order in English.

I like to live by the saying "when in Rome" when travelling or am in a new place.