Why Mexican Immigrants Can’t Get Ahead

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Most countries are bilingual and there are many benefits to being bilingual. Only in America are there people so arrogant to think that everyone else should be speaking English only. What an embarrassment to the establishment and origins of this country.

Why is it arrogant to be an English only speaking country? A single language not only binds a country, it also makes it easier and cheaper to run. Your argument holds no water.

[Danno 1,228]

Most countries are bilingual and there are many benefits to being bilingual. Only in America are there people so arrogant to think that everyone else should be speaking English only. What an embarrassment to the establishment and origins of this country.

I'm all for Bilingual... particularly for those who come here.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why is it arrogant to be an English only speaking country? A single language not only binds a country, it also makes it easier and cheaper to run. Your argument holds no water.

How many European countries are bilingual with English being their second language and how many of them are hurting because of it? The opposite is in fact true. We'd better far better off if we made Spanish compulsory in schools.

The Summer Institute for Linguistics (SIL) Ethnologue Survey (1999) lists the following as the top languages by population:

(number of native speakers in parentheses)

• Chinese* (937,132,000)
• Spanish (332,000,000)
• English (322,000,000)
• Bengali (189,000,000)
• Hindi/Urdu (182,000,000)
• Arabic* (174,950,000)
• Portuguese (170,000,000)
• Russian (170,000,000)
• Japanese (125,000,000)
• German (98,000,000)
• French* (79,572,000)

http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Most countries are bilingual and there are many benefits to being bilingual. Only in America are there people so arrogant to think that everyone else should be speaking English only. What an embarrassment to the establishment and origins of this country.

Except for Canada, Belgium and Switzerland (the latter two being tri-lingual or more), I am not aware of any developed countries that are bi-lingual. France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Ireland - all have a national language that people are expected to have command of if they want to get ahead in these parts. Good Luck, by the way, speaking French only in Ontario. Ain't gonna get you far. No sir.

How many European countries are bilingual with English being their second language ...

None that I am aware of.

Edited December 24, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[Ban Hammer 13,349]

Except for Canada, Belgium and Switzerland (the latter two being tri-lingual or more), I am not aware of any developed countries that are bi-lingual. France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Ireland - all have a national language that people are expected to have command of if they want to get ahead in these parts. Good Luck, by the way, speaking French only in Ontario. Ain't gonna get you far. No sir.

amen. apparently someone has never been stopped by the polizie and been told to speak german, since one is in germany...

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

How many European countries are bilingual with English being their second language and how many of them are hurting because of it? The opposite is in fact true. We'd better far better off if we made Spanish compulsory in schools.

http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm

Why would we do that when this is an English speaking country and not a Spanish speaking country? And yes the world uses English for a business language hence the reason most countries teach it.

Now try again.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Except for Canada, Belgium and Switzerland (the latter two being tri-lingual or more), I am not aware of any developed countries that are bi-lingual. France, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Ireland - all have a national language that people are expected to have command of if they want to get ahead in these parts. Good Luck, by the way, speaking French only in Ontario. Ain't gonna get you far. No sir.

None that I am aware of.

What I mean by bilingual is that most European countries have English taught in schools as a second language and it is compulsory. Kip was making the argument that sticking with one language is a benefit to that country. Which European countries do just that (insist in speaking only their language)?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why would we do that when this is an English speaking country and not a Spanish speaking country?

You're either incredibly naive or ignorant....

With well over 35 million Spanish speakers in the United States, and with over 40% of the population growth being among the Hispanic people, the stage is set for an enormous increase in Spanish usage in the United States. This has sparked a lot of interest among US citizens, a group not particularly known for their multilingualism. This interest will only increase as the Hispanic population of the US approaches 50 million by the year 2015. But it's not only in the US where Spanish is popular. In Europe, Spanish is the second most popular second language, after English. With some 400 million speakers, Spanish is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. Only Mandarin, English and Hindi have more speakers. If you count only native speakers, Spanish outranks English. Spanish is an official language on four continents and is the mother tongue in 21 countries. The sheer number of Spanish speakers and their rate of growth makes learning Spanish a smart choice.

http://www.studyspanish.com/topten_reasons.htm

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

What I mean by bilingual is that most European countries have English taught in schools as a second language and it is compulsory. Kip was making the argument that sticking with one language is a benefit to that country. Which European countries do just that (insist in speaking only their language)?

Let me explain this one more time. The reason so many countries around the world teach English as a second language is for the fact English is the language of business. It's been my experience that if you have two people from different countries that don't speak either ones language they will more oft than naught revert to using English. Internet, music, Hollywood, the British Empire, and US businesses had a lot to do with that.. Go to any chat room and there's a good chance they are all talking in English to one another even though it's not their first language. English is global now and has been for awhile. Any doubts look at the protesters in Ukraine, Palestine, Egypt, Russia, etc... all using English language signs.

Edited December 24, 2011 by Why_Me

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I rather be cunnilingual.

Edited December 24, 2011 by ☼

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I rather be cunnilingual.

And we have a winner!

[Darnell 8,478]

hmmm

I , instead, chalk up 'this condition' to the successful fruition of the planks of La Raza.

Basically, if yer second generation and Mexican, you don't want any more wetbacks coming over, as it spoils YOUR pond.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Personally, I like the increasing variety of excellent hole in the wall Mexican restaurants and assorted roach coaches. We can go out once a week, and never hit the same place twice in a year. Currently, the wife is hooked on El Favarito.

[kytwell 179]

Let me explain this one more time. The reason so many countries around the world teach English as a second language is for the fact English is the language of business. It's been my experience that if you have two people from different countries that don't speak either ones language they will more oft than naught revert to using English. Internet, music, Hollywood, the British Empire, and US businesses had a lot to do with that.. Go to any chat room and there's a good chance they are all talking in English to one another even though it's not their first language. English is global now and has been for awhile. Any doubts look at the protesters in Ukraine, Palestine, Egypt, Russia, etc... all using English language signs.

My wife and her brother own/run a solar company in Greece, they buy their panels from a German company who has some components manufactured in China. When they do their conference calls, it's in English.

Also MisterFancy over in Europe they can get in their car and drive for 2hrs and be in a different country with different language. Unless you live in a border state in the US, that's not happening here. Unless you count going to Texas or New Jersey and their butchered version of English. So there's really not a need for us to be bi-lingual. They've tried very hard here though, first with ebonics, now with Spanish... Seriously though with the way this place is going, I don' know whether to have my kids learn Spanish, Arabic or Chinese

Edited December 24, 2011 by kytwell

[SuperDuper! 230]

Nice, loving Christmas eve story from Fudge Report. Warms our heart.