Hey, let's speak english, babe.

Home Archive Serious Business Hey, let's speak english, babe.
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bigkahuna

Senior Member

4,454 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:32 PM
tk421 wrote:
HighRoller74 wrote: Now maybe i'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the United States has never declared an official language, so technically they haven't done anything wrong.
Would you move to Germany or Spain or any other country and then not learn the language? Demand signs in your language, forms, etc, etc? English may not be our "official" language, but it really is. Business is done in English, most everyone except the immigrants speak English, etc. It's only common sense to learn the language if you move to a different country. I don't know why this is such a difficult concept.
We are unique in being a "melting pot."

I don't think you can go to Rome and find "Little America" or Beijing and find "American Town"

Face it, we are different. When this country was founded and ever since, the government didn't want to lable us. Now, if someday we do make English offical, I'll agree with you. But, this country was founded with different principles.
Mar 22, 2010 2:32pm
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FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:33 PM
Devils Advocate wrote: Uhhhh... Them? ^^^^^^^^
+3
Mar 22, 2010 2:33pm
Lovejoy1984's avatar

Lovejoy1984

Senior Member

5,277 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:35 PM
tk421 wrote:
HighRoller74 wrote: Now maybe i'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the United States has never declared an official language, so technically they haven't done anything wrong.
Would you move to Germany or Spain or any other country and then not learn the language? Demand signs in your language, forms, etc, etc? English may not be our "official" language, but it really is. Business is done in English, most everyone except the immigrants speak English, etc. It's only common sense to learn the language if you move to a different country. I don't know why this is such a difficult concept.
Apples and Oranges. The US was founded as a Nation of Immigrants, which is why we have no official language, however Spain and Germany both have official language. You're fighting a losing argument here.

If you read the OP, she spoke to the Customer in English, and the Co-Worker in Chinese, I fail to see what's wrong with that, that's no different than me going into a Starbucks for the first time and ordering a coffee, when talking to me the say a coffee, but when they turn to the person to make it they call it a venti, double caff or whatever.
Mar 22, 2010 2:35pm
S

Swamp Fox

Senior Member

2,218 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:40 PM
Americans are the only people that seem to think that regardless of which country they are visiting, they are still the natives and everyone else is the foreigner. I'm wondering if we go to France, do we speak French or do we expect them to speak "our" language? It works both ways.
Mar 22, 2010 2:40pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:45 PM
Swamp Fox wrote: Americans are the only people that seem to think that regardless of which country they are visiting, they are still the natives and everyone else is the foreigner. I'm wondering if we go to France, do we speak French or do we expect them to speak "our" language? It works both ways.
I believe we offer our concessions to those people by purchasing a cheap English-to-(insert language here) dictionary. We then use that dictionary to get the correct words (often mispronounced), while completely botching tenses and sentence structure, so to them, our asking for a coffee probably comes off as, "Pardon, me please want happy good-time drink coffee time!"
Mar 22, 2010 2:45pm
salto's avatar

salto

Senior Member

2,611 posts
Mar 22, 2010 2:54 PM
FatHobbit wrote:
Devils Advocate wrote: Uhhhh... Them? ^^^^^^^^
+3
+4
Mar 22, 2010 2:54pm
Rotinaj's avatar

Rotinaj

Senior Member

7,699 posts
Mar 22, 2010 3:06 PM
Lol this thread is ridiculous. People really get upset over things like this?
Mar 22, 2010 3:06pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Mar 22, 2010 3:07 PM
tk421 wrote:

English may not be our "official" language, but it really is.
But it's not.
Mar 22, 2010 3:07pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 22, 2010 3:16 PM
she was just bragging to the other worker about the poo flakes and boogers she put in your mongolian chicken.
Mar 22, 2010 3:16pm
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se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Mar 22, 2010 3:24 PM
I don't agree that the OP should be upset in this situation. However, it is senseless to come to another country and not learn the language of the masses.
Mar 22, 2010 3:24pm
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Lovejoy1984

Senior Member

5,277 posts
Mar 22, 2010 3:30 PM
Don't get me wrong, it'd make life easier if everyone spoke english, but if the customer was dealing with an employee who spoke english to him, why should it matter what language the employee used when speaking to another employee.
Mar 22, 2010 3:30pm
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Be Nice

Senior Member

1,120 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:30 PM
I guess many of you never saw the Seinfeld episode with George's dad and Elaine in the business with foreign female workers. How his dad had to interprete what they were saying behind Elaine's back. Now back to my situation. As a customer first, they didn't get away with ripping me off and second the cook was not involved with the transaction. The woman taking my money didn't need to confer with her about the cost or whatever they were talking about. The customer should always come first. The menu was in front of the lady I was about to pay.. Look at the right cost and then look at me the customer who is paying you and give the proper price. It was rude on their part to interupt my transaction. I was there to buy my food, pay for it and leave not to listen to some foreign jibberish and then told what to pay. The cook (female) should not have been involved what so ever. And by the way no apology was given. Will I go back? Absolutely not.
Mar 22, 2010 4:30pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:31 PM
Be Nice wrote: Ordered Chinese food at a mall restaurant yesterday. Everything went smooth untill I questioned her on the price. It was higher than quoted on their menu. She turns to her co worker (also chinese) and starts talking their language which I don't speak. She then says (in english to me) the price is now magically $1.06 cheaper. Hey babe, you're in my country. Speak english when you're around customers.
Mar 22, 2010 4:31pm
B

Be Nice

Senior Member

1,120 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:34 PM
EDITED- Personal Attack, Trueblue23
Mar 22, 2010 4:34pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:36 PM
^^
But...but...he spoke in English!
Mar 22, 2010 4:36pm
Devils Advocate's avatar

Devils Advocate

Brudda o da bomber

4,539 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:36 PM


Maybe you don't wanna know what they're saying.... (or cooking with)
Mar 22, 2010 4:36pm
Little Danny's avatar

Little Danny

Senior Member

4,288 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:37 PM
^^^Wow, I guess the nice time I see Be Nice's Name on here there will be a line drawn through it. Nothing like f-bombing a mod.
Mar 22, 2010 4:37pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:37 PM
And then, and then, and then, NO more and then.
Mar 22, 2010 4:37pm
B

Be Nice

Senior Member

1,120 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:40 PM
geeez...the asshole brigade is out in force today. Kindergarden must have got out earky.
Mar 22, 2010 4:40pm
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

Son of the Sun

18,820 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:40 PM
Little Danny wrote: ^^^Wow, I guess the nice time I see Be Nice's Name on here there will be a line drawn through it. Nothing like f-bombing a mod.
Ah, I f-bomb other mods on this site like I was paid for it. To give you an example:

Justin: Okay, what I need if for you guys, while modding forums, to...

Me: Blah, blah, blah...fuck you, skippy. I do WHAT I WANT!!!!

Justin: Yes, sir...
Mar 22, 2010 4:40pm
B

Be Nice

Senior Member

1,120 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:41 PM
Danny, what comes around goes around.
Mar 22, 2010 4:41pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Mar 22, 2010 4:45 PM
Be Nice wrote: fuck u too, asshole.
I never said "fuck you" so I am not sure where the "too" comes from.

Some people have such a hard time grasping memes
Mar 22, 2010 4:45pm
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ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Mar 22, 2010 10:46 PM
Mar 22, 2010 10:46pm
G

Ghmothwdwhso

Senior Member

534 posts
Mar 22, 2010 11:13 PM
Be Nice wrote: geeez...the asshole brigade is out in force today. Kindergarden must have got out earky.
Funny as hell.... earky. Is that the opposite as Lake?

Grow a pair. When you order Chinese, speak the language, or get hosed.
Mar 22, 2010 11:13pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Mar 22, 2010 11:39 PM
Be Nice wrote: geeez...the asshole brigade is out in force today. Kindergarden must have got out earky.
Mar 22, 2010 11:39pm