Hey, let's speak english, babe.

Serious Business Backup 80 replies 2,280 views
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bigkahuna
Posts: 4,454
Mar 22, 2010 2:32pm
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.
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Mar 22, 2010 2:33pm
Devils Advocate wrote: Uhhhh... Them? ^^^^^^^^
+3
Lovejoy1984's avatar
Lovejoy1984
Posts: 5,277
Mar 22, 2010 2:35pm
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.
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Swamp Fox
Posts: 2,218
Mar 22, 2010 2:40pm
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.
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
Mar 22, 2010 2:45pm
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!"
salto's avatar
salto
Posts: 2,611
Mar 22, 2010 2:54pm
FatHobbit wrote:
Devils Advocate wrote: Uhhhh... Them? ^^^^^^^^
+3
+4
Rotinaj's avatar
Rotinaj
Posts: 7,699
Mar 22, 2010 3:06pm
Lol this thread is ridiculous. People really get upset over things like this?
hasbeen's avatar
hasbeen
Posts: 6,504
Mar 22, 2010 3:07pm
tk421 wrote:

English may not be our "official" language, but it really is.
But it's not.
j_crazy's avatar
j_crazy
Posts: 8,372
Mar 22, 2010 3:16pm
she was just bragging to the other worker about the poo flakes and boogers she put in your mongolian chicken.
se-alum's avatar
se-alum
Posts: 13,948
Mar 22, 2010 3:24pm
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.
Lovejoy1984's avatar
Lovejoy1984
Posts: 5,277
Mar 22, 2010 3:30pm
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.
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Be Nice
Posts: 1,120
Mar 22, 2010 4:30pm
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.
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 4:31pm
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.
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Be Nice
Posts: 1,120
Mar 22, 2010 4:34pm
EDITED- Personal Attack, Trueblue23
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
Mar 22, 2010 4:36pm
^^
But...but...he spoke in English!
Devils Advocate's avatar
Devils Advocate
Posts: 4,539
Mar 22, 2010 4:36pm


Maybe you don't wanna know what they're saying.... (or cooking with)
Little Danny's avatar
Little Danny
Posts: 4,288
Mar 22, 2010 4:37pm
^^^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.
gerb131's avatar
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Mar 22, 2010 4:37pm
And then, and then, and then, NO more and then.
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Be Nice
Posts: 1,120
Mar 22, 2010 4:40pm
geeez...the asshole brigade is out in force today. Kindergarden must have got out earky.
Heretic's avatar
Heretic
Posts: 18,820
Mar 22, 2010 4:40pm
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...
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Be Nice
Posts: 1,120
Mar 22, 2010 4:41pm
Danny, what comes around goes around.
LJ's avatar
LJ
Posts: 16,351
Mar 22, 2010 4:45pm
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
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Mar 22, 2010 10:46pm
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Ghmothwdwhso
Posts: 534
Mar 22, 2010 11:13pm
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.
wildcats20's avatar
wildcats20
Posts: 27,794
Mar 22, 2010 11:39pm
Be Nice wrote: geeez...the asshole brigade is out in force today. Kindergarden must have got out earky.