"This is America, Speak English!"

Regardless of how you feel about that quote in general, tell me what you think of this specific situation:

A woman was speaking Spanish to a man in an office. A co-worker says to them angrily, "This is America, speak English!"

Here's the catch... they were both Spanish interpreters. It is their JOB to speak, know, and practice another language. The woman's reply was exactly that "What? I am practicing the language!" But, because she is also a native Spanish speaker the other woman said to her "Oh, like you really need to!"

What's your opinion?

Re: "This is America, Speak English!"

if the discussion topic was a private conversation and had nothing to do with that other woman, then she should mind his own business and not insist on it being english.


if people want to have conversations in other languages, then they should whether it be in Spanish, italian, korean, etc.

Message edited 10/24/2006 11:51:14 AM.

Re: "This is America, Speak English!"

Wow, that was really rude. Regardless of their jobs, it was a personal conversation. For the other woman to eavesdrop and then state her opinion is uncalled for.

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Regardless how I feel about the quote in general...and I have pretty strong feelings on it...

I think the man was out of line...especially for being angry.

Just because you're a native speaker doesn't mean that you shouldn't practice. And every day conversations are great for practice.

Comments like always get me so upset.

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This is American and people living here should make an effort and learn English.

However two people can have a conversation in whatever langauge they speak. My DH is foreign and speaks to his friends in his native tounge and I think there is nothing wrong with that. I can't imagine a third party commenting on that

Message edited 10/24/2006 12:04:02 PM.

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I HATE people like that. It's is definitely no one's business BUT the people engaged in the conversation!

It is so ethnocentric and narrowminded...unless your ancestors are English, NO ONE CAME HERE SPEAKING ENGLISH, and it is shameful that so many of us lost a part of our cultural history trying to assimilate..

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An ignorant comment by a nosy ******

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I think a lot of people think that you might be speaking about them... example: few months ago we were (my co-workers and I) in the elevator speaking Polish to each other and when we were about to leave the elevator a guy says to us "thanks for talking about me"... I was so shocked I didnt even respond to him... I think it is kinda stupid to assume that someone is talking about you, we have better things to talk about

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VERY rude!

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Well, the way the satement was phrased is rude, regardless of the situation.

If it was a private conversation, yes, they can speak in whatever language they want, but it does make me uncomfortable when people discuss business in another langauge in an English speaking office. They may noty be gossipping, or trying to hide something, but maybe they are.

We actually had an issue hare, where someone was emailing our colleagues in Switzerland in German.

At that time all emails were printed & put in files, in case ther wa san issue someone else needed to address, so we did find it to be highly inappropriate.

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I think that was rude to say. I bet she just said that because she was nervous they were talking about her

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I am not sure about this particular situation with both those people being interpreters, although they weren't interpreting anything at the moment, right?

However, I find it very unprofessional and plan rude for people to converse in a language other than English in an American office.

English is not my first language and I used to work with someone who spoke the same language as me. We always made sure to never use our native language in the office around other people. It is very rude, and not only in a professional setting, IMO. If there are other people around you, it's probably best to use English, otherwise it becomes something similar to whispering in front of other people, KWIM?

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Message edited 10/24/2006 12:49:37 PM.

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Message edited 8/1/2007 1:26:56 PM.

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Coworker should MYOB...It was a rude comment.

Coming from a spanish background...my parents came here, learned english but when they want and choose, they speak spanish to each other.

I didnt know suddenly that wasnt allowed.

ETA: I do have to admit that when Im getting my nails done and whoever works there speak in "their" native language...I think they are talking about me. I get a little annoyed!

Message edited 10/24/2006 1:09:55 PM.

Re: "This is America, Speak English!"

I'm just confused because last time i checked, the US did not have English as its official language - we don't have an official language. I dont see anything wrong with anyone speaking in what ever language they choose.

If there are three people in an office and they all speak a common language, I think that it is polite to use that language, but by no means necessary. That comment was rude, ignorant, and completely out of line.

Re: "This is America, Speak English!"

Posted by Shellyesq

This is American and people living here should make an effort and learn English.

However two people can have a conversation in whatever langauge they speak. My DH is foreign and speaks to his friends in his native tounge and I think there is nothing wrong with that. I can't imagine a third party commenting on that

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that was extremely rude and inappropiate,
he should mind his own business.

I can talk spanish whenever I want to whoever I want, it's a free country.

Re: "This is America, Speak English!"

I believe we should have a national language but, of course, you're free to speak whatever you like.

Message edited 10/24/2006 3:30:45 PM.