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AliCat · 11-01-2002, 11:42 AM

Sorry about the boring title, but Ziroc wants us to be more descriptive, and it was a challenge!

I have a question for all, but perhaps especially those from other countries than the U.S.A.. What is your feeling on mandating a primary language in your country?

This sort of dovetails on Lord of Alcohol's question/commentary on immigration, for similar reasons. I've heard and seen plenty of debate on states here trying to make Spanish a second language. I didn't feel very strongly about this issue in the past, but unfortunately, I am perhaps becoming more conservative (YIKES!) as time passes.

I work in the health care industry. In New York City, half of my patients were Spanish-speaking only, some of which having lived here for ten years, and some since birth. There is also a high level of Spanish-speaking-only immigrants in this area of Virginia, followed to a much lesser degree by Ukrainian-speaking-only immigrants. Working with patients such as these has now been made even more difficult by local requirements of using official translaters -- we cannot use an underage member of that person's family (and of course the kids pick up English much faster).

If I immigrated to another country, I would learn that country's language in less than a year, for my own safety as well as courtesy. My German ancestors certainly all had to do so. Yes, my job is made difficult. But I think it is ridiculous for various states or the country to contemplate making another language our secondary language, as first of all, we have waves of immigration from a variety of countries and should we just change the second language every fifty years or so, and second, why the heck should we make it easier on people who are too lazy to learn English? And yes, that's what I think we're doing, if people in this country can spend their entire lives not needing to learn any English.

Sooo... now that I've probably pissed some folks off, I'd like to know how other people or countries handle this issue, and what you think the U.S. should do (other than keep our traps shut, thank you!). So, I open the discussion for debate!

AliCat

11-01-2002, 11:42 AM	#1
AliCat Drow Warrior Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Waynesboro, VA, USA Posts: 255	Sorry about the boring title, but Ziroc wants us to be more descriptive, and it was a challenge! I have a question for all, but perhaps especially those from other countries than the U.S.A.. What is your feeling on mandating a primary language in your country? This sort of dovetails on Lord of Alcohol's question/commentary on immigration, for similar reasons. I've heard and seen plenty of debate on states here trying to make Spanish a second language. I didn't feel very strongly about this issue in the past, but unfortunately, I am perhaps becoming more conservative (YIKES!) as time passes. I work in the health care industry. In New York City, half of my patients were Spanish-speaking only, some of which having lived here for ten years, and some since birth. There is also a high level of Spanish-speaking-only immigrants in this area of Virginia, followed to a much lesser degree by Ukrainian-speaking-only immigrants. Working with patients such as these has now been made even more difficult by local requirements of using official translaters -- we cannot use an underage member of that person's family (and of course the kids pick up English much faster). If I immigrated to another country, I would learn that country's language in less than a year, for my own safety as well as courtesy. My German ancestors certainly all had to do so. Yes, my job is made difficult. But I think it is ridiculous for various states or the country to contemplate making another language our secondary language, as first of all, we have waves of immigration from a variety of countries and should we just change the second language every fifty years or so, and second, why the heck should we make it easier on people who are too lazy to learn English? And yes, that's what I think we're doing, if people in this country can spend their entire lives not needing to learn any English. Sooo... now that I've probably pissed some folks off, I'd like to know how other people or countries handle this issue, and what you think the U.S. should do (other than keep our traps shut, thank you!). So, I open the discussion for debate! AliCat