DarknessInZero

So sometime ago I saw that some restauraunt-owner in Pennsylvania had a policy to only serve customers if they ordered in the American English language. Many people around there say it is discrimination towards immigrants and the owner says and I quote "You live in America you should know how to speak English." So what is the point of view of others on this? I personally don't find it discriminating but that is just me, as a matter of fact I say all of the U.S.A. should do this. If immigrants move to America they should know English.

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Miroku4444

Yeah i agree. If you move here you should learn English. Like if you move to Mexico, you must lean Spanish. I mean if they let them speak anything how will you take their order.

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koga23

i presonly do beleave you should learn to speak English if u live in the US i mean why should we have to change ower was to suite the if we go to a countrys we have to adabt to there was so why shouldent it be the same for us.

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_gwenibe_

I think it should be in the conditions, that they should now how to speak english before they even think about coming over to an english speaking country, or a good deal of it anyway.

There was an incident in Aust once, where an person didn't know one word of english and was crying out for help, because his son was dieing, but because no one understood him, it took even longer to get help, I can't remember if the child made it or not.

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PsiKnot

Ok brainiaks, you better start studying now if you ever plan on taking a vacation to a different country. This doesn't just effect migrant workers, think of all the people that come to the US for buisness, pollitics, vacations. Granted it is this man's right to refuse service to anyone, whats more he doesn't have to provide an interpreter. But to make it mandatory to learn English before coming to the US is rediculous.

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_gwenibe_

I agree with you on that one,

but my post was aiming more to those who come to live permantly in English speaking countries.

Replying to the first post with his refusal, I think that person should keep a bit of an open mind, like what PsiKnot said, how would that person feel if he was refused service simply because the waiter didn't know his language.

He is making a huge assumption that anyone who comes into his restraunt live in America and can't speak english. Too bad about tourists..

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dekester22

English-only in restaurants is up to the individual proprietors of the restaurants. That said, I wouldn't require it if I were an owner of a restaurant. I would train my waitstaff in the subtleties of non-verbal communications that would help expedite the ordering process. However, I'm not sure that someone who can't READ English should be ordering food in a restaurant where the menus are only written in English. What if you had a food allergy?

Also, I don't think that the US should be English-only. If the country had been established that way at the founding, then that's one thing. But this country has NEVER had a language requirement, and it seems ridiculous to establish one at this time.

That said, I don't think it's the responsibility of the US Government to provide interpreters at all costs to anyone who might need one. People should take it upon themselves to learn the predominant language in another country if they plan on living in that country. I wouldn't dream of packing up and moving to Japan without learning at least a basic level of conversational Japanese. And I wouldn't move to Brazil without learning at least a basic level of conversational Portugese.

However, tourists should also try to learn a little of the predominant language of the country they are visiting just to make the trip a little easier. Plus, knowledge is a good thing. And learning another language can be fun, too.

That's my $.02

Alucard_ML

Maybe this have nothing to do with the question, but what if all the reasturants in the world did that, then you'll be forced to learn more than one language, if you want to travel

Bloody Sword

Yes they should learn english but they should be able to speak there own langage from where they came from......and after all i would be America if you had to do everything that country did.....that would throw the title the home of the free out the window

bugsbunnyz

It's a pretty typical western ideal if you think about it,
you come here - you speak in our language.
we go there - we raise our voice and slowly over pronounciate each word.
Almost anywhere you go on holiday or to move abroad, your practically guaranteed to run into the typical westerner at a bar or shop doing the above. It's embarrassing to see but when in another country I've yet to see, an establishment that refuses to sell to none native speakers.

MistressMorgan

Actually the US does not have an official language. No where is it written that English is the official language. The states are suppose to be a melting pot of people, not a melting pot of english speaking people. If it really bothers a person when they cannot understand another language, maybe they should better themselves by learning a foreign language.

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