Do you hate When Americans can only speak English?

Question

Do you hate When Americans can only speak English?

Answer 1

I wouldn't have understood your question before I began exploring Europe; but I understand it now!

The majority of Europeans speak more than one language. It's become a necessity if you want to communicate with your neighboring countries.

In America, we have French Canadians to the north and Spanish south of the border and for decades have been unable to speak directly to them.  Languages have not always been taught in schools.  In my day, Latin was THE language and you know how useful that is!  lol

Fortunately, you can travel the world and you will find English speaking people.  They are either highly educated or they work in the tourist industry.  

When First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy visited France (long ago) she spoke from a podium to the French people and she spoke to them in French.  She was not only an instant hit, but she was greatly admired for having the ability to communicate directly!  It was such a rarity in the 60's!

We need to teach our youth to speak Spanish but there seems to be a reluctance on the side of natural born Americans to do so.  

So yes!  I hate that we are so smug and closed minded that we stick to English and give the rest of civilization the thumb.

Answer 2

It's good to know only one language. People have to know your language in order to speak with you.

I once heard a Chinese lady interpret in  Russian here in New York. Figure it out.

Spanish speakers from south of the US border should learn English when coming here, not demanding the US government to let them speak Spanish and accommodating to them, and giving them "privileges".

I've heard Spanish [from Spain] people speak. It's so s-l-o-w but clear. You can hear every word. But those south-of-the-US-border Spanish speakers are just babbling rapidly where you can never tell what they're saying. Why should we learn their Spanish? I'd rather learn the language spoken in Spain.  

The word Spanish should be reserved for those from Spain. What do you call those south of the borders? Latin America is a made up term which is meaningless. Hispanic? Hispanic means you're from Spain, which these people aren't! Their ancestors and their offshoots have never stepped foot into Spain since 1492. d**n you, Columbus! Let's get rid of Columbus Day, making it a non-holiday! I would've killed Columbus, if he wasn't dead, already!

Answer 3

Why should I know another language? Unless I''m moving somewhere out of country then theres no need for it. if I moved to Hungary, I'd try to learn Hungarian, but if I  were only going there for a vacation I'm not.

And the same goes for people coming to this country. If they move here they need to learn English instead of expecting people to know Spanish or learn it.  

Answer 4

It bothers me when people (not just Americans) refuse to learn a language out of some egotistical reason, or vanity in their own language.  There are many people who only know English because they never had the need to learn anything else, or they didn't have the time.  It's not always choice for people to speak only one language.  I wouldn't judge somebody for their monolingual ism.  

Answer 5

I don't really care about it, but i think it's important for all of us learn a different language than ours, you know? for example, when i go to USA I usually speak english and I hope that when people from the states or other countries comes to visit us speaks the same language that i do.. you know what i mean? americans are kind of selfish in that matter, they think it's our duty to speak english only because they do so. and I mean I love Americans, it's just that i don't like the way the think sometimes.

Answer 6

I hate when Americans refuse to learn other languages. Granted, the Spanish immigrants should reciprocate and learn a bit of English, but we shouldn't be so egotistical as to assume everyone speaks English. The road goes both ways.

Answer 7

I do pity the minority of people in the world who can only communicate in one language. I wonder whether they realise how closed their worlds are.

Hate it? No.

Answer 8

americans are culturaly retarded xD

Answer 9

"I am going to infiltrate your country with millions of my friends.  Change your culture, your language, and your laws to appease me"   "NOW"

Answer 10

I don't HATE it, but it bothers me. I mean, in high school, you should think about taking a language, and it's their choice not to. I speak 3 languages and I'm 15, so yes, it bothers me.

Answer 11

I don't hate when Americans can only speak english. If they haven't learned another language that's their business. Perhaps they haven't had time for it. Or perhaps they don't think they will ever have a need for it. I'm cool with that.

I do hate when some Americans present such a narrow mind set toward a different language that they act superior and demand that the everyone else should learn english just to satisfy those individuals. Know what I mean? The type that will want to get in your face ranting about how "this is America, speak english!" That sort of thing.

Classic Euro joke:

What do you call someone who speaks 3 languages?

Trilingual.

What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages?

Bilingual

What do you call someone who speaks only 1 language?

American.

Answer 12

yes i do agree, americans on average know only one language while europeans know multiple languages not just 2 but more

Answer 13

NO people should speak whatever lang. they know do you think were all going to learn latin just to make you happy?

Answer 14

Hmm, it drives me a little crazy that most Americans wouldn't have at least some basic knowledge in another language (especially Spanish, seeing as it's practically our second national language). I couldn't imagine myself going around only speaking English. There really is something liberating when you're able to talk to someone in their own language and not have to rely on a translator.

Answer 15

No, but I think many people do. I don't know why. I'm Swedish, and sure, I've heard a lot of people ask themselves why we should have to learn English to be able to communicate to people when we travel to the U.S., the UK etc, but when you come here you expect us to know English and you're not at all interested in learning our language. But I mean... there are loads of people from a majority of the countries in the world that only speaks one language, their native one, so why do people complain so much about Americans..? Because we visit countries where English is the official language more than we visit these other countries?

But we complain about a lot of other people too, the french is also known for generally not wanting to speak in any other language than french, which bugs the -- out of tourists... specially when they have to order food from an all-french menu :)...

Amyways... I don't see why it's such a problem if someone only speaks one language, and for some it's probably got to do with the fact that learning languages can be really hard, so they won't learn  even if they'd want to...

This was just some thoughts, but to sum-up, no, speak as many or as few languages as you like, it doesn't bother me personally at all.

Answer 16

im not sure why but it bothers me...i cant imagine not knowin another language

Answer 17

Why should they speak anything else?

Answer 18

kelly, by spanish immigrants you DO mean mexicans, right?  the spanish-speakers living in america are mexicans, not from spain.  they have come to america to make a few bucks.  anyway, i don't know if it has already crossed your mind or not, but americans are a little slow.  they also give up too easily.  i'd say americans are the worst at learning foreign languages.  They butcher them.  They really should just stick w/ english.  it is nice and easy for their slow brains to absorb.

Answer 19

I don't particularly hate it, but it annoys me very much considering the fact that the U.S. is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world... if not THE most.

I like to look it like this: It doesn't matter how intelligent you may be if you speak one language. You're still unintelligent in the sense that you only know one language.

Although... I do admit it's sort of fun conversing with somebody in a different language in front of people who only speak one language because they have no idea what you are talking about. You could be insulting them for all they know. It's also nice when you need some privacy discussing things. It may come off as rude, but honestly, you think that if two people know a different language, they aren't going to use it to their advantage?

Answer 20

It's not (I mean "must not be") bothering. And, it is not only true for the Americans. There are millions of other people all around the world who can speak only their mother tongues. You learn another language when you need to learn it. Americans living in the US don't feel the need to learn another language because other people of the world try to learn English.

Answer 21

Isnt that their native tongue?