Speed Daemon
Android Expert
Why do you have to press 1 for English?
Be thankful that you don't have to press 壹 for English yet!
Be thankful that you don't have to press 壹 for English yet!
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Press "1" for English
- Thread starter Speed Daemon
- Start date
cwhatever
Life Goes On
because here, in the USA, even 5 years ago you didn't have too. now everything you call or even the sunday newspaper inserts have spanish on them even directions. now if you go to another place they don't know or participate in english. but here we have to now. so if they won't for us why do we have to for them??? nothing wrong with being bilingual, that is great but i'm not, sorry!!
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
The fact of the matter is that the Spanish-speaking market has become large enough that it makes economic sense to cater to them, even if they can speak English. It's a harbinger of things to come. Pretty soon Hispanics will outnumber Anglos.
The funny thing is how many Americans complain about the French being rude to Americans who can't speak French in France on one hand, and complain about Hispanics in America who can't speak English...
cwhatever
Life Goes On
worse here because close to the border. and because americans have become too lazy. in the olden days everyone worked their ass off for a living. i used to work at a company and most were mexican and said they were illegal and just go and get fake ss# to get job and do taxes to get the most out of it for them and just pay to change ss# later before anyone catches up with it. so we here in USA cater to that??? that is why the gov. is so f... up. WHATEVER... it will just get worse and no better so we should just deal with it!!!!
saptech
Android Expert
Shouldn't it be press 1 for Spanish? English should be the default language, so others should have to press a number first.
OutofDate1980
Android Expert
BS in the "olden days" folks worked and were paid for 40 hours a week. How many out there are exempt employees, but have no direct reports working 60 + hours a week, but being paid for 40 hours ?
ElasticNinja
Android Expert
Ah well the French are awfully proud of their country. I dont think its unreasonable to be able to say hello, thanks, etc in the local lingo, French people dont expect to hold a conversation au francais.
Also, two languages in a federation of 300 million? God life is so tough...
Also I highly doubt that Spanish will ever become the dominant language of the United States, although I dont see what would be wrong with that as at least it isnt the language of the 13 colonies masters
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
It is a bit ironic that Americans moan and groan about people in the US not speaking English and then go overseas and moan and grown about people in France not speaking English.
I don't have any problems with business offering Spanish language speakers. It's in their best interest to do so. Why not?
I don't have any problems with business offering Spanish language speakers. It's in their best interest to do so. Why not?
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
I don't want to get into the official language debate, other than to point out that most other nations' citizens are mostly multilingual.Shouldn't it be press 1 for Spanish? English should be the default language, so others should have to press a number first.
When it comes to phone menus, you don't have to press anything to get the English version. Just wait a few seconds.
Speed Daemon
Android Expert
That's not what I've heard. (The last time I was in France was before this trend, so I have to rely on others' news.) I'm told that in fact you are expected to at least attempt to hold a conversation speaking 100% French. Bon jour and au revoir aren't enough. I'm also told that it's less about national pride and more about the Ugly American. Apparently they're nicer to even Germans.
When you look at a map of the US, and discount native American languages, a great deal of what we call the USA today was part of Spain, Mexico or France before. Considering this and the number of immigrants in the US, we seem to be behind the rest of the world when it comes to verbal communications.
Doubt it or not, but after a lifetime of being hassled for their ethnicity and native language, I wouldn't be surprised one bit if a new Hispanic majority decided to give the xenophobes a dose of their own medicine. I couldn't blame them if they did.
In junior high school I chose Spanish as my (mandatory) "foreign" language to study because my grandparents lived in Texas and nobody I knew lived in a French-speaking area. Little did I know that I'd live in Texas soon. When I lived in Texas and couldn't hold a basic conversation in Spanish because I didn't study it hard enough, I felt like an idiot, and rightly so.
If I had it to do over, I'd master at least one other language.
ElasticNinja
Android Expert
Last time I was in France was before I had a decent level of French, but I found the locals fine really.
You seem to have an awful lot of misplaced ideas in your head as well. French people are fine with Germans. As for Americans, well the French dont expect you to converse entirely in French just because you're American. American tourists are generally fine, they just are often easily led and overly polite and loud.
That's why I find it surprising that Spanish is the only language other than French to gain a foothold. In Ireland every piece government is printed in English and Irish, and councils and businesses provide a fair bit of information in Polish. On Websites you often have to choose from over a dozen languages.
A hispanic majority would take a long time to get there, and I doubt that would happen. Anyway Hispanics are only European Caucasians with some Native American (and/or African) ancestry, and often none at all. There's no reason to believe that they would stay so separate from north European ancestry caucasians.
netlinkz
Well-Known Member
Tisk tisk tisk...all these rants and raves....imagine mathew maconahey saying this," We are Americans. We are a state of unified languages. We chose to inherit the many languages of our continents. Which makes us uniquely undivided individuals. If we choose to make such a big hoorah bout something as minor as," please press 1 for english or please press 2 for spanish." Then, we are no better than the french and british whom tried to regulate our freedom in times of revolution. That being said i am mexican american and i always press 1 cause its my first language. And if you don't like it in the words of billy the kid, " you all can go to HELL HELL HELL!!!!"...lmao....
reiththestud
Android Enthusiast
Americans go to France, visit, add to the economy through tourism, and leave.
Probably my main complaint from the 2 years of living in California (ugh, never again) was never being able to understand anyone when I went through a drive-thru and my order being wrong nearly every time. It always reminded me of that South Park episode with the future people who came back in time. "Chicken sandwich?"
ElasticNinja
Android Expert
Yes because no Americans emigrate to France and no Mexicans visit America.
reiththestud
Android Enthusiast
I wouldn't say that "no Americans" emigrate to France, but I imagine the number would not be that high, at lest not compared to Mexican emigration to America. And just because Americans today have their own drug problems doesn't mean Mexican immigration isn't making things worse.
ElasticNinja
Android Expert
If you have 300 million people and 30 million drug users, its not worse than having 100,000 drug users out of a million.
Anyway, Europe will happily take your Mexicans if you dont want them I'm sure.
OutofDate1980
Android Expert
The main reason for Mexican immigration is the US farm subsidies. Mexican growers can't compete with US handouts to the farm industry.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
Can't agree with this entirely. Mexicans come here for the money. Plain and simple. There are jobs here that Americans can't/won't/aren't interested in filling. Jobs here pay more than jobs in Mexico. As long as that is the case, they will continue to come.
OutofDate1980
Android Expert
Yep, that's what the subsidies do. Mexican farmers can't afford the wages due to the subsidies undercutting free market prices for their product.
A.Nonymous
Extreme Android User
It's not just farming though. Mexicans don't come to the US solely for farming jobs.
kool kat2
Android Expert
Restaurant where my friend used to work had mostly Hispanics from various countries in the back. Not many knew English. There are jobs that can get done at a fraction of the price if you have an illegal immigrant willing to do it. They can get along just fine with 2 or 3 of these jobs and some bring in more $ than some 9 to 5ers. Its a better life than they'd have back in their country and that is the reason they come. Im sure if they could have the same life south of the border, that's where they would stay. I personally wouldn't even visit anywhere south of the border so i can't blame them for wanting to come.
Anyway, enough are here to bring in business for companies and making it easier to communicate is in their best interest. I just press 1 automatically now.
Bob Maxey
Android Expert
Many arrive here in the hope of securing a better life for their children. They want to be here because all things considered, we are the best country for illegals.
Ease of access, very few problems with the police (unless caught, then perhaps not much trouble after all) and an all around better life. when caught and sent back, well, no problem, they just try it again. and again. and again.
If the wife gives birth, these illegals can visit their son, the newly minted American citizen.
Seems likely, if France was just across the border, France would see their share of problems.
It is often interesting to look at the laws in other places and see just how draconian the treatment is, if you are caught living illegally in other countries. For example, review the Mexican laws that pertain to illegal Americans in Mexico. The last thing you want to do is get caught living illegally in Mexico.
Hell, as I recall, you cant even purchase property in Mexico if you are not Mexican.