Iowa proposes making english the official state language

[Ramo]

English should be the official language.

I'll ask you the same question I asked everyone else; what does that imply?

Now you have bilingual classes (English as a 2nd language) where the kids learn both languages, and don't really learn either.

That's a fault of the school system, not the policy. They need to be initially taught in Spanish, else their development would fall behind that of their peers.

They NEED English in this nation, they don't need Spanish, Indian, or any other language. They severly limit themselves.

If think they can get by without learning English (as some obviously can), who are you to force them?

[SlowwHand]

"Killing kittens" is more useful than trying to make you grasp reality.
People with your outlook are epitome of the problem. Yes, problem.
Thanks, but I believe I'll go watch grass grow.

[SlowwHand]

dp

[Ramo]

Maybe I should learn Spanish? Uh, no. That's the point you can't seem to grasp.
Lets have 100 dialects posted along streets and in cafeterias.

And you're criticizing me for misreading? My point was, the state language language might as well be Spanish.

You want to be here, learn the damned language.

In many areas in the US, particularly in the South-West, the local lingua franca is Spanish. That is the "damned language."

[monolith94]

Stefu: the relationship between spanish and english in america is VASTLY different than the relationship of swedish to finnish in finland. From my experiences in Finland, Swedish would be extremely useful, and often necessary. However, I could go my whole life in America and never utter a Spanish phrase. Perhaps not if I went to Texas, but I have nothing wrong with giving Texas to Mexico. Better yet, make it independent. They deserve to be, those lone star buffoons.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'll ask you the same question I asked everyone else; what does that imply?

All official business is done in English. All official paperwork only has to be done in English.

It makes things much easier.

If think they can get by without learning English (as some obviously can), who are you to force them?

But most of them can't. Or do you think that most of the Mexicans in labor intensive work WANT to do that work and be payed so low (under the min wage). One reason is they can't understand the language.

Enforcing an official language on the populace by reducing the services available in their native tongue isn't the way to go, Imran.

Might be tough, but it is the way to go. Then they'll make pains to learn the language ASAP.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Ramo




And you're criticizing me for misreading? My point was, the state language language might as well be Spanish. [/QUOTE}

In many areas in the US, particularly in the South-West, the local language franca is Spanish. That is the "damned language."

Neither "language language" should be Spanish, in the U.S.


Wrong, again.
Actually, Dade County Florida is the only county in the U.S. that trips over their stupidity in that manner.

[DanS]

We've survived for so long without an official language, why would we want one now? We've even had much higher levels of immigration than now.

Where there are problems, we can address them. It doesn't take national laws.

[Stefu]

From my experiences in Finland, Swedish would be extremely useful, and often necessary.

Correct if wrong, but you spent main part of your trip in Helsinki, yes? In Helsinki, Swedish is useful, I agree, as it generally is in coastal areas and Åland. However, here in East Finland, Swedish is extremely non-useful. You hear Russian more often than Swedish, here. Heck, you hear Vietnamese more often than Swedish, here. You could easily go your whole life in Finland without speaking Swedish.

[MrFun]

I'm not sure what the statistics are on this, but I'm sure that Hispanics know the importance of learning English when they migrate into the United States. I wonder if there are any statistics that show that the majority of Hispanics are willing to learn English??

If that is the case, then we do not need to have English as an official language to compel Hispanics to learn English. They're already willing to do that. As well as all the other immigrant groups, such as Cambodians.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Ramo
How can I respond back if I don't know what you're advocating?

I am advocating action to improve non-native English speakers English. Maybe an intensive x-week course given to all new immigrants as part of the residency requirement. (No exams or tests just compulsory attendance)

What does "promoting" a language imply?

Rather than spending money on accomodating foreign languages, spend the money helping people understand English.

the state wants to outlaw non-English political debates

I don't think that is necessary, state actions to improve English literacy should make such foreign language political debates unnecessary.

[Kassiopeia]

From my experiences in Finland, Swedish would be extremely useful, and often necessary.

In the south, and on the western coast maybe, but in Central Finland Swedish is universally unspoken.

[Ramo]

All official business is done in English. All official paperwork only has to be done in English.

It makes things much easier.

So all of the businesses that are run by Spanish, Mandarin, etc. only speakers should take their capital to more friendly nations? All workers who don't speak English should go back to their original countries? That's absurd! Economically, that's nonsense!

But most of them can't. Or do you think that most of the Mexicans in labor intensive work WANT to do that work and be payed so low (under the min wage). One reason is they can't understand the language.

You wrote that official paperwork should be in English. Shouldn't that confuse them even more?

It's not about what I want, it's what they want. If they're too old to be fluent in English, I'm not going to condemn them.

Neither "language language should be Spanish, in the U.S.

What is it that you were writing about remedial English?

Wrong, again.
Actually, Dade County Florida is the only county in the U.S. that trips over their stupidity in that manner.

Eh? I wasn't referring to governmental policies, but what the people of the region speak. And like I wrote, Spanish is the predominant language in many regions of the country.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by MrFun
If that is the case, then we do not need to have English as an official language to compel Hispanics to learn English. They're already willing to do that.

In some cases, but see Ramo for an illustration of feet dragging.

[Ramo]

I am advocating action to improve non-native English speakers English. Maybe an intensive x-week course given to all new immigrants as part of the residency requirement. (No exams or tests just compulsory attendance)

I have no problems with that.

Rather than spending money on accomodating foreign languages,

Riiight. So when it comes time to fill out the income tax form, Spanish-only speakers will do what, exactly?

Printing a dual set of forms and hiring people who are literate in Spanish can't possibly be economically significant. Why not offer some people a little courtesy?

spend the money helping people understand English.

That's what the state does...