Attitude towards Language...

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Just wanting to get your thoughts on here. Had this conversation with a couple of my friends and parents. I am currently learning Spanish and when I told them I got the old "they need to be learning our language" crap. I think that's a load of crap. We are like the only country with that type of attitude. In most countries across the world it is actually encouraged to obtain a basic understanding of a language other than your own. I just don't get that... If that's the attitude then we should all be speaking Cherokee or whatever...


I know when I have a kid Spanish is going to be introduced at a very early age in effort for them to hopefully be bi-lingual. Talk about an asset to have that puts you ahead in the business world...

 

[MoreheadEagle]

I took four years of French in high school and it came in handy when I went to France a few years ago. Knowing a little bit of a language goes a long way.

I do have a couple of friends that make more money than I ever will. One was a Mormon missionary and learned Japanese, the other learned Spanish (he's of Dutch ancestry) and they both have very high-paying jobs because they're bilingual.

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

My daughter is in spanish immersion at maxwell and my youngest will be starting there next year. I can't wait till she can start cussing out the neighborhood kids with them oblivious to what she's saying. After all, isn't that what learning a foreign language is all about...

 

[Ron Mehico]

Well I grew up in a foreign country and grew up learning two languages. My mom knows 4 languages fluently. I'm going to have my kids learn another language because of what it does to brain development. People that know how to speak more than one language have that part of the brain developed much better, meaning you can learn and remember things at a much quicker pace, as well as it helping you become more efficient at reading and writing. They've done countless studies on the advantages it has to brain development as well as memory and recall skills.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

I took Spanish all four years in high school and an independent study AP class on my own and then took 2 semesters in college and stopped. Its one of the biggest regrets I have to this day...

 

[joeyrupption]

In most countries across the world it is actually encouraged to obtain a basic understanding of a language other than your own.

And that language is English. TFP.

 

[DSmith21]

English is the predominate language is this county. Anyone who immigrates here should learn it if they wish to assimilate. Further, English is the language of commerce worldwide. So it makes sense to learn it if you wish to really get ahead.

That being said, students here in the U.S. should be taught Spanish as a second language. Spanish and English are the two most important languages in the western hemisphere by far. French and German are nice but not as relevant. If you go to Europe, English is understood in most major cities.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

every single day I regret not becoming fluent in Spanish during school. talk about a bargaining chip during contract negotiations...

 

[Tinker Dan]

I honestly believe anything you learn in life will payoff at one point or another.

I was stationed in Portugal for three years and lived on the local economy. I did not have the opportunity to go to the language school in Monterey so I learned what I could on the fly.

Everywhere I have visited throughout the world I did my best to at least learn the basics of getting a beer, food, bathroom and a taxi home. It has paid off in far more ways that I can say on here without getting banned.

I know I sounded like the funny "foreigner" always portrayed on American television. But in every country I have visited or worked in, the locals always went the extra mile for me as I at least made an attempt. That and I am just an overall lovable guy.

I have an went up against the "if they want to talk to me...." crowd my whole adult life. I just do not understand that philosophy. But to each his own.

Edit to add: I am headed to Barcelona tomorrow for a couple of weeks on a project for work.... What was that word that always got my face slapped??????

 

[KingOfBBN]

No desire to learn Spanish. Not a fan of the language at all.

However, German (I took this), French, Italian and Russian are fascinating to me. One of my best friends parents were Russian so they spoke it in the home and he's taught me some. That language is pretty neat.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

You do realize that there were more "native" American tribes than just Cherokee, don't you? And that they all had different languages? And that they were always/mostly fighting each other for control of each other's land? And that if the roles had been reversed, i.e. they had had better weapons and more troops, that they would still be in control of this land -- which is how every single country on the face of the earth came into/maintains their existence?

Yes I do, I was just making a general point,

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

No desire to learn Spanish. Not a fan of the language at all.

However, German (I took this), French, Italian and Russian is fascinating to me. One of my best friends parents were Russian so they spoke it in the home and he's taught me some. That language is pretty neat

Agree, the two most interesting languages to me are Chinese and Russian

 

[Glenn's Take]

I agree that is nothing but good to learn a second language and in this country Spanish makes the most sense. I did kind of understand it a few years ago when the LPGA tried to make their players learn English and took a ton of crap for it so they had to drop it. In that case they are ambassadors for their sport. If I was a businessperson and put a lot of money into one of their tournaments and they put me in a proam with 2 Koreans that I had no way of communicating with it would piss me off and I would probably reconsider if I wanted to invest money there.

 

[Glenn's Take]

Agree, the two most interesting languages to me are Chinese and Russian

If you learn Chinese let me know and I will be impressed because there is no language called Chinese. Now Mandarin may help.

 

[allabouttheUK]

Why the hell would I want to learn or teach my kids to learn spanish?! Hopefully they won't be dealing with gardeners, cleaning staff, and fast food very much as adults. I'd have them learn a more professional language such as German or Italian.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

If you learn Chinese let me know and I will be impressed because there is no language called Chinese. Now Mandarin may help.

You get what I mean... I forgot, this board is full of know it all's that cant wait to pounce on something to prove they are "smarter"... Also, in case you don't know, its not as simple as learning Mandarin.... There are many different sub categories that fall under the Mandarin umbrella that are very different.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Why the hell would I want to learn or teach my kids to learn spanish?! Hopefully they won't be dealing with gardeners, cleaning staff, and fast food very much as adults. I'd have them learn a more professional language such as German or Italian.

I hope you are not being serious...

 

[TheEgyptianMagician]

Nah, they need to learn your England's language. Particularly children, assimilation takes care of itself so long as their parents aren't totally insulating themselves but even then it's just delayed.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Which was what exactly? That modern countries should adopt whatever language was predominate 200-300 years ago in the region they now occupy? How about 1,000 years ago? Should Italians start speaking Latin again?

No I am making a point that the thought "They need to learn our language and you are an idiot for learning a language other than your own" is completely idiotic... and if it was like that and everyone had that attitude like you pointed out Italians would need to go back to Latin and so on.

Do you get this caught up in everything? If so you need a Xanax...or some good weed.

 

[allabouttheUK]

I hope you are not being serious...

Well I sure as hell don't plan on moving to Mexico to work in a factory or send my children there.

 

[DSmith21]

Edit to add: I am headed to Barcelona tomorrow for a couple of weeks on a project for work.... What was that word that always got my face slapped??????

Puta?

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

If you learn Chinese let me know and I will be impressed because there is no language called Chinese. Now Mandarin may help.

The many different layers under Mandarin is what makes it interesting to me. Many like to compare it to how people in the northeast use different words than people in the south do but it's not even remotely close to that.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

Why the hell would I want to learn or teach my kids to learn spanish?! Hopefully they won't be dealing with gardeners, cleaning staff, and fast food very much as adults. I'd have them learn a more professional language such as German or Italian.

You don't want your kids to own a landscaping company?
Or manage a restaurant?
Or be a business owner who deals with Hispanic customers?

Translation services are extremely expensive and time-consuming. Having the ability to do those translation tasks yourself saves you money if you're the business owner and makes you extremely attractive to potential employers.

One of my best friends is a primary care physician and she was able to negotiate a contract that provided a five-figure annual margin over other providers in the group purely because the clinic wouldn't have to pay for separate translation services if they hired her.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

if god wanted me to talk spanish he wouldn't have had george washington kick cortez's *** at the alamo. thats how i see it, anyhow.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Puta?

Chingada? When I worked for my uncle one summer housing tobacco he had a couple of Hispanic workers that always messed around and called me that. I finally got one to tell me what it meant and apparently they were calling me a bi@#h a$$ Mo Fo.....just messing around lol...

 

[allabouttheUK]

You don't want your kids to own a landscaping company?
Or manage a restaurant?
Or be a business owner who deals with Hispanic customers?

Translation services are extremely expensive and time-consuming. Having the ability to do those translation tasks yourself saves you money if you're the business owner and makes you extremely attractive to potential employers.

One of my best friends is a primary care physician and she was able to negotiate a contract that provided a five-figure annual margin over other providers in the group purely because the clinic wouldn't have to pay for separate translation services if they hired her.

Good for your friend.

No, Spanish is the last language I would want my kids to learn. Now if they decide they want to run a cartel, be a social worker, parole officer, then it would be needed.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

You don't want your kids to own a landscaping company?
Or manage a restaurant?
Or be a business owner who deals with Hispanic customers?

Translation services are extremely expensive and time-consuming. Having the ability to do those translation tasks yourself saves you money if you're the business owner and makes you extremely attractive to potential employers.

One of my best friends is a primary care physician and she was able to negotiate a contract that provided a five-figure annual margin over other providers in the group purely because the clinic wouldn't have to pay for separate translation services if they hired her.

My best friend is fluent in Spanish and is his police office's translator. Dude names his price. Went in late last week to translate something for like 2 hours and got paid like $350

 

[Glenn's Take]

The many different layers under Mandarin is what makes it interesting to me. Many like to compare it to how people in the northeast use different words than people in the south do but it's not even remotely close to that.

For the sake of this thread we are going to say that all dialects of Mandarin are 1. It has more than twice as many people speaking it as the next closest which is Spanish.

link

 

[allabouttheUK]

My best friend is fluent in Spanish and is his police office's translator. Dude names his price. Went in late last week to translate something for like 2 hours and got paid like $350

Kinda goes with my point...only need to know Spanish when dealing with criminals and the piss poor that shouldn't even be here. I sure as hell wouldn't move to another country and expect them to accommodate to my language. Then again if I were to move I would do it legally.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Good for your friend.

No, Spanish is the last language I would want my kids to learn. Now if they decide they want to run a cartel, be a social worker, parole officer, then it would be needed.

Just horrible logic.... so essentially you are saying Hispanics are either criminals or lowlifes... Bet you have a rally to attend tonight that requires a white hood

 

[allabouttheUK]

Just horrible logic.... so essentially you are saying Hispanics are either criminals or lowlifes... Bet you have a rally to attend tonight that requires a white hood

that's a pretty bold and hateful assumption you just made. Mine is backed with statistics, how about yours?

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Good for your friend.

No, Spanish is the last language I would want my kids to learn. Now if they decide they want to run a cartel, be a social worker, parole officer, then it would be needed.

I bet all African americans according to you are thugs...

 

[DSmith21]

Chingada? When I worked for my uncle one summer housing tobacco he had a couple of Hispanic workers that always messed around and called me that. I finally got one to tell me what it meant and apparently they were calling me a bi@#h a$$ Mo Fo.....just messing around lol...

Chingar is literally means to F@@K. It is greatly overused by people from Mexico as compared to other Latin American nations. It also has other non-offensive meanings like to get drunk frequently.

http://www.speakinglatino.com/verbo-chingar-the-most-important-word-in-mexico/

 

[funKYcat75]

Pinche cabrón is always a good one.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

If you immigrate to a country, you should learn how to speak the language. If you immigrate to the USA, you have to use USA currency instead of the Mexican peso, you have to drive on the right side of the road instead of the left, have to abide by the USA laws instead of the Mexican laws, tons of other things. Why should it be any different when it comes to English?

 

[allabouttheUK]

I bet all African americans according to you are thugs...

Nope just the morons who think being responsible and successful makes you an "uncle tom"...or those that think everybody that is not black owes them something.

 

[funKYcat75]

If you immigrate to a country, you should learn how to speak the language. If you immigrate to the USA, you have to use USA currency instead of the Mexican peso, you have to drive on the right side of the road instead of the left, have to abide by the USA laws instead of the Mexican laws, tons of other things. Why should it be any different when it comes to English?

Because the US has no official language. Look it up.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Hispanics incarceration rate ranges between 2.3% and 5.9% in the US.

 

[allabouttheUK]

Hispanics incarceration rate ranges between 2.3% and 5.9% in the US.

ok...you're point? Should be a lot higher if you incarcerate all those here illegally.

 

[BigBlueSean_rivals178247]

Chingar is literally means to F@@K. It is greatly overused by people from Mexico as compared to other Latin American nations. It also has other non-offensive meanings like to get drunk frequently.

http://www.speakinglatino.com/verbo-chingar-the-most-important-word-in-mexico/

Hmmm, that's kind of weird... Well, now I know