Krasny-Volny wrote:Nanatsu no Tsuki wrote:For background. I’ve seen increased instances of people in the US going off on others for speaking a language other than English. I myself have had this problem too, of an American angrily telling me to stop speaking Spanish and speak English as I’m in the US. Spanish however is not the only language spoken than sometimes gets some Americans angry. Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog, French, among others can set some people off.
The times I’ve cared to asked why they’re getting upset, the answer I usually get is “because illegal immigrants...” Particularly when Spanish is involved. But you see, in many of these instances I’ve seen and personally experienced, the people involved are legally in the country. Legal residents, like myself, or legally in the US as students.
When these people are called up on their behavior, the stuff that comes out is glaring and full of hate. But, is the actual drive a concern about illegal immigration or is it something deeper and darker? What say you, NSG?
In the instances that it’s happened to me, I don’t think it’s a concern about illegal immigration. That’s my perception at least.
Note: more often than not, you will get others to intervene and shut up the offender, which is still a relief to see or witness, btw.
Note 2: one answer I got was that the person thought I was talking about them. I had to laugh and condescendingly ask them if they though they were the center of the universe or something.
Don't you live up north somewhere? Seems to me the last place in the country where anybody would get ragged on for being from outside the states is in the northeast where everybody's half Italian or Bosnian or Turkish or Chinese or Puerto Rican.
I do speak languages other than English, but I rarely have the occasion to use them in public. If somebody else starts speaking to me casually in a language other than English I can indeed understand, and there are non-speakers present, I respond in English or do not respond at all. I just don't consider that courteous to the other folks present, who may feel as if they are a) being purposefully excluded from the conversation, or b) the target of some inside joke we do not wish them to overhear. I will make an exception if I know the individual in question can't speak English well, and is not being impolite on purpose.
I wish but no, I live down South. And in my neck of the woods the big boogeyman is “illegals!”, as anyone who speaks Spanish tends to be looked at as or is suspected of being one. It’s supremely weird.
The way I see it, if someone is speaking a language I can’t understand with friends or family, it’s 1) none of my business and, 2) not a crime. There’s no need to blow a gasket. Which is why I roll my eyes about the “Stop speaking X language, we’re in ‘murica so go back to your country!” crowd and act condescending. It’s idiotic, it’s ignorant. There’s no real issue with you speaking a different language. None.
I have no problem with people who are monolingual, which is why it boggles the mind when they get so upset about another language being spoken around them. But it’s amusing to watch them get owned by other Americans about their behavior, I’ll be honest.