Why, if I'm an AMERICAN living in AMERICA do I have to...

[MeatyPortion]

My take: learn the language of the country you are going to; unfortunately, in my case it was Iraq.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

My take: learn the language of the country you are going to; unfortunately, in my case it was Iraq.

What is the translation for "Take out the trash" in Iraqanese?

 

[MeatyPortion]

What is the translation for "Take out the trash" in Iraqanese?

I had to look that one up since my conversational skills are limited to phrases such as "hello", "how are you" and "lie on your stomach or we will shoot you".

Roughly: إخراج القمامة ikhraaj al-qamaameh

 

[MeatyPortion]

Actually, a better translation would probably be tafreegh al-qamaameh.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I understand this, and I understand that making a transition to a new country/culture can be stressful. While their neighborhood may be predominately of their native language, the country is predominately English (for the moment).

I am not saying that "immigrants are ruining the nation", I believe the US has been and should be the "great mixing pot" for those that wish to become part of our nation legally, but for us to function together we should have a common shared language to help cross cultural/language barriers that arise. For this reason, helping by writing in both languages so BOTH parties learn from each other seems like the best option to help take out some of the stress of moving to a new country.

However, if someone has been in this country legally or otherwise for any extended period of time and has refused to make any attempt at learning the language, I hold no sympathy and retract any special considerations. If I were to spend any time in their country I would do my best to learn their culture and language to the best of my ability, as a sign of respect for them and their nation. If they do not extend the same courtesy to me/us while in my/our home, why should we bend over backward for their stubborn disrespect?

It swings both ways... "While in Rome..."

+1. If you are legal, make an effort to learn the language. If you are not here legally, gtfo.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

+1. If you are legal, make an effort to learn the language. If you are not here legally, gtfo.

Now, there it is in plain simple English.


Edit: I suppose it's too late now to teach Americans how to spell correctly?

 

[SchizoFilly]

I find the unwillingness of our government to force immigrants to learn English to be severely ironic. I've never successfully carried on a conversation in any other language, sure I learned enough French to pass a couple classes in high school and enough Spanish to get drunk in my weekly endeavors across the border during college, but no conversations. I had to take an English course in each and every year of my 12 years spent in public schools as state mandates require, and then I had to take 3 semesters of it during under-grad. All of this when it is the only language I have ever learned and that is what was EXPECTED of me growing up here, but we can't even politely suggest that an immigrant learn the bits and pieces of English that directly relate to their job.

WTF is wrong with that picture?

 

[Evan!]

Now, there it is in plain simple English.


Edit: I suppose it's too late now to teach Americans how to spell correctly?

Christ, you're not kidding...funny how we lambaste immigrants for not learning english good, but peruse this forum alone and you'll find plenty of good ol' fashioned 'merkins who lack the basic spelling and grammar skills to get through middle school.

If Jose the Immigrant should have to learn to speak English, then so should Clayton Ross.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Christ, you're not kidding...funny how we lambaste immigrants for not learning english good, but peruse this forum alone and you'll find plenty of good ol' fashioned 'merkins who lack the basic spelling and grammar skills to get through middle school.

If Jose the Immigrant should have to learn to speak English, then so should Clayton Ross.

 

[olllllo]

I'm glad we all agree on "Trash" and not say:
Garbage
Refuse
Disposal
Toss this
Pitch
Junk
Throw away
Do you want this? Otherwise get rid of it.
Free
Budweiser

 

[GreenwoodRover]

I prefer "rubbish"

 

[Fingers]

Offal.

67890

 

[EvilTOJ]

Why is this in General Chit Chat? Seems like it should be in the debate forum.

 

[Hegh]

Because English is becoming the government approved language of the minorities.

Now the real question is why, when 90% of traffic signs are printed in English, are people given the option to take their written tests for a drivers license in spanish?

You don't need to know English to drive here. Sign shapes are universal across the globe, which is why, when you go to France, Russia, or anywhere else, you will likely be allowed to drive using your US driver's license. Numeric digits are pretty much universal too, and other than that you just need to recognize the name of the city that you want to get to.

Christ, you're not kidding...funny how we lambaste immigrants for not learning english good, but peruse this forum alone and you'll find plenty of good ol' fashioned 'merkins who lack the basic spelling and grammar skills to get through middle school.

If Jose the Immigrant should have to learn to speak English, then so should Clayton Ross.

"Well," not "good." You can't complain about someone else's spelling and grammar when making errors yourself.

Why is this in General Chit Chat? Seems like it should be in the debate forum.

Or drunken ramblings...

 

[DeathBrewer]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Evan! did that on purpose

I agree that "trash" should be first day training stuff, but unfortunately we can't rely on other businesses to properly train their employees.

In any case, rarely is it the individual's fault.

 

[GreenwoodRover]

In any case, rarely is it the individual's fault.

(hopefully) You for got your sarcasm indicator/smiley...

 

[jpc]

You don't need to know English to drive here. Sign shapes are universal across the globe, which is why, when you go to France, Russia, or anywhere else, you will likely be allowed to drive using your US driver's license. Numeric digits are pretty much universal too, and other than that you just need to recognize the name of the city that you want to get to.

Shapes are universal? No, not really. Warning signs are quite different in Europe, as are speed limit signs (round vs. rectangular). The fact that a red circle around something prohibits it in Europe confuses a lot of Americans who expect a red circle AND a slash through it.

About the only standard things are the stop sign and yield sign.

 

[DeathBrewer]

(hopefully) You for got your sarcasm indicator/smiley...

No, I just think that too often people are blaming the symptoms, rather than the problems.

 

[mmb]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Evan! did that on purpose

Of course he did.... now.

Before your post he was just another fast typing reactionary. Now, he's a thought provoking, sarcastic intellectual.

See what you did!

 

[DeathBrewer]

heh...and chaos ensues. I dun good.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

No, I just think that too often people are blaming the symptoms, rather than the problems.

While a basic training should be expected, and may not be given, I still find it remarkable that a person could ot figure this one out for themselves given that it is a key word in their line of work. I mean, imagine if you arrived in a new country and your job was to take out trash. You see a pile of trash that has a word written on it. Would your curiosity about this word not be aroused? I mean, it's trash, and it is clearly deliberately marked with something in a strange language. Would you not want to know what that word meant just in case it was important? Would you not ask someone?

It has been said already here that after picking up the basics of the language, it is possible to upgrade your job to a higher level. SOrry, but if your job is to pick up trash, and you can't figure it out on the first day then your next level is going to be too low for a snake to limbo under.

 

[DeathBrewer]

A lot of these guys are happy to have the job. It's so much more than they had previously and they may not be motivated to go any further, or perhaps don't see the opportunity. Their boss speaks in spanish and gives them very little detail on what their job entails. They live in a house that speaks nothing but spanish. They hang out with people that speak only spanish.

I know what I would do in that situation, but that doesn't mean we should hate the guy who does the work.

OBVIOUSLY, he didn't know it was trash or he wouldn't have taken the can when they changed the words. Somewhere there is a lack of understanding or responsibility. Complain to management if you want, but that's all you can do. Don't get pissed at dude because he has a crummy job and a ****ty boss. Your anger and frustration is built in vain...half the country feels disdain for these people and it helps nothing. It just fuels hatred.

 

[olllllo]

Memo from the desk of Tom Rash:

Please stop throwing my stuff away.

T. Rash

 

[Hegh]

Shapes are universal? No, not really. Warning signs are quite different in Europe, as are speed limit signs (round vs. rectangular). The fact that a red circle around something prohibits it in Europe confuses a lot of Americans who expect a red circle AND a slash through it.

About the only standard things are the stop sign and yield sign.

Although the speed limit sign may be a different shape, it is still obvious what it wants you to do.

As for the do-not-enter sign, those I've seen in other countries still have the white horizontal slash through a red circle, they just don't say "DO NOT ENTER" on them. I've actually been pleasantly surprised at the commonality in the designs of road signs across the world; even if you don't know what it says, you still know what it means.

 

[springer]

Section 4-1-404 –English and Legal Language (1984)

English is hereby established as the official and legal language of Tennessee. All communications and publications, including ballots, produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English, and instruction in public schools and colleges of Tennessee shall be conducted in English unless the nature of the course would require otherwise.


No basura signs for us.

Umm I talk to several people during the course of the day from the deep south .... Can't for the life of me understand what the hell they are saying. Half the time I have to have them e-mail me with what they are trying to convey . And you say its english .. who'd of thunk?


Lets face it nobody wants to be a custodian.So its the uneducated that do it. I can't even get my kid to take out the trash . Maybe I need to write basura on it.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

A lot of these guys are happy to have the job. It's so much more than they had previously and they may not be motivated to go any further, or perhaps don't see the opportunity. Their boss speaks in spanish and gives them very little detail on what their job entails. They live in a house that speaks nothing but spanish. They hang out with people that speak only spanish.

I know what I would do in that situation, but that doesn't mean we should hate the guy who does the work.

OBVIOUSLY, he didn't know it was trash or he wouldn't have taken the can when they changed the words. Somewhere there is a lack of understanding or responsibility. Complain to management if you want, but that's all you can do. Don't get pissed at dude because he has a crummy job and a ****ty boss. Your anger and frustration is built in vain...half the country feels disdain for these people and it helps nothing. It just fuels hatred.

I don't see anyone talking hate. I just see people wanting others to competently execute the very job they are hired to do.

 

[uglygoat]

Man, that's almost as bad as having to take out your own trash. No wonder you're pissed.

:rockin:

america is not a country either...

 

[BeerBudha]

Christ, you're not kidding...funny how we lambaste immigrants for not learning english good, but peruse this forum alone and you'll find plenty of good ol' fashioned 'merkins who lack the basic spelling and grammar skills to get through middle school.

If Jose the Immigrant should have to learn to speak English, then so should Clayton Ross.

I don't think anybody on here is lambasting immigrants for not learning the language good, I think the OP was expressing his anger that they couldn't even learn it enough to do their job. I don't expect an immigrant to be a english professor but I also don't expect to have to order in Spanish at Jack in the Box even if it is only 2 miles north of the border.

 

[Evan!]

I don't think anybody on here is lambasting immigrants for not learning the language good, I think the OP was expressing his anger that they couldn't even learn it enough to do their job. I don't expect an immigrant to be a english professor but I also don't expect to have to order in Spanish at Jack in the Box even if it is only 2 miles north of the border.

Duh. I know what he was saying, and I pretty much said what you said right there, but about 3 pages back:

Exarcly. If I went to France and got a job as a barista, you think it'd make sense for me to learn "cafe au lait", etc. I can understand if you don't yet know the whole goddamned english language, but if you haven't even taken the time to learn the singular words/phrases for the job you work, then you should be fired.

I was making a funny. :cross:

 

[IrregularPulse]

Umm I talk to several people during the course of the day from the deep south .... Can't for the life of me understand what the hell they are saying. Half the time I have to have them e-mail me with what they are trying to convey . And you say its english .. who'd of thunk?


Lets face it nobody wants to be a custodian.So its the uneducated that do it. I can't even get my kid to take out the trash . Maybe I need to write basura on it.

haha I think the worst are in the deep south of Alabama. They're probably some of the biggest supporters (stereotypiclly) of immigrants sucking, but I can understand Spanglish 100 years before that lazy ass, mouth not quite open, slurring slang "english", they think they're speaking in slow motion.