I'm sick of foreign people

meghatronic · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:27

kylew said:
How about, as well as telling people they must speak English at all times while in England, also telling them to learn an English accent too, so they don't sound forein?

I've been to a few places in the US where staff don't speak more than a handful of English words. A Starbucks in New York (by the Natural History museum) sticks in my mind as I ordered in Spanish.

kylew · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:27

JBuk said:

There's typos, and then there's blatant idocy. Oh noes, I got the "g" and "n" the wrong way around, I no longer have a point!

Notice I said people who can't use English, not people who make a spelling mistake?

kylew · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:29

meghatronic said:
I've been to a few places in the US where staff don't speak more than a handful of English words. A Starbucks in New York (by the Natural History museum) sticks in my mind as I ordered in Spanish.

Now that's ridiculous. To me, it's just common sense to make sure a person who is serving and interacting with members of the public in a country where the language official is English, that they can speak English to a standard high enough that native English speakers can communicate easily.

meghatronic · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:30

kylew said:
Now that's ridiculous. To me, it's just common sense to make sure a person who is serving and interacting with members of the public in a country where the language official is English, that they can speak English to a standard high enough that native English speakers can communicate easily.

Yeah, was crazy. But try explaining "nonfat milk" to someone that doesn't speak English. Bad enough Americans don't understand "skimmed" milk anyway

. Although, they could have been trolling me.

JBuk · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:30

kylew said:
There's typos, and then there's blatant idocy. Oh noes, I got the "g" and "n" the wrong way around, I no longer have a point!

Hahah don't get all defensive.

I just found it humourous that you made a typo after a rant about the use of English.

Castiel · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:36

kylew said:
Now that's ridiculous. To me, it's just common sense to make sure a person who is serving and interacting with members of the public in a country where the language official is English, that they can speak English to a standard high enough that native English speakers can communicate easily.

The US has no official language. English & Spanish are equally recognised. Watch Sesame St in the US.

kylew · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:41

Castiel said:
The US has no official language. English & Spanish are equally recognised. Watch Sesame St in the US.

Still, it's safe to assume that the majority of Americans can speak English, especially in NYC.

With over 80% of the country's population claiming it to be their native language, 220 million odd people.

meghatronic · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:47

kylew said:
Still, it's safe to assume that the majority of Americans can speak English, especially in NYC.

I did look into it at the time, something like 1/4 of people in NY (state) don't speak English.

In 2005, according to "MLA Language Map Data Center", for NYNY, it's actually only 58.17% that speak English. Spanish is the second most popular language

Sinny · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:48

I don't have a problem with foreigners, I've got a few polish friends. but what I don't like is having multi culturism being shoved in my face mainly via advertising.

I can understand where the OP is coming from, but I'd just adapt.

Castiel · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:49

kylew said:
Still, it's safe to assume that the majority of Americans can speak English, especially in NYC.

Sure, but that is not the same as what you said. You said it is ridiculous that people do not speak English in a country where it us the official language or words to that effect.

It is not ridiculous that Spanish speakers do not speak English in a country with the fifth largest spanish speaking population in the world.

Having spent several years in California which has a huge Hispanic population I can't say that I have come across anyone who cannot speak English at some level however.

Kutter · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:50

meghatronic said:
I did look into it at the time, something like 1/4 of people in NY (state) don't speak English.

In 2005, according to "MLA Language Map Data Center", for NYNY, it's actually only 58.17% that speak English. Spanish is the second most popular language

about 90% of the everyday stuff you buy over here has spanish instructions labelling on it

kylew · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:55

doofski said:
about 90% of the everyday stuff you buy over here has spanish instructions labelling on it

That's not surprising considering most of the things around my room have multilingual labels on them, Spanish cropping up quite often.

paul8811 · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:55

I always used to wonder how the eastern Europeans begging on the tube can afford an accordion but not food, those things aren't cheap.

meghatronic · 31 Aug 2010 at 01:55

doofski said:
about 90% of the everyday stuff you buy over here has spanish instructions labelling on it

Interesting.

(es interesante)

Then again, that makes much more sense in the US than Welsh, here.

(Cymru nghasdil ghyamu nida hlailolgydada maelraho asio cyoheoht gena aioaflskjhf alkshslsls)

kylew · 31 Aug 2010 at 02:02

meghatronic said:
Interesting.
(Cymru nghasdil ghyamu nida hlailolgydada maelraho asio cyoheoht gena aioaflskjhf alkshslsls)

Bloody cats! Mine loves to walk all over my keyboard too!

franco_22 · 31 Aug 2010 at 04:03

What exactly is british?

There's lots of different ways to define british:

You have the typical upper class family who likes fox hunting, earn 6 figure salaries and their kids attend private christian schools.

Then you have the middle class who spends most of his time at the pub or doing something meaningless to society who earns enough to get by himself with the help from anyone, has public health care and public education.

Then you have the lower class chavs who rely on the government for everything and all their kids have ASBO's and they enjoy being racist and violent to anyone who looks at them.

So what exactly is british that we must preserve so preciously?

ShaolinDreams · 31 Aug 2010 at 07:02

Welcome to London.

My mum is Polish spoke to me as a child in Polish (and English).. As i was born and raised here i consider myself English with European roots.. which is pretty much the standard English person throughout the ages. My children will be even more assimilated and so on.. give it time. Its good to be diverse man its actually something im proud of England for.

Btw Polish are taught English as their second language in Poland (compulsory).

SexyGreyFox · 31 Aug 2010 at 07:55

Linda said:
I hope you realise there are a lot of "Chinky's" that read this forum and I am one of them, big love to this guy.

'You wan' fwy wice wi' your swee sour dog man'?

In Stoke the word 'Chinky' is used to describe the establishment you are buying from and not the people.
It is a term of endearment but I empathise with where you're coming from.

the shadow · 31 Aug 2010 at 08:32

ignore

Meridian · 31 Aug 2010 at 08:38

dmpoole said:
It is a term of endearment

At the absolute best it's just a slang term, but there's always an undercurrent of racism about it, even if only casual racism. When there's not a lot more than an undercurrent. Just because it's in common usage does not make it inoffensive. Neither does the fact that white people don't find it offensive mean that it isn't so: it's not up to the people who use the term to decide, it's up to those on the receiving end. And yes, I'm sure they don't complain. As long as you hand the money over.

M