quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD

quote:

ORIGINAL: EdBowie

My position was already spelled out, and it was exactly the opposite of 'learn the native language when you come here'. http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=4608126

quote:

In all seriousness, the world was built on people who didn't speak each other's language, learning how to do business together.
Story has it that when the Emperor of China banned learning English in the cities, the merchants of south China amassed fortunes using 'pidgin' (business) English to trade.
So it doesn't bother me as a customer to find a way to communicate to get what I want, no matter what communications barriers that particular clerk may be presenting (to include attitude, poor verbal skills from a native speaker, and so forth).
It is part of the great shopping adventure.
On the other hand, when it comes to 911 operators, air traffic controllers, and so forth, I fully expect there to be a standardized language that works best for the largest number of people.
And don't get me started on call center support 'English'.

It's a sad internet debate game to accuse people speaking out against racism of being racists, and speaking out against intolerance of being intolerant, and that's all the 'Apache' comment was... a trolling insinuation that I was the one being intolerant of others, posted well after I had made it abundantly clear that was not where I stood on the matter.

The continuation of that smear through the blatant lie of 'your position is that English was the official language', whether asserted from one posting account or from 20 is simply part of the prevalent game from the multifarious posters using this website as a game of obstructing as much tolerant discourse as they can.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD


Thank you for supporting my contention that when people refuse to learn the dominant language their intent is to change it to theirs.
In his defense when he came along Apache was an insignificant language.

You realize that your post has zero relationship to mine which was not even directed at you in any way.

quote:

Reading for understanding, instead of for argumentation, has its advantages.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

quote:

Reading for understanding, instead of for argumentation, has its advantages.

In your case that is probably the most inapt tagline I've ever seen, Ed.

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

Ed, I've now changed my mind and realise that you're a genius. I love you and want to have your babies - or would do, if I had a womb.

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Bama, Peon, boy do I love the "Hide" button!
Thankyou C.M.

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250
When people know that they're doing something "WRONG" they usually try to "HIDE."

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

Please don't exhibit yourself any more, Ed. You're in danger of driving me into a frenzy of lust for your intellectual buttocks.

quote:

ORIGINAL: graceadieu

I've seen polls that show that Hispanics/Latinos aren't that conservative on economic issues. But I think that the Republicans could have a good chance with them on the "family values" stuff, if they acted more welcoming and got serious about some immigration reform other than fortifying the border

quote:

And what worked 500 years ago isn't nesseccerally
going to work today is it?

quote:

I wonder if that's a course at Occidental or Harvard?

quote:

ORIGINAL: MariaB

quote:

ORIGINAL: MAINEiacMISTRESS

That's funny, here in the "predominantly white" state of Maine at least in local schools they are now teaching foreign languages in first grade, which I think is BS because kids are struggling at that age just to learn to read and write English with proper grammar. Let them get the fundamentals of their own language down pat before bringing in a second. At least wait until 4th. Incidentally, I took French in HS and have NEVER ONCE NEEDED IT, even though there are a few pockets of French Canadian communities here in Maine.
I learned a little Chinese Cantonese on My own and have actually used that quite a bit.

First graders are like sponges and this is absolutely the best time to teach them to be bilingual.

When I started first grade in France I spoke no French, not because my household didn't speak French but because they wanted me to be fluent in English. That didn't hold me back. At that age I just absorbed and got on with the new language. A few months down the line I could speak as much French as my classmates and I could speak as much English as the average English kid my age. If we want our kids to be true linguists, bring them up with one language until they start school and then immerse them in another language in that school.

I didn't start learning Italian until I was in senior school and even then it was an after school class. I struggled and my Italian is pretty poor (even with my recent classes) which is a great shame as we live on the border of Italy and spend a lot of time their.

Teaching kids languages at a later age is a lot of hard work and most of those kids will drop out of language class because they find it too much of a struggle.

quote:

ORIGINAL: EdBowie

Time for you to run off to the mods and complain that I'm violating the rules by making you the topic of every post, isn't it?

Unless of course you want to actually contribute something either correct or useful?

quote:

ORIGINAL: PeonForHer

Please don't exhibit yourself any more, Ed. You're in danger of driving me into a frenzy of lust for your intellectual buttocks.

quote:

ORIGINAL: EdBowie

I realize that you quoted me directly, which I trimmed in order to follow the group rules that you refuse to follow...

What 'his' were you referring to with the 'Apache' comment?

quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD

quote:

ORIGINAL: EdBowie

My position was already spelled out, and it was exactly the opposite of 'learn the native language when you come here'. http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=4608126

quote:

In all seriousness, the world was built on people who didn't speak each other's language, learning how to do business together.
Story has it that when the Emperor of China banned learning English in the cities, the merchants of south China amassed fortunes using 'pidgin' (business) English to trade.
So it doesn't bother me as a customer to find a way to communicate to get what I want, no matter what communications barriers that particular clerk may be presenting (to include attitude, poor verbal skills from a native speaker, and so forth).
It is part of the great shopping adventure.
On the other hand, when it comes to 911 operators, air traffic controllers, and so forth, I fully expect there to be a standardized language that works best for the largest number of people.
And don't get me started on call center support 'English'.

It's a sad internet debate game to accuse people speaking out against racism of being racists, and speaking out against intolerance of being intolerant, and that's all the 'Apache' comment was... a trolling insinuation that I was the one being intolerant of others, posted well after I had made it abundantly clear that was not where I stood on the matter.

The continuation of that smear through the blatant lie of 'your position is that English was the official language', whether asserted from one posting account or from 20 is simply part of the prevalent game from the multifarious posters using this website as a game of obstructing as much tolerant discourse as they can.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD


Thank you for supporting my contention that when people refuse to learn the dominant language their intent is to change it to theirs.
In his defense when he came along Apache was an insignificant language.

You realize that your post has zero relationship to mine which was not even directed at you in any way.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD

The person I was speaking to had asked someone about their fluency in Apache, implying hypocrisy on their part.
I was also pointing out that people who have no interest in learning the dominate language intend, at least subconsciously, to remake the local culture into the one they came from.

quote:

ORIGINAL: EdBowie

That 'someone' was me. The Apache question was an insinuation about me, as I described it... implying that I was a hypocrite because I was in favor of tolerating and even enjoying a multi-lingual society with the exception of emergency operations.

So yeah, your post quoting me, and referencing me, had something to do with me.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BamaD

The person I was speaking to had asked someone about their fluency in Apache, implying hypocrisy on their part.
I was also pointing out that people who have no interest in learning the dominate language intend, at least subconsciously, to remake the local culture into the one they came from.

quote:

Of course now some individuals will now call me a racist, but right now, I am sick and tired of having to deal with people who cant speak the fucking language in this country.

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

quote:

Of course now some individuals will now call me a racist, but right now, I am sick and tired of having to deal with people who cant speak the fucking language in this country.

Back to the OP for a moment. So sorry for your inconvenience, jlf. Must be tough to get by in your neighborhood. Perhaps it would help if you understood some of the barriers for immigrants to learn a new language. It might help to walk in their shoes for a change.

What challenges do adults learning English face?
ESL learners are not only trying to acquire a new language and a new culture; they also are
working, managing their households, and raising their children. These challenges often
present significant obstacles to learning. The National Center for Education Statistics
(1995) listed the following barriers to program participation: limited time, money, child
care, and transportation, and lack of knowledge about appropriate programs in the local area.
The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL, 2004) surveyed community leaders and
educators in communities with recent rapid growth in numbers of immigrant families, and
respondents identified similar challenges.
SOURCE