"Speak English" sign in Philly restaurant

[BroomJockey]

if we did declare an official language, wouldn't there have to be official dictionaries and official spellings and grammars [sic]? would congress have to approve new words?

Again, using Canada as an example of a country with official languages: No.

Parliament doesn't have crap to do with approving words. We've got the "Oxford Canadian Dictionary," and Canadian Style Guides for grammar, but that's because we're a hybrid of American and British styles for English. And Quebecois French is different from Parisian French, so even their Language Academy doesn't really have much sway over here.

[AdminAssistant]

That's a perfectly good example of getting old. Those young whippersnappers are ruining the language with their nasty slang.... STAY off my lawn! Bling is rather old from what I know, and EVOO is just an acronym no stranger than SNAFU. Awful and cool were once slang, so please get off your high horse and join us here in normal english use.

Sorry, grading papers written by college students has made me cranky and cynical, because they don't know how to seperate 'slang' from proper American English. I'm not saying there isn't a place in the language for slang and colloquialisms, I'm from the South for pity's sake, but they don't belong in papers or in Merriam-Webster.

Restrictions on anything force creativity in writers. The implementation of neo-classical rules on theatre by the Academie didn't make for very interesting plays by our standards, but some of the best dramatic poetry ever written was created because there were no other options. Poetry was the only tool the playwright was left with. Do Americans like Phedre? No, because our attention spans are too short for it. But that doesn't stop Racine from being one of the greatest dramatic poets who ever picked up a pen.

[Boozy]

I admire the lengths that the French go to to protect their language.

They're not protecting their language, they're killing it. It is no longer a living, versatile language. Writers love English; there are thousands of ways to say what they want. French doesn't offer them the same flexibility.

[Flyndaran]

If anything, there would be a government appointed group, something like the Acadamie Francaise that looks over the language. Honestly, I would go for that, because I'm tired of words and phrases like "bling bling" and "EVOO" being added to English dictionaries. We have no respect for our language; we treat it like crap. I admire the lengths that the French go to to protect their language.

That's a perfectly good example of getting old. Those young whippersnappers are ruining the language with their nasty slang.... STAY off my lawn! Bling is rather old from what I know, and EVOO is just an acronym no stranger than SNAFU. Awful and cool were once slang, so please get off your high horse and join us here in normal english use.

[AdminAssistant]

if we did declare an official language, wouldn't there have to be official dictionaries and official spellings and grammars [sic]? would congress have to approve new words?

If anything, there would be a government appointed group, something like the Acadamie Francaise that looks over the language. Honestly, I would go for that, because I'm tired of words and phrases like "bling bling" and "EVOO" being added to English dictionaries. We have no respect for our language; we treat it like crap. I admire the lengths that the French go to to protect their language.

[Flyndaran]

Well I guess I would have to then, fortunately we're not living in Meximerica yet.

That is very racist: I hope unintentionally so.
Would you like if I called it Englishcrackermerica? My ancestors had to deal with absurd bigotry for being Irish. Would you decry their culture adding to the U.S.?

[joe hx]

one thing i've always liked about america is that we have no official language. why? for one thing, it makes a great trick question.

if we did declare an official language, wouldn't there have to be official dictionaries and official spellings and grammars [sic]? would congress have to approve new words?

also, curious - is there anyone on this board whose first language isn't english?

[violetyoshi]

If it didn't happen, this thread wouldn't have occurred. Some person who spoke only another language and refused to learn English, our main language, went into his shop and pissed the guy off. It happens. It's not a myth. It isn't every single immigrant, but it happens plenty.

And realistically, America has no longer become the land of new opportunity for immigrants. It hasn't been like that for a bit now.

And I already know Spanish, so I have that situation covered.

Well I guess I would have to then, fortunately we're not living in Meximerica yet.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Cockney

Nope, Chav. O_o

[Greenday]

Why? This country loudly proclaims itself a land of new opportunity for everyone, not just english speakers.
Most citizens that don't speak fluent english don't expect everyone to cater their whims. That's a myth as jerks abound in every group.

Will you learn fluent spanish if it overtakes english in the U.S.? Somehow I doubt it. (If in England then replace with whatever language that might overtake english.)

If it didn't happen, this thread wouldn't have occurred. Some person who spoke only another language and refused to learn English, our main language, went into his shop and pissed the guy off. It happens. It's not a myth. It isn't every single immigrant, but it happens plenty.

And realistically, America has no longer become the land of new opportunity for immigrants. It hasn't been like that for a bit now.

And I already know Spanish, so I have that situation covered.

[Lachrymose]

(If in England then replace with whatever language that might overtake english.)

Cockney

[Flyndaran]

That doesn't change how absurd it would be to move to a country and refuse to learn the main language, then expect everyone to cater to your every whim.

Why? This country loudly proclaims itself a land of new opportunity for everyone, not just english speakers.
Most citizens that don't speak fluent english don't expect everyone to cater their whims. That's a myth as jerks abound in every group.

Will you learn fluent spanish if it overtakes english in the U.S.? Somehow I doubt it. (If in England then replace with whatever language that might overtake english.)

[Greenday]

I've got to ask how many languages you know. Not everyone can learn them so easily. I wouldn't be able to learn them as an adult very well. Should I be banned from moving where I please and can find work?

That doesn't change how absurd it would be to move to a country and refuse to learn the main language, then expect everyone to cater to your every whim.

[Flyndaran]

...
We're providing safe habor for people, who may have no opportunities elsewhere, the least they can do is bother to speak our language.

I love how you include us in that diatribe. This is the U.S.; if you want to speak an american language, learn cherokee.
I've got to ask how many languages you know. Not everyone can learn them so easily. I wouldn't be able to learn them as an adult very well. Should I be banned from moving where I please and can find work?

[violetyoshi]

I agree with the sign, I also do not see any racial component in it, since it does not specify any specific race. If I wanted to go live in Japan, I'd have to understand Japanese. True for most countries in the world outside of England and the USA, you need to know the language there, since the majority of people speak it.

It's the guy's restaurant, he has a right to decide who he serves to. If it was such a problem, the restaurant would've been shut down. He's simply asking that when you order something, know what your ordering and how to say it. It's a place of business, not an ESL center.

I say he should at least give a break to people who are speaking broken English, because it's a sign they at least are putting in the effort to learn the language of this country. Oh, and as far as this country not having an official language, over 90% of people in the USA speak English. Maybe it's an unofficial official language, but that's the reality of the situation.

As far as race, this has nothing to do with race. He wouldn't sell food to a White person who didn't speak English, the issue here is the language.

I feel a person should have a choice to whom they serve at their place of business, if they loose a lot of money from that decision, they will have to deal with the consequences of that. What shouldn't happen is people getting excited, yelling out claims of racism, or saying "Nobody is immigrant" at rallies.

We're providing safe habor for people, who may have no opportunities elsewhere, the least they can do is bother to speak our language.