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Why do some Americans get angry at other people for not speaking English? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've hears stories of some Americans telling other people who are speaking a non-English language "This is America, speak English!" even if the conversation has nothing to do with them. Why do they do this?

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[–] z00s 0 points 5 months ago

RACISM!

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[–] MrFappy -1 points 5 months ago (6 children)

All this talk of xenophobia and racism, which I get are indeed often reasons why people do this, but there’s a certain show of lack of respect for the new home country if there’s not even an effort made. If someone is visiting a country, I get there’s an exception, but if someone moves to a country, it shouldn’t be uncalled for to expect at least a minor effort to learn just enough of the new language to transact/survive. That’s something I see a lot as an American, and it frustrates me- Folks who move here and have been here for years, but can’t learn enough to at least sort of transact. I have so much respect (often more for them than natives) for those who learn even a couple words so I can do my job to help them, but then there are folks who I’ve seen for years that still refuse to learn a single word of English, so we play the mime game trying to figure out what they want. If I move to another country, you bet your ass I’m not going to expect them to speak English, and I’ll do what I can to at least learn some words or phrases so I can interact with the populace around me. I feel like that is one of the most significant forms of respect for a new home country that one can show. Not everyone is as nuanced in their outlook and opinions, and a lot of those folks are indeed racist xenophobic.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Probably because most Americans can’t speak any other language… because our education system is awful… because those in power prefer a stupid populace because they’re easier to control.

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[–] weeeeum -1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Those who say this are usually frustrated by the increasing number of misunderstandings/miscommunications due to increasing English illiteracy. Its become more difficult to communicate to those around you.

It's utterly unacceptable behaviour but I believe the issue lies deeper than simple "racism". I also sometimes find it frustrating from the sheer volume of people that can't speak English, from coworkers, customers, fellow students, etc. I don't even live near the border, where the problem is much worse.