What I was going for in that email that I posted was it should not be necessary to offer a button for any other language in this country except English. If you can't speak it then you have two options: learn how or get someone to interrupt it at you own expense not someone else's.
As to the other stuff I could and should have left it out of the post, it would have stood alone by itself and been more to the subject here.
uhoh, I see I am going off-topic here, but gotta say it anyway.
In the late 1800s, the Colorado Constitution was written in 3 languages, English Spanish and German, to accomodate the mix of languages spoken by the residents of the territory.
If a private business wishes to encourage the use of its product or services to a larger clientele than it behooves them to make such interactions as pleasant and clear as possible. If they wish to blow off these lucrative potential customers, then I suggest those customers take their business elsewhere. I hope they let their treatment be known to others. It is amazing to see how easily misunderstandings can arise by what a native speaker might think are simple terms. If a government agency is charged with providing services to a clientele that may or may not be adept yet in American English, it is a good thing to provide clearly understood instructions in a variety of languages. Canada has done it for years with French and English.
Perhaps we should make citizenship a two class thing. Class A are those who have passed all the other citizenship requirements, but do not yet have a solid understanding of legal terms and contracts. Class B is everyone else. Hey!, lets add: if a member of Class A has not showed sufficient progress within 1 year towards Class B citizenship, their Class A citizenship is revoked. Lets do away with TTY/TDD while we are at it, untill deaf people provide their own interpretors or learn to speak. We ARE speaking of legal residents here, otherwise they would not be involved with gettiing assistance from a government agency.
Never mind that English is considered by linguists to be one the most difficult to learn, especially of the european languages. How fortunate we are to have grown up with it since we now want to require everyone to do so. I wonder how long it takes to learn and understand all the gobbledygook terms government beaucrats spit out? I do not understand why it is so objectionable to provide information in a language other than English. European bus and train stations have at least 3 languages prominently displayed. Menus are that way also. So are the signs at tourist attractions and ATMs (Bancomats). The aisle signs at a German Obi store (looks just like a Home Depot) I went to were not written in English, but I understand that one nearer to a US Army Post does in fact have both.
I have been putzing (what language is THAT) around with German for a number of years, and am finally a little more comfortable writing to my German friends without always using a translation program. Even so, I still am not sure I understood all my legal rights in that police station in Dresden in October, even though I helped them find the English version of the forms on their computer. I am glad they had them available.
We often are told that "our immigrant ancestors" learned English quickly, but recently I sifted through census records from the late 1800s to 1920, and found that it was often reported for two censuses (at least 11 years) that the primary language of the head of household was the language of their birthplace. There certainly was no overnight skill attained. Often it was the second generation who finally reported English ability.
It is SOOOoooooo inconvenient to press 1 for english., I have to actually use one of my fingers. (sigh)
I'll be honest I'm not sure what you're saying to me in your last post but you brought up some good points. And to make a person disadvantaged over critical things due to language is inhumane of me to push at. And maybe I'm just in a witchy mood today.
After that caller going on and on in another language like she just assumed the English speaking voice message that began provided a buzz...leave message now....would actually understand her. That was what torked me off. That it was assumed I an English speaking person would just automatically understand what the heck she was saying.
And then before I returned home and posted my last posts today I went into a Wendy's to get some chili and just sit and be quiet with myself and think. That chili and coke was at the cost of my standing behind someone who could not speak English trying to order something to eat. The desert I didn't order but was able to enjoy was when the English speaking person on the other side of the counter said "do you speak English" to which the person shook their head no and then she said "find someone who speaks your language and come back". She then looked past the person to me and said may I help you please and the person ahead of me moved out of the line. I had mixed emotions. One of sadness for the person unable to order a meal and one of admiration for the person making minimum wage on the other side of the counter for having the balls to remind this non-English speaking person that it is still America. At least today it is still America.
There has to be a balance I know. And of late I'm just torked at the injustice to this country put upon us by our own dang whatever it is.
When will we consider the huge costs to our country? When we're a third world country?
Am I wrong, am I unchristian, am I just fed up with so much of this that I can't shut my mouth right now. I don't know I'm just mad that I do know.
The point isn't the finger, it is the lack of assimilation. Also the $180 expense when a non-english speaker shows up in the emergency room. It is about our politicians willingness to submit to demands of foreigners more than Americans.
Bill, if I knew that was the practice being taken on by the majority I would not be able to handle this stuff anymore. I hope to gawd that is not the norm, I just hope to gawd it is not.
Business do need to provide customer service in the languages of the markets they serve
Bananas
People who work for companies with a multi lingual clientele should not expect employees who are Spanish speakers to have to deal with the German speaking customers--they should have a number for their German speaking customers to call and deal with someone versed in the nuances of German as well as a sound understanding of said company and it's products. this goes for other languages as well
Pears
No matter what your primary language -if you are going to be shopping in a store which does not have the same primary language you need to have a Malayan to English or English to Malayan dictionary to get the basic words of what you are looking for. along with Please and thank you--- better yet bring one of those little pocket gems along--will help immensely--you find your word have the clerk read their word-voila communication
Grapes
This is the United States English needs to be the primary language of government --I really wouldn't have a problem if we went to Spanish and English--But no more that these two--And again, unless it is a job requirement that you be multi lingual before you are hired-- you shouldn't have to "fake it" to get through your job.
Oranges
If you outsource to a third world country--DO not expect me to be reasonable or understanding when I encounter someone in Customer service who doesn't speak or understand English well enough to provide satisfactory customer service.
Cherries
If I go in to an establishment that wants me to part with my hard earned cash I expect that the people who wait on me in the United States will be conversant enough with English as to be able to understand what I want ---having a 5 minute discussion because the clerk doesn't comprehend the word "zipper" much less know what one is--Is too much. If they can't speak and understand English they need to be working in a job that does not require that they be directly interacting with customers who do.
I just received this from a friend that has chocolate skin and served time in prison for killing her abuser and I thought it was worth a laugh or curse one:
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi... You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. And because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll also be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy all her sexual urges. And you'll be provided a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary is $200,000 a year."
The guy, wide-eyed, says, "You're bulls*%in' me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well... you started it."
Belle, you and chatty are obviously going to he;lll ... I remember a far lefty complaining about the welfare recipients being so upset that they had to go to an office to get their checks, instead of having them in the mail. And then there is the guy that tried to buy a house with food stamps ... no doubt bought at fifty cents on the dollar, as the new immigrant owned groceries on the edge of the projects offer. What do they buy for fifty cents that is worth more than a dollar of food?
I just received this from a friend that has chocolate skin and served time in prison for killing her abuser and I thought it was worth a laugh or curse one:
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi... You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. And because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll also be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy all her sexual urges. And you'll be provided a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary is $200,000 a year."
The guy, wide-eyed, says, "You're bulls*%in' me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well... you started it."
Last night I picked up Chipotle for hubby and I'll not return again. The food is good I know but when no one making the food can speak English it just takes my appetite away.
To further irritate or make happy one I need to add this.
My complaint is not that we have folks that are from other countries employed in our American industries BUT that they cannot speak the language of the customers standing before them! And I find it highly unlikely there is not something being given to them that is not being given to LEGAL citizens of this country. As well there was a customer in front of me with beautiful chocolate skin that was trying to communicate what she wanted on her burrito and they were rude to her because she could not make them understand her in ENGLISH and they began to cut her down right in front of her in their language. I only know this because I know a few words of Spanish. THAT IS WRONG!!!!!
I feel better. I just called the manager of that location and spoke at length with him and his responses were very good, as well as, they were just going into a management meeting and he said I will be used as an example of what they do not want to happen in their restaurant. I was impressed by this young man, very impressed and told him I would frequent his restaurant just because of it.
I feel better now. I just spoke with both of our states Welfare and Attorney Generals offices and reported a false business here in my area that teaches people how to work the welfare system. And God help anyone that chooses to go after me (not y'all but here in my area) because I decided enough is enough!!!!!
I'd contradict you on that (the "God help anyone that chooses... part), but I'm confident you just meant that as a figurative expression.
If indeed that outfit IS teaching welfare fraud, I can clearly relate to your sense of outrage. So, you GO get 'em Kathy! :D
Rocky,
I just can not take it anymore. My gut aches for the crap that goes on in this country and dadgumit we encourage it when we allow people to work the system the way they do.
There are legitimate reasons the system was established and no shame whatsoever for having to take advantage of that when times have hit you hard. That is not what I am enraged about. What I am enraged about are the people that sit on their arrrses all day gloating at how smart they are because they are working it...oh yeah baby they are working it. They are the ones that ruin it for folks that need help and they need to be stopped. I am fed up, simply sick to death with so much of what goes on in our country and part of it is because we dadgum allow it.
I swear I might discover I liked me better when I was a mouse but I swear to my God above I no longer can sit back and take this crap and I have no idea where I may end before it is over with. Perhaps dead but I will go out with knowing I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!
And yup, you were correct because God would never help someone that intended to do me harm I am certain.
Kathy
PS...taking this with your post over to welfare thread...I just you would not have minded
just=trust
edits nearly tork me off as much and it is me who cannot type worth a crap so why be torked off about edits
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CoolWaters
Wasn't commenting on your intentions. Was commenting on the intentions of that particular piece of spam.
Read my post again, please.
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ChattyKathy
What I was going for in that email that I posted was it should not be necessary to offer a button for any other language in this country except English. If you can't speak it then you have two options: learn how or get someone to interrupt it at you own expense not someone else's.
As to the other stuff I could and should have left it out of the post, it would have stood alone by itself and been more to the subject here.
So CW, no worries mate I reckon.
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HAPe4me
uhoh, I see I am going off-topic here, but gotta say it anyway.
In the late 1800s, the Colorado Constitution was written in 3 languages, English Spanish and German, to accomodate the mix of languages spoken by the residents of the territory.
If a private business wishes to encourage the use of its product or services to a larger clientele than it behooves them to make such interactions as pleasant and clear as possible. If they wish to blow off these lucrative potential customers, then I suggest those customers take their business elsewhere. I hope they let their treatment be known to others. It is amazing to see how easily misunderstandings can arise by what a native speaker might think are simple terms. If a government agency is charged with providing services to a clientele that may or may not be adept yet in American English, it is a good thing to provide clearly understood instructions in a variety of languages. Canada has done it for years with French and English.
Perhaps we should make citizenship a two class thing. Class A are those who have passed all the other citizenship requirements, but do not yet have a solid understanding of legal terms and contracts. Class B is everyone else. Hey!, lets add: if a member of Class A has not showed sufficient progress within 1 year towards Class B citizenship, their Class A citizenship is revoked. Lets do away with TTY/TDD while we are at it, untill deaf people provide their own interpretors or learn to speak. We ARE speaking of legal residents here, otherwise they would not be involved with gettiing assistance from a government agency.
Never mind that English is considered by linguists to be one the most difficult to learn, especially of the european languages. How fortunate we are to have grown up with it since we now want to require everyone to do so. I wonder how long it takes to learn and understand all the gobbledygook terms government beaucrats spit out? I do not understand why it is so objectionable to provide information in a language other than English. European bus and train stations have at least 3 languages prominently displayed. Menus are that way also. So are the signs at tourist attractions and ATMs (Bancomats). The aisle signs at a German Obi store (looks just like a Home Depot) I went to were not written in English, but I understand that one nearer to a US Army Post does in fact have both.
I have been putzing (what language is THAT) around with German for a number of years, and am finally a little more comfortable writing to my German friends without always using a translation program. Even so, I still am not sure I understood all my legal rights in that police station in Dresden in October, even though I helped them find the English version of the forms on their computer. I am glad they had them available.
We often are told that "our immigrant ancestors" learned English quickly, but recently I sifted through census records from the late 1800s to 1920, and found that it was often reported for two censuses (at least 11 years) that the primary language of the head of household was the language of their birthplace. There certainly was no overnight skill attained. Often it was the second generation who finally reported English ability.
It is SOOOoooooo inconvenient to press 1 for english., I have to actually use one of my fingers. (sigh)
~HAP
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CoolWaters
Fingers? Which ones?
A)The 'international sign language' one?
B)The nose pickin' one?
C)The bu tt pickin' one?
D)All of the above?
Press 1 if your answer is A, 2 if your answer is B....
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ChattyKathy
Hap,
I'll be honest I'm not sure what you're saying to me in your last post but you brought up some good points. And to make a person disadvantaged over critical things due to language is inhumane of me to push at. And maybe I'm just in a witchy mood today.
After that caller going on and on in another language like she just assumed the English speaking voice message that began provided a buzz...leave message now....would actually understand her. That was what torked me off. That it was assumed I an English speaking person would just automatically understand what the heck she was saying.
And then before I returned home and posted my last posts today I went into a Wendy's to get some chili and just sit and be quiet with myself and think. That chili and coke was at the cost of my standing behind someone who could not speak English trying to order something to eat. The desert I didn't order but was able to enjoy was when the English speaking person on the other side of the counter said "do you speak English" to which the person shook their head no and then she said "find someone who speaks your language and come back". She then looked past the person to me and said may I help you please and the person ahead of me moved out of the line. I had mixed emotions. One of sadness for the person unable to order a meal and one of admiration for the person making minimum wage on the other side of the counter for having the balls to remind this non-English speaking person that it is still America. At least today it is still America.
There has to be a balance I know. And of late I'm just torked at the injustice to this country put upon us by our own dang whatever it is.
When will we consider the huge costs to our country? When we're a third world country?
Am I wrong, am I unchristian, am I just fed up with so much of this that I can't shut my mouth right now. I don't know I'm just mad that I do know.
Kathy
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rhino
The point isn't the finger, it is the lack of assimilation. Also the $180 expense when a non-english speaker shows up in the emergency room. It is about our politicians willingness to submit to demands of foreigners more than Americans.
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ChattyKathy
Bill, if I knew that was the practice being taken on by the majority I would not be able to handle this stuff anymore. I hope to gawd that is not the norm, I just hope to gawd it is not.
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templelady
Lets see
we have fruit salad here
Apples
Business do need to provide customer service in the languages of the markets they serve
Bananas
People who work for companies with a multi lingual clientele should not expect employees who are Spanish speakers to have to deal with the German speaking customers--they should have a number for their German speaking customers to call and deal with someone versed in the nuances of German as well as a sound understanding of said company and it's products. this goes for other languages as well
Pears
No matter what your primary language -if you are going to be shopping in a store which does not have the same primary language you need to have a Malayan to English or English to Malayan dictionary to get the basic words of what you are looking for. along with Please and thank you--- better yet bring one of those little pocket gems along--will help immensely--you find your word have the clerk read their word-voila communication
Grapes
This is the United States English needs to be the primary language of government --I really wouldn't have a problem if we went to Spanish and English--But no more that these two--And again, unless it is a job requirement that you be multi lingual before you are hired-- you shouldn't have to "fake it" to get through your job.
Oranges
If you outsource to a third world country--DO not expect me to be reasonable or understanding when I encounter someone in Customer service who doesn't speak or understand English well enough to provide satisfactory customer service.
Cherries
If I go in to an establishment that wants me to part with my hard earned cash I expect that the people who wait on me in the United States will be conversant enough with English as to be able to understand what I want ---having a 5 minute discussion because the clerk doesn't comprehend the word "zipper" much less know what one is--Is too much. If they can't speak and understand English they need to be working in a job that does not require that they be directly interacting with customers who do.
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Belle
Edited by BelleLink to comment
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ChattyKathy
I just received this from a friend that has chocolate skin and served time in prison for killing her abuser and I thought it was worth a laugh or curse one:
A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi... You know, I just HATE drawing welfare. I'd really rather have a job."
The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur and bodyguard for his beautiful nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your clothes. And because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll also be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy all her sexual urges. And you'll be provided a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The starting salary is $200,000 a year."
The guy, wide-eyed, says, "You're bulls*%in' me!"
The social worker says, "Yeah, well... you started it."
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rhino
Belle, you and chatty are obviously going to he;lll ...
I remember a far lefty complaining about the welfare recipients being so upset that they had to go to an office to get their checks, instead of having them in the mail. And then there is the guy that tried to buy a house with food stamps ... no doubt bought at fifty cents on the dollar, as the new immigrant owned groceries on the edge of the projects offer. What do they buy for fifty cents that is worth more than a dollar of food?
Heck, now I'm going to heill also. ....
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Rocky
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
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ChattyKathy
To heck we all go in a hand basket.
What does "in a hand basket" mean anyway I wonder. :unsure:
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Belle
Rhino, save me a seat next to you and the wine barrels if you get there before I do.
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ChattyKathy
Can we get an air conditioned hand basket perhaps. And what about snacks. We need snacks.
And I hope they don't have a dang top of the page there.
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ChattyKathy
Here I go again...
Last night I picked up Chipotle for hubby and I'll not return again. The food is good I know but when no one making the food can speak English it just takes my appetite away.
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ChattyKathy
To further irritate or make happy one I need to add this.
My complaint is not that we have folks that are from other countries employed in our American industries BUT that they cannot speak the language of the customers standing before them! And I find it highly unlikely there is not something being given to them that is not being given to LEGAL citizens of this country. As well there was a customer in front of me with beautiful chocolate skin that was trying to communicate what she wanted on her burrito and they were rude to her because she could not make them understand her in ENGLISH and they began to cut her down right in front of her in their language. I only know this because I know a few words of Spanish. THAT IS WRONG!!!!!
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ChattyKathy
I feel better. I just called the manager of that location and spoke at length with him and his responses were very good, as well as, they were just going into a management meeting and he said I will be used as an example of what they do not want to happen in their restaurant. I was impressed by this young man, very impressed and told him I would frequent his restaurant just because of it.
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ChattyKathy
I feel better now. I just spoke with both of our states Welfare and Attorney Generals offices and reported a false business here in my area that teaches people how to work the welfare system. And God help anyone that chooses to go after me (not y'all but here in my area) because I decided enough is enough!!!!!
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coolchef
imo opinion there are no options
oh yes one
if you are are illeagle
get out
period
no welfare for those people
heck we have citizens here eating cat food
not bad
just ask me for a recipe
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ChattyKathy
just=trust
edits nearly tork me off as much and it is me who cannot type worth a crap so why be torked off about edits
coolchef,
And yes elderly eating dog food all the time.
Good lord shall it ever stop!
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