Speaking in Tongues: As More Immigrants Enter Work Force, English-Only Rules Come Into Question

ABC News ^ | 12/11/03 | Catherine Valenti

[Mr. Mojo]

Ping

[Maceman]

Well, if my collegaues are speaking something other than English in front of me, how do I know they're not saying bad things about ME? Won't it make me uncomfortable? Won't that make me feel that I am working in a HOSTILE work environment? Won't I then have a legal claim against my employer if such behavior is allowed?

Actually, I work by myself in my home-based business. But itsn't this a legitimate concern for an employee in an office?

[goodnesswins]

"When it gets to the point of impinging on someone's civil rights and when it becomes discrimination against someone's culture and who he or she is, it's illegal," says the EEOC trial lawyer Adams."

Well, la..di..da....I consider it discrimination and IMPINGING on MY CIVIL Rights that they don't SPEAK ENGLISH in America (except in their homes or other private places.)

[Maceman]

colleagues

[ikka]

High end cosmetics store. Clientele will be speaking English. Not unreasonable to ask that only English be spoken. French and German is OK because it sounds "cultured".

[goodnesswins]

And, furthermore.....anyone who willingly comes to this country and wants to be a citizen.....would WILLINGLY SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE.....my great grandparents did it, and did it PROUDLY.

[bk1000]

How could this violate title VII? They did not say persons of other nationalities could not work there, only that they must speak English while on the job. I know many immigrants who spoke English before they got here. I have also heard many people use foul language in Spanish thinking no one around could understand them. I think I would tell the EEOC to shove it.

[longtermmemmory]

The untold story: English only in the work place is part of a effort to keep employers from being sued into being forced to pay MORE for incidentally bi-lingual people. (not hired to be the bi-lingual liazon)

I have no problem with foreign languages. (speak three total myself) I do have a serious problem with the downright REFUSAL to learn or attempt to learn english. There should be NO ballots in any language other than english. Supply your own translator who must be sworn and id'd.

But anyways, its a workforce issue. There were some port customs workers of hispanic oragin who sued to get extra and back pay for being able to speak spanish in an area where it is harder to find a non-spanish speaker than spanish speaker. Se habla ingles.

[DustyMoment]

Ya come to this country, ya wanna work in this country, ya gotta speak the language.

If ya wanna speak Spanish all the time - GO HOME!!!

[longtermmemmory]

IF there was no such rule these hacks would be suing for a pay raise for speaking in spanish.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Still, lawyers and representatives for the EEOC say they will continue to fight English-only policies, and expect to see more cases in the coming years.

So.. the people who fought in Revolutionary War I? Were they raised to be combatants from childhood? Or did social conditions imposed by some in the ruling class become intolerable and the choice was to correct things or roll over and let foreigners have their way with Americans?

How great it was to upset the ruling class and their toadies during the recall in California. It has not ended. It has only begun. The anointed ones in the ruling class and their toadies had better hope the ballot box is enough to correct things.

[DeepDish]

It is unfortunate that I cannot write Spanish. Then I would be able to tell immigrants legal or otherwise that if they want their babies to grow up as gardeners and McDonalds clerks then stick with the Espanol.

There are people in this country that are terrified that the cheap labor pool will dry up when the hispanic command of the language leads to doctors instead of peach pickers.

[ZULU]

The more varying the number of non-English speaking groups which enter the American workplace, the more important it is that they all speak and understand a common language in order to intelligibly communicate. Since the language most Americans speak and understand is English, it would make good sense that that language be English. Except perhaps to liberals, self-hating Anglos, illegal aliens, and Karl Rove.

On the other hand, if people wish to speak with one another in an unofficial capacity in another language, that's their business. And, of course, any such regulations should apply to ALL non-English speakers, regardless of national origins.

[ZULU]

The more varying the number of non-English speaking groups which enter the American workplace, the more important it is that they all speak and understand a common language in order to intelligibly communicate. Since the language most Americans speak and understand is English, it would make good sense that that language be English. Except perhaps to liberals, self-hating Anglos, illegal aliens, and Karl Rove.

On the other hand, if people wish to speak with one another in an unofficial capacity in another language, that's their business. And, of course, any such regulations should apply to ALL non-English speakers, regardless of national origins.

[ZULU]

The more varying the number of non-English speaking groups which enter the American workplace, the more important it is that they all speak and understand a common language in order to intelligibly communicate. Since the language most Americans speak and understand is English, it would make good sense that that language be English. Except perhaps to liberals, self-hating Anglos, illegal aliens, and Karl Rove.

On the other hand, if people wish to speak with one another in an unofficial capacity in another language, that's their business. And, of course, any such regulations should apply to ALL non-English speakers, regardless of national origins.

[Pro-Bush]

BUMP/PING

Rodriguez and four other women all say they were told to speak English on the job, including during their breaks, and that managers frequently mimicked their speech and accents.

....Cry me a freakin' river!

[longtermmemmory]

tower of Babel redux.

[longtermmemmory]

If the immigrant pool dries up then we will have more automation. (FINALLY)

I loove my little robot vacume cleaner. The McDonalds in orlando has an automated french fry machine. Potato in one end and mcdonads french fries automatically out the other.

Will the illigal immigrants sue robot makers next?

[Constitution Day]

What's 'Espanol' for "Speak English Or Leave"?