No Danger of Spanish Overtaking English

Creator's Syndicate ^ | June 20, 2006 | Froma Harrop

[Calpernia]

Read post 25.

[Rockitz]

Somehow I doubt there are demands by their residents of Madawaska, Maine to have bilingual education, city service answering machines, or ballots printed in French.

[LegendHasIt]

"Then why patronize it?"

Because, otherwise, I have to drive at least 75 miles (150 mile round trip) to get what I need, and at a higher price.

[Tribune7]

It's just an observation but I see the anger at illegals far greater among California Freepers than Texas ones.

How much of the problem is related to stupid state policy?

And I'm not saying Texas Freepers are happy about illegal immigration.

[samtheman]

gotya

missed it the first time

[Calpernia]

:-)

[Altura Ct.]

This author needs to try again. It must be my imagination that bilingual education has become a hot topic in many areas of the country. The fact that 40 years ago there were no Spanish TV or radio stations in my area and now there a 2 radios stations and one TV station is just happenstance. Press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish didn't exist 40 years ago in this country. Whole sections of most major cities are overtaken with businesses that have only Spanish signs. Bilingual ballots, bilingual just about everything. Hell, even on some cereal boxes. Yep, Spanish is not making any inroads.

[R. Scott]

Yep - but the "proper" form of Spanish would be useless for me unless I decided to vacation in Europe.

[RoadTest]

"The 45 year hiatus on immigration from 1920 to 1965"

I didn't know about that.

"it will be possible for upwardly mobile Hispanics to remain largely Spanish speaking even as they become doctors, lawyers, and business owners."

I know what you are saying about the huge numbers of Hispanic immigrants creating Spanish enclaves in the U.S. that could last generations, and that's true. But I think the doctors and other small businesses would want to expand their customer base enough that they will add English to their Spanish language.

Wishful thinking maybe. This uncontrolled invasion has to stop. It's funny that many Democrats are agreed on that. It's the administration (and business interests?) that doesn't.

Good comments.

[R. Scott]

That has been my experience.

[ut1992]

I'm not sure New Joisey "speakers" should be looking down their nose at any other English speakers. ;)

I worked on a project once with a guy originally from Jersey City I believe. Geez, listening to him give presentations would give me a headache. He'd give anyone on the Sopranos a run for their money.

I'm pretty sure we both gave everyone else on the project fits; him with his Joisey accent combined with my East Texas draw. haha!!

[reagan_fanatic]

I've lived next door to a rather large Mexican family for the last six years. Nice people, but never ONCE have I heard them converse in English, not even for a brief moment, and the little children, ranging from 2 years old to 13, converse in Spanish as well - never any English.

As a matter of fact, several of the people living there cannot speak any English at all, despite the fact they have been here for longer than six years.

I don't buy the argument that American-born Latinos are using English more often than Spanish - I just don't see any sign of that from the Mexicans I've been around.

[BJungNan]

How much of the problem is related to stupid state policy?

I don't think it has anything to do with state policy - although there are issues there. The wrath is over the Federal governments unwillingness to control the border.

[gogeo]

Also, it's a different world than it was 100 years ago. We expect children to learn in public schools, and education is much more important than it was then. We expect citizens to participate in civic life, and that's their expectation also. The primary medium to communicate civic knowledge is the spoken word, then the written word.

English is the language of bellhops and dishwashers.

[FBD]

>"I want to laugh; but can't....too true."<

-It is indeed. But laugh anyway!
Regards

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Well, I notice that the announcements at our local Walmart, and the constant commercials they play on their TVs hanging every twenty feet from the ceilings are ALL in Spanish now.... And I'm 150 miles north of the border in what used to be a very upper-middle to middle-upper income community.

Ummmm....I was in a Walmart in Cranston, Rhode Island on Sunday and the same phenomenon caught my attention. Blipverts over the PA in Spanish.

[lmr]

That is hilarious! I showed it to my wife, she said it was so true. She's not a political animal like me, either.

[FBD]

>"That is hilarious! I showed it to my wife, she said it was so true."<

-I got it in an email, I've been sending it to teachers I know...I think it is true, from the feedback I've been getting.