Trilingual Britain. - Page 2

Wynonie Harris · 03-09-2006, 16:31

I agree that immigrants should learn English, but there is another side to this "speak English" thing.

My missus has lived here over 20 years and speaks very good English (especially when she's telling me which jobs she wants me to do around the house).

The other week she was walking along the street talking to her mate - another Peruvian who has lived here over 30 years and also speaks excellent English. Because they were talking to each other, they were conversing in their first language - Spanish - when a chav rushed up and shouted "speak f*****g English." When my wife replied to him in distinctly Anglo-Saxon vernacular, he went on, "you're in f*****g England, speak f*****g English!" Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I wasn't there at the time or I might well have been moved to express my feelings towards him. so, you see, you can take this "when in England, speak English" lark a bit too far at times!

garinda · 03-09-2006, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

I agree that immigrants should learn English, but there is another side to this "speak English" thing.

My missus has lived here over 20 years and speaks very good English (especially when she's telling me which jobs she wants me to do around the house).

The other week she was walking along the street talking to her mate - another Peruvian who has lived here over 30 years and also speaks excellent English. Because they were talking to each other, they were conversing in their first language - Spanish - when a chav rushed up and shouted "speak f*****g English." When my wife replied to him in distinctly Anglo-Saxon vernacular, he went on, "you're in f*****g England, speak f*****g English!" Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I wasn't there at the time or I might well have been moved to express my feelings towards him. so, you see, you can take this "when in England, speak English" lark a bit too far at times!

I quite agree, people should be able to speak in whatever language they like, and I'm glad she told him where to go. I take it though, when Mrs. Wynonie first came here, none of the offical forms she came across were in Spanish? Even in metropolitan, bend over backwards for minorities Manchester?

Wynonie Harris · 03-09-2006, 16:47

Not a chance and I totally agree with you on that point, Gary. In fact, she had to learn a lot of her English from me with the all the pitfalls that entails. I well remember her looking up at the sky with a puzzled, slightly alarmed look on her face, after I told her it was "raining cats and dogs"!

bullseyebarb · 03-09-2006, 17:10

Diversity is wonderful - but multiculturalism is not. When you emigrate to another country you should be prepared to adopt its language and customs. A hiatus is definitely needed until all current immigrants have been assimilated, on both sides of the pond.

Bazf · 03-09-2006, 22:19

[QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

What gets my goat is that any foreigner including Brits who apply to become a US citizen have to pass an English test (read and write a sentance in basic English). Same applies at the local driving test center , you can take the test in any languge you want .

quote]

You are pushing the edges of reality and not explaining it fully, they ask you if you understand the above and can you copy it, this is for litracy, not if you speak and understand english.

steeljack · 03-09-2006, 23:22

Bazf.....see attached from the USCIS site, it clearly states the test will be carried out in English, the only non US born exceptions I know of are filipinos who served in the US forces during WWII .

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/servic...z/natzsamp.htm

quote....SAMPLE SENTENCES FOR WRITTEN ENGLISH TESTING

To be eligible for naturalization, you must be able to read, write, and speak basic English. The sentences on this page are examples of the types of sentences an USCIS officer may ask you to read aloud or write during your interview. They are not an exhaustive list. The USCIS officer who interviews you may ask you to read or write other sentences.

jimmi5bellies · 04-09-2006, 12:16

Even at the hospitals all the leaflets are printed bilingual. Funny that really cause in any other country if you didnt understand the language it meant you are a foreigner and you would have to pay for your medicals and treatments.

Neil · 04-09-2006, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmi5bellies

Even at the hospitals all the leaflets are printed bilingual.

After just having an operation at the new BRH I think the reason for the multi language leaflets is so the Doctors can read them

. I would be interested if anyone has any figures on percentage of UK birth Doctors compared to overseas ones. I am not asking in a racist manor just interested thats all.

WillowTheWhisp · 04-09-2006, 20:27

I've just realised that the labels on my shampoo and shower gel (and even some undies) are bilingual but the second language is French.

garinda · 04-09-2006, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I've just realised that the labels on my shampoo and shower gel (and even some undies) are bilingual but the second language is French.

Get you.

Now we know where to find you....in the undie department at M & S.

cashman · 05-09-2006, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmi5bellies

Even at the hospitals all the leaflets are printed bilingual. Funny that really cause in any other country if you didnt understand the language it meant you are a foreigner and you would have to pay for your medicals and treatments.

depends where you are an E111 is a wonderful thing,soon to be replaced by a card.

Bagpuss · 05-09-2006, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

(and even some undies) are bilingual but the second language is French.

That's why they are called French Knickers

chav1 · 05-09-2006, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmi5bellies

Even at the hospitals all the leaflets are printed bilingual. Funny that really cause in any other country if you didnt understand the language it meant you are a foreigner and you would have to pay for your medicals and treatments.

i spent 2 days walking around chemists and hospitals in barcelona looking to replace medical supplies that had been left at manchetser airport

there was no english text on any of the sighns and most of the people in the hospitals and chemists didnt speak english or very little so i got by and eventualy got what i was after

bloody expensive as well so i made do with my own variation of what i needed , i shoulda got a blue peter badge

throughout the holiday i picked up bits and peices of basic spanish and although at places like train stations and shops in tourist areas they spoke good english they appreared to either appreciate or be amused at my attempts to speak their language

however there was a bit of confusion on teh metro ( underground) when i was approached by what i thought were beggars and i pushed them away

turned out they were armed police and i apparently looked like the guy they were after . Fair do's to them as well coz they tried 2 other languages before they got to english

oh and i soon learned how to say no after i was approached by a rastafarian prostitue in barcelona lol , apparently my advice to my friend to try not looking like a tourist dosnt work

edit:

oh yeah my point is , put other languages on signs at hospitals and tourism information desks etc but levae the rest alone , if your gonna live here learn english

Tealeaf · 05-09-2006, 15:19

Funnily enough, I encountered my first Polish beggar only this morning...well, he may have been Russian/Baltic Republic/Czech. His English was good enough to ask for 50p for a cup of tea and "..maybe a cigarette..". My reply was to brutally snub out underfoot my half-smoked B & H, and then to tell him, in my usual diplomatic manner, to return from whence he came. Although in London, he understood a Lancashire accent and he was not very happy.

garinda · 05-09-2006, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Funnily enough, I encountered my first Polish beggar only this morning...well, he may have been Russian/Baltic Republic/Czech. His English was good enough to ask for 50p for a cup of tea and "..maybe a cigarette..". My reply was to brutally snub out underfoot my half-smoked B & H, and then to tell him, in my usual diplomatic manner, to return from whence he came. Although in London, he understood a Lancashire accent and he was not very happy.

You need to get out of the East End more.

I used to chase with a broom a mad old Eastern European female beggar down Knightsbridge ten or so years ago.

Well, she appeared mad until she'd met me.