DD is speaking politicinese?
;-)
We're in America... Right?
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;-)
Interesting article on whats happening in Dade County:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-529miami,0,6086892.story
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-529miami,0,6086892.story
Interesting article for sure. More skills/abilities equals more opportunities.
Anyone who only speaks one language can expect to find fewer opportunities as time goes on (there's a reason it's a skill you put on a resume), however people HAVE to learn the primary language of their country of residence.
It's ridonkulous that someone is an area with a large second/foreign language population doesn't even know a smattering of that language. Makes me question their intelligence is a couple ways.
I have a sliding scale as to how much of a language I try to learn based on how long I will be in that country. My pronunciations and malaprops can be quite hilarious depending on my level of sobriety/what day of the week it is, but it still makes a huge difference in how I am treated and how well I can function!
It's ridonkulous that someone is an area with a large second/foreign language population doesn't even know a smattering of that language. Makes me question their intelligence is a couple ways.
I have a sliding scale as to how much of a language I try to learn based on how long I will be in that country. My pronunciations and malaprops can be quite hilarious depending on my level of sobriety/what day of the week it is, but it still makes a huge difference in how I am treated and how well I can function!
The first time I went to Miami (about 12 years ago) I was very surprised to find no English spoken in an entire shopping mall. I was shopping for a men?s shirt. I was most taken aback that even the manager of J.C. Penney didn't speak English. I wasn't offended and did find a shirt. I thought then, and still do, that it is more of a handicap for them not to speak English in Miami than for me not to speak Spanish.
I absolutely love Miami. Such a lively, friendly city with fantastic culture, restaurants, and weather!
I absolutely love Miami. Such a lively, friendly city with fantastic culture, restaurants, and weather!
Having worked in Miami I have found it to be a major handicap to not be fluent in spanish. Vacationing is a different story. I still
to visit Miami.
Having worked in Miami I have found it to be a major handicap to not be fluent in spanish. Vacationing is a different story. I still
Ah. I understand.
As I read the whole thread, I pondered the thought of why the discussion is actually happening. Si, nos vivimos en America pero hay no lengua oficial!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States
State-wise, it's a different story.
BTW, health dept. info, etc. here is written in Spanish, English & Creole. Why? Hmmmm.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States
State-wise, it's a different story.
BTW, health dept. info, etc. here is written in Spanish, English & Creole. Why? Hmmmm.....
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On the issue of people using other languages to talk about one another: Most of my friends in college were from other countries. My best friends were from Curacao & the average high school dropout down there speaks 4-5 languages. My friends, all guys, mainly spoke Papiamentu & Dutch. I had to get used to it, but a few times it did get on my nerves, mainly when I was hormonal. 
, greenroomsurfer & scooterbug!
However, it taught me a lot. When people who speak a common language are together, it is easier for them to just fall into their native tongue. Of course, they were guys in college and 99% of their conversation was about girls. When I learned to speak Papiamentu easily and then learned to understand Dutch, they swore they were going to have to make up a language that I couldn't speak. I already understood French & spoke Spanish and they could not fall back on those.
Whether or not people are talking about us in another dialect or language, it is totally our ego that assumes so, pretty much all of the time. Yes, there might be bored employees who use their language as a way of entertaining themselves during a long day of sanding people's feet... If I were in their position, I might be doing the same thing. We claim people are rude but we don't look at the rudeness of our assumption that we are "so important" that they are secretively talking about us. Tambien, quien sabe y cual es el problema?
, greenroomsurfer & scooterbug! However, it taught me a lot. When people who speak a common language are together, it is easier for them to just fall into their native tongue. Of course, they were guys in college and 99% of their conversation was about girls. When I learned to speak Papiamentu easily and then learned to understand Dutch, they swore they were going to have to make up a language that I couldn't speak. I already understood French & spoke Spanish and they could not fall back on those.
Whether or not people are talking about us in another dialect or language, it is totally our ego that assumes so, pretty much all of the time. Yes, there might be bored employees who use their language as a way of entertaining themselves during a long day of sanding people's feet... If I were in their position, I might be doing the same thing. We claim people are rude but we don't look at the rudeness of our assumption that we are "so important" that they are secretively talking about us. Tambien, quien sabe y cual es el problema?
Like SoWal with a really big shopping mall.