Has the English Language become obsolete, especially in a diversified market like Miami-Ft. Lauderdale?
In my Media Management class we we've been watching this video on the Language Barrier in the Miami area. There were a lot of views expressed by the different minority groups present. The Black community members consensus was that they are being maligned for their inability to speak Spanish fluently. There was a large emphasis on the Cuban community and their overtaking the city of Miami. While, some of the UM students offered their views, I wanted to offer mine.
One Student said when she goes to the mall, in certain stores there are only Spanish-speakers. She expressed the need have both languages in a place of business.
I believe this is correct. In a place of business, for the sake of money you better have someone on staff who can navigate both languages successfully or you lose a customer. This is the reality of our Miami market. While there are jobs where you can successfully get by with one language, business (In Miami anyway) really calls for two, because it means you can help the most people. In my line of work, which is in an English department, you have to speak English. They call it English and Communication for a reason. While I try my best to accommodate the people who are looking for the ESL(English as a Second Langauge) department, I don't always know if I am successful. But I feel like, you walk into an English (Mainly Composition and Speech) department, you have to know English. I mean, you have to know English to get into the classes. Still, some people slip by. I often mistake people for ESL and they correct me that they are indeed in an English class in my department. It still shocks and amazes me sometimes. An accent is fine, even endearing sometimes. But if you can't fully understand simple sentences in English, I worry.
Another student (Black, I don't know if that's relevant.) said he thinks English is the ugliest language and that he feels we have to adapt. Learn multiple languages. Just like when computers came into the market, we all had to learn. (He was very well received by the class and audience.)
Why can't we do the same thing that we did with computers, with language?
Here's why not. Spanish doesn't help "me" complete tasks in my day. It doesn't, allow "me" to search the internet, create word documents and charts, or prepare presentations. It doesn't do anything for "me" in my day-to-day that "I" couldn't do in English, except converse with those who only speak Spanish.
That is the atypical American egocentric response. And while it's flawed, it has some merit. How about people stop trying to convince us learning Spanish is so good, and tell my why they think not learning English makes any sense? I'll gladly learn Spanish when everyone knows english. How can you be American, or want to be American or live in America and not learn English. I don't care what age you are. The constitution is written in English. American culture was founded under the English language. The American Indians know English. (Granted, they were beaten into it by slavery, but they know it.) They had to learn. They don't say, hey let's all speak Cherokee. They learned English and as one of the women in the video said. She was told by a Hispanic person that she has to learn Spanish to get a job. How ridiculous is that? How dare someone tell a person, who has more right to this land than anyone, that the language that was beaten into her ancestors is obsolete. How dare they tell her that she must speak Spanish because it's Miami.
The popular argument is that the pilgrims came over, they pillaged the land and made everyone learn English. You can't use that as a defense. Well what if enough Spanish people come over, then can you pillage and make us all speak Spanish? No. That's not a defense. We are a country that was founded under some shady circumstances and we've tried to make amends for it. But we're here. We established the Government we live under (In English). America and English are synonymous.
We shouldn't erase our culture and nativity. I am personally excited to learn about new cultures and regions of the world. Hell, they're so much food I would miss if we only ate American dishes. I don't even eat many American dishes. What is an American dish? Grilled Cheese? BBQ chicken? Who knows. Diversity is a good thing. I couldn't live without curry goat or Cuban bread. I call skinny plastic slippers Chancletas (Couldn't spell it). I am a product of growing up in Miami. My Spanish isn't all there, but it's there.
So let me express my personal view. I know I probably said some things that people don't agree with. But I don't agree with a few things about the community of Hispanics who only speak Spanish. Granted, they will have to have someone read this to them in English, because I am not translating it. Let's start:
1.) When you come to America, learn English. I don't care how old you are or how hard it is. If you feel like you're gonna die soon then don't want to waste the time, get on it. It's better than sitting around waiting to die, watching Telemundo. ( I want to qualify this statement by saying there are people who are brilliant and do jobs only in Spanish because they were educated in a Hispanic country. But in all the stories I hear, in order for that person to move up, they learned English!) Too all those who don't speak English well, don't give English-only speakers stank looks and tell them they should learn Spanish, which brings me to point number 2.
2.) Don't you ever tell me to learn Spanish, or any other language if you can't speak to me fluently in English. I don't care where you came from. If you cant read the constitution to me, recite (not from memory, but from a book or something) some Walt Whitman, read me the Common sense, you're not American. Even if you've read those things translated in Spanish, the mere fact of anyone who hasn't read it that speaks english makes them more American than you. British people are more American than you if you can't read it. It should be a law that you can't be a resident if you don't learn English by at least your second year. You can't even be a citizen unless you express an ample command of the English language, can recite (not from memory of course) the Constitution, and recite one line of great American Literature or poetry from memory.
3.) I'm not telling Americans not to learn another language. Because chances are it will improve your cognitive skills. I want to learn Italian and French. I'm open to other languages, just not when people try to force them down my throat.
4.) There are some people who I adore that only speak Spanish. And I know a lot of my friends are reading this like, oh my Abuela, she's too old to learn to English. I love Spanish Grandma's and they can get away with not learning English, because they're so lovable. But let me never catch one telling me I need to learn Spanish. I actually want to learn Spanish so I can talk to them. I think it's fun. It's limiting not be able to communicate with people you like. And the Abuelita's I've met have a sweet attitude about it and talk to me anyway, and I just nod and pretend like I understand.
5.) Just stop expecting Spanish. That's all I want. The Spanish community has been very accommodating with neighborhoods like Little Havana, where you don't have to speak a lick of English to get by. We have two of the biggest Spanish Network television headquarters here. We are a big juggernaut of the Spanish language. Hell, how do you think Florida got its name. It wasn't Anglican, let me tell you that. We're a making it a little too comfortable for people to not learn English. But I feel like, people are allowed to make themselves at home here. We're a country built on (Legal) immigrants
(Let me just say some other things. I lost a lot of thoughts in writing this. When I get them, they will be up here.
I enjoy Shakira in Spanish more than in English. I think her lyrics are beautiful in her native Colombian Spanish, and in English it's almost a bastardization of her work. So I'm a fan of the Spanish people and the Language, just not the attitude that Spanish is better and that all American have to learn it. It's everyone's choice if they want to be limited. All our political events are conducted in English. If you want to claim your nativity without the American attached to it, go back to you country. For those of you who say, I am this and that, not American. If you were born here, I want you to go back to that country and tell me how much you have in common with those people? How well can you speak to them? Ask them what they think of you? Ask them what they think of America. It's a mini assignment, because chances are you you've done it, or will do it.)
6.) For those of you who already speak Several languages. Shut up in all of them. You already know English...you had to conform in order to be American. Don't enable one group without addressing the other.
7.) Realize that you are ethnocentric. American's go over to Europe and expect all the people to speak English. They think, as my teacher says that louder louder English will translate on its own. But when I go over there. I will have my little translation books. I want people to talk to me in their native tongue. I mean for the first few days a few American signs or guides might be helpful, but I want to be able to order un cafe on my own and say no when someone offers Escargot. Embrace the other cultures.
Language is like religion, you may share it with people, but you can't force it on them. It's not your right. It damn sure ain't your privilege.
I just want anybody's thoughts. Because it's a hot topic and it gets me heated. Especially when people come at me in Spanish, after I told them I only speak English. I try my best to comprehend the Spanish, but if you cant try to speak English...don't try to talk to me.
That's My Rapport
Get at me
Doc Mc Valentine signing off
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