I understand why people learn Spanish in America and how it is the second language in America. But why???

Question

This is America not Mexico. If they want to speak Spanish they need to move back to Mexico.

• MODERATORS: Please do not remove this post. Allow reason to prevail and do not fear trolls. - ocbizlaw Sep 10, 2009
• I fear that the moderators will delete this post and I hope they don't. There is nothing to fear from this person. Let him vent and let us use logic. - Robear Sep 10, 2009
• please note that it is mandatory on this forum to use correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization in your posts. - - Heidita Sep 10, 2009
• It's the second most spoken language in the world, not just in the U.S. - ocbizlaw Sep 10, 2009
• Wow, noone voted for this question. - Seitheach Sep 24, 2009
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Answer 1

I am a conservative and I understand the point that the original poster is attempting to make (stay calm, read my entire post before you judge what I have to say). The U.S. has laws and immigration quotas and in one sense there is no legitimate reason that the immigrant who has properly applied for residency in the U.S. from any other part of the world should wait 7-8 years for residency while the the latino simply walks across the border then claims "hey, I'm already here, it's unfair to deport me." (Stay calm and keep reading). I also understand that if the U.S. really wanted to enforce immigration laws, they would not have to round up 12 million undocumented workers or build a wall. All they would have to do is empower the IRS to disallow deductions to business for any wages paid to anyone not legally in the United States. I absolutely guaranty you that the jobs available to undocumented workers of every stripe would dry up overnight if the latter law were enacted and enforced.

Having said all that, one thing that is easy to forget is that many so-called latinos trace their roots to the Southwestern United States much further back than any other Americans. My european ancestors came to what is now the United States in 1608 on the second of the boats to Jamestowne from Britain. That makes them them the first of the europeans to permanently settle on this continent. At the same time, my wife is latina. One of those that the original poster might question because of her ancestry. Yet Her family lived in what is now Texas before my european ancestors arrived, before there was a United States and long before Texas was part of it. Parts of her family lived in California as well before it was a State. Both states were then part of Mexico. Her family has a long history of traveling back and forth before there was a border and certainly before there was a Border Patrol. Then, along came 1848 and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, along with the Gadsden Purchase, making some of her family Mexican and some American (in the common usage sense of the word). And, yes, I understand that Texas was not part of the Treaty or the purchase but it had been part of Mexico, Mexico had never recognized its independence and most Mexicans consider the "annexation" of Texas part of the same course of events.

So where is my wife's family supposed to go? Are they Mexican's, are they Americans or are they native americans? They were here before you, original poster, as were native americans in my family.

Having said all that, the reality is that whether you are a nationalist, whether you are a xenophobe, whether you are a racist or are whether you are merely a troll here to have some fun, Spanish speaking people are here to stay. Moreover, regardless of politics, Spanish is the world's second most spoken language (in terms of native speakers). Not French, not German: Spanish. Perhaps that is why people wish to learn it.

• This is a great answer! - justoffnorma Sep 10, 2009
• That has nothing to do with what language people want to speak... there's a big difference between saying "there's no room for you to move by me" (immigration issue) and "if you want to live by me, you must speak my language" (cultural issue) - AnnoLoki Sep 10, 2009
• Excelente y profundo comentario - RicardoP Sep 10, 2009
• Maybe people want to speak English AND the second most common-place language in the world, Spanish simply as part of a complete education. - ocbizlaw Sep 10, 2009
• Very well said oc. - Melinda112 Sep 10, 2009
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Answer 2

Well I live in a little country just outside of America called "the rest of the world" (you may have seen our flag; it's like yours, but on fire) ... over here in England, especially local to me, there aren't too many (if any) Mexicans, or Spanish people, or even people who even speak Spanish... it happens to be a cool language, and some people are more interesting in coming together with other people than making sure people who speak different languages or have different customs live as far away from them as possible.

This is a site aimed at people who are open minded enough to want to learn how to bridge a language barrier, and is thus not the place where you will find people very receptive to your ideas of "different people can just go home", and is definitely not the place for you to be venting your misguided frustrations.

Also you seem to need a little education about your own country, but there's this thing you have over there called "freedom of speech". Nowhere is there a clause saying "freedom of speech (in English only)", iow, if people want to speak Spanish, they do NOT have to go to Mexico. They have the constitutional right to speak any language they **** well please; get over it.

Plus as somebody who struggles getting English out properly, and has somebody else correct your posts, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that perhaps it is you who should learn English.

• Great post. - Seitheach Sep 9, 2009
• In case it needs said, please do not take my 'flag burning' comment too seriously! - AnnoLoki Sep 9, 2009
• Well said, Alex. - --Mariana-- Sep 9, 2009
• Very well said. - married2musi Sep 9, 2009
• There a place called "the rest of world"? Can't tell by living in the EE.UU.!! - ChamacoMalo Sep 10, 2009
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Answer 3

If you live in most parts of the Southwest you're living in lands where Spanish was the native tongue for hundreds of years before it became part of the US. No one is bringing Spanish here from Mexico. It was already here.

• Very true. Not to mention that enlish beat german out by ONE vote for national language. - Seitheach Sep 9, 2009
• that is true. theres nothing wrong with having people who speak spanish here. i love spanish people and im learning spanish right now. im glad i am so i can talk to my spanish friends in there native tongue. - bng19 Sep 9, 2009
• "english beat german out by ONE vote for national language" could be because Mr Webster et al wanted to get rid of the Conquistadores (the English) - ian-hill Sep 24, 2009

Answer 4

So your ancestors spoke english when they came to America? Or are you indiginous? Why are you not speaking a native language then? People come to America to get a better life. I know too many hispanic people who don't know spanish because their parents would not talk it to them as children. They are then looked down upon by Americans and hispanics because they "don't know thier own language". I am part German and part Scottish and I have studied both languages. Once I learn spanish well I will continue with Scottish Gaelic.

• good for you, philmikki! :) - Valerie Sep 9, 2009
• Learn Spanish well, not good. - Zoltán Sep 9, 2009
• I guess I need to learn English well too. :) - Seitheach Sep 9, 2009
• Couldn't agree more. My grandmother's family changed their last name from Chavez to Kerns in order to not get hurt. Native American ancestry. Understand that this is America and all can come to have a better life. - Jason7R Sep 10, 2009
• Hi again Phil - "ThEir" not "ThIer" just thought I'd point it out. Probably a typo. - ian-hill Sep 24, 2009

Answer 5

Did your ancestors learn Native American when they came to America? What Native American language do you speak? Do most Americans learn the language of the country they travel to or do they just expect those people to also speak English for their convenience? Maybe you should go back to Britian if you want to speak English,

• great! - Heidita Sep 10, 2009
• Good stuff. By the way, Abenaki, Dakota, Navajo, Sioux, Cherokee, Apache, etc. had their own languages. Could list a ton out :) - Jason7R Sep 10, 2009

Answer 6

btw...america es un continente no un pais

soy de america y vivo en chile

• Estoy de acuerdo contigo pero normalmente en ingles America se refiere a los EE.UU. En espanol hay la distincion pero la mayoria de los anglohablantes en norteamerica no saben nada de esa distincion. - Jerry-Vigil Sep 10, 2009
• True. - ian-hill Sep 24, 2009

Answer 7

The United States is a country full of immigrants, though some are hundreds of years removed.

Did you know that The Articles of Confederation (the agreement between all of the states to form a union) was written in English, German and French?

There is no official language in the United States and there never has been. Why not? Because the United States is a democracy, a country which (arguably) honors freedom of speech. That being said, people, as free people, should have the right to choose what language that they want to speak.

As the United States was formed, and thorughout it's history, bilingualism or trilingualism was the norm. It wasn't until the early part of the 20th century where speaking a language other than English was viewed as something wrong. People were afraid of other people speaking in German because... OH NO! THEY COULD BE NAZI SPIES! Thanks to this xenophobia and ethnocentrism there are still people today who are upset about others speaking a language that isn't English.

Fortunately the United States is en route towards returning to it's roots of understanding and embracing the fact that speaking more than one language is a BENEFIT and not a detriment.

If things keep going as they are going... there will eventually be more Spanish speakers than English speakers here in the United States. I hope, for your sake, that they are more open minded and receptive to differences than others in continuing the tradition of not having a national language.

Answer 8

This is america not mexico. If they want to speak spanish they need to move back to mexico.

Perhaps you didn't realize but the majority of those who speak Spanish at home in the US have also rated their own understanding of English as very good. This means that probably at least 1 in 20 people in the US who speak Spanish in the home can also speak English. In 2007, nearly 90% of all Hispanic children were at least second generation. I imagine that it is likely that this demographic of bilingualism will continue to grow, especially as these children progress through the school systems.

Language is as much a part of someones heritage as any other tradition (if not more). By your standards, everybody that hangs on to traditions that had their origins in other parts of the world "needs" to move back to where they came from. I guess that means that if you celebrate St. Patricks day then you should move back to Ireland. If you enjoy Oktoberfest or acknowledge Ground Hog's day then you "need" to move back to Ireland. If this is your attitude towards people whose only trespass is in holding onto the traditions of their forebears then maybe you should take a little quite time for your own introspection. Now, when you have finished with that, get up pack a bag, and buy a ticket to wherever it is that your traditions dictate that you "need" to go back to.

• Excelente comentario. Bravo y breve - RicardoP Sep 10, 2009

Answer 9

I agree with most of what has already been said. I would just like to point out that clayberd actually spent the time to join this site. That is shocking to me.

Did he plan to study Spanish with the rest of us and then suddenly decide that all Spanish speaking people should go to Mexico or from the many other countries and continents Spanish speaking people come from (by the way) or did he go to all that trouble of joining just to send out one very mean and obnoxious post?

Something to think about, but don't lose too much sleep over him.

• I want to give our new member the benefit of the doubt and suppose that he/she is simply suggesting that immersion is the best way to learn the language. - Janice Sep 9, 2009
• Good one! I'd be happy to spend a few weeks in Mexico if he's willing to pay. I could use some immersion. - Nicole-B Sep 9, 2009
• You should not be shocked. He is here to troll for an inflammatory response. Don't give it to him. Don't remove his post. Just use reason. - Robear Sep 10, 2009
• jejej, good one Nicole! - Heidita Sep 10, 2009

Answer 10

I'm not sure why you are here if you feel this way.

Answer 11

What are you doing here where we are all trying to learn Spanish.

Answer 12

But the fact is, that America - compared to other continents - is a continent of immigrants. The original people underwent a process of extermination and were put into reservations.

• Not entirely true. Many native Spanish speakers were here in the South West before it was the United States. They spoke Spanish then and they speak it now though usually along side English. - justoffnorma Sep 10, 2009
• She was speaking of people of non-Native American origin versus people of indigineous American or Native American origin. The fact is that most people in the Americas are either of non-Native American origin or mixed Native American and European origin. - Jerry-Vigil Sep 10, 2009
• Certainly there are other groups but in all of the Americas these groups are smaller by percentage. Also notice that she spoke of the American continents, not the USA. - Jerry-Vigil Sep 10, 2009

Answer 13

It's actually quite simple...it's the second language in the United States because alot of people in the United States speak spanish.

Answer 14

Dejame dicir al principo que esa persona esta bien depega'o de la que es la realidad diariamente en los EE.UU. Pero le digo a el esto con todo respecto. While english is the primary language in the United States, and it is wise to be understand it as fully as possible, nadie aqui esta obliga'o a hablarla. You don't HAVE TO speak english. You don't HAVE TO learn spanish. It a choice people make. I say all of this because I sense some anger, like you are angry people don't speak the same languange as you. Well, they don't have to. Don't you know you are in the United States where people can speak anyway they feel? I think you should start your day understanding that and maybe you won't be so angry when you hear spanish or russian or lo que sea. And a little secret for you? They are talking about, in spanish, the same boring things you are talking about in english. "I can't beleive how high the price of gas is." "My boss is a jerk", etc.

Answer 15

Hemos tenido este mismo situacion, muchas veces, en que uno se propone una idea or asunto que todos no les gustan. A me, esta bien. A mi me siento que es una punta de vista valida. Maybe I don't personally feel the same way, pero todavia puedo apreder un poco de la vista de el.