I live in the USA. I do not understand why I have to press 1 for English for many business calls I make. English is the language of the USA. I resent others thinking their language is number 1.
When my father came to the US he had to learn English to survive. I believe that any foreigner who comes to the US should learn to speak our tongue, no questions asked.
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AMEN!!
Moon on June 18th, 2007 at 12:18 pm | Link
Trues words have never been spoken.
Sun on July 1st, 2007 at 1:35 pm | Link
I hate this whole thing from the start. I live in the US, we should all speak English, and if you don’t, get the hell out or learn.
What sucks even more is when you call a company’s service department for a warranty replacement/repair/etc. and you get the “Press 1 for English” horsecrap, and then when you finally get someone on the phone, it’s a speedtalker who says “Thank you for calling (insert company here), my name is Ajawanamabani, but you can call me Joe…” and they can’t understand ANY of the many of the different dialects across the nation, much less speak decent English. So you wind up explaining yourself to them 5 different times, and they still get it wrong, and you wind up getting more pissed off than you started having to deal with this shyte.
I’ve never heard this. What do you get if you don’t press 1?
dp on July 5th, 2007 at 3:25 am | Link
I agree. Don’t they know that this here is America! We speak American. What is wrong with people speaking something that ain’t American.
The nerve.
totally on July 9th, 2007 at 7:39 pm | Link
I just left Fry’s food and drug store (a Kroger’s affiliate) in Peoria AZ. I had to choose a language to begin the checkout process. I never began! I left my items – their items – on the conveyer belt and explained that they lost a customer. Some people understand the frustration, but most I feel do not care at all. I really wish I did not feel so powerless to stop this invasion. They do not offer a variety of languages to meet some sort of customer service agenda. They only offer Spanish to appease the influx of illegal Mexican immigrants.
John
John on October 13th, 2007 at 7:35 pm | Link
One of the biggest problems in the US is that when we see major problems in our country all we do is bitch about them. WHEN do we bitch to someone who can or will change things. The push one for english is a big complaint, also I am sick and tired of seeing Spanish under everything written in English. I see Spanish Billboards now that I can not understand anything on them. When did Spanish Billboards start in the US. I just got back from Michigan and in every store I went into, WalMarts, Lowes, Home Depot etc, under every sign in English there was Spanish. Why don’t the German, Italian, Chinese and all other immigrants get pissed off and complain that they want their language under English also, and their language after the press one for English. If this started happening then merchants would stop the Spanish because it would be too costly to do all the languages. I do not believe that other languages should stop when in their own homes and churches, but I do think if you are dealing with the public in whatever capacity English should be the chosen language. How can the Mexicans learn so fast about money without learning the language? Majorly confused here.
dee
dee on October 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm | Link
Please translate all this.
Thanks.
You should see the ATM in a bank in Brooklyn. The opening screen is to choose your languages and there is a list that fills the screen. I never knew there were so many choices.
English is #1 hehe!
Shay on February 18th, 2008 at 9:02 am | Link
I HATE having to “press one for English”. I also hate the fascist term “Homeland Security”, but that’s another topic.
If enough Americans refuse to deal with companies that force us to do ANYTHING in order to speak the official language of the U.S.A, we might get somewhere on this. BOYCOTT fascist corporations!
Alex on February 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm | Link
So, gang, what can we do to put an end to this Press One for English nonsense? I’m willing to participate in anything that makes sense and has a Chinaman’s chance of actually working. Any ideas?
(I’ve done some preliminary arithmetic and determined that, if left unabated, because of immigration - both legal and illegal - and of internal birthrates, that in a decade or so Spanish will become the majority language here, hence becoming the de facto “official” language of the U.S.A.)
Ralph Rogers on February 23rd, 2008 at 6:34 pm | Link
I AGRE!!!ONE!!OMG
Baby jebus would want us to speak Americanner.
Guys, come on, who cares? Your children better be picking up both Spanish and, sometime soon, Madrian Chinese or they’re going to be way behind in their own economy, let alone in the world’s where we in the US are, more or less, the dumbest country in the free market.
Warren on April 30th, 2008 at 2:48 am | Link
Wow, you guys are a bunch of babies. All of you. And to the A-hole that put his groceries down and walked out, they don’t want customers like you anyway.
myself on May 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm | Link
this is to the user [ Totally ]
are you ****ing stupid?!?!? “American” is not a language,
its a country, your language is English, seriously now, America
doesnt own the world or anything so settle down.
Emily on June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm | Link
OK..
The way it is… Since the time of Ellis Island To come to Ameica was.. To Prove who you were..Your intent of being here??.. To get a job or start a business, Everyone was documented and informed that the above would be watched… They would talk English Here..To Become an American Citizen… And if found that they wiere sick or nothing could be documented you GOT SENT BACK TO THAT COUNTRY ..You Came From!!!..DUH
Get That Illegals No Green Cards… No Amnesty …You Had To Be Dcoumented And Become An American Citizen!!! And Learn English !!!
No More Crap From You Damn Illegals GOT THAT YET!!! This Land Is NOT YOURS!! DON”T LIKE IT!!! GO BACK TO MEKKICO TIA-JUANA Your all a bunch of freeloading banchees (bringing you damn illnesses into our America!!).. That think you can come here and live like a bunch of SLOBS!!! And Get It All For Free!! “NOT ON MY SHIFT”!!! NO More Push 1 For English (Talk English)!!!! Or GO AWAAAAAAAAY !!!
Laura Reed on June 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm | Link
‘ I believe that any foreigner who comes to the US should learn to speak our tongue, no questions asked.’
Soooo, shouldn’t we all be speaking Navajo if that was the case…
claire on June 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm | Link
Do not press 1 for English. After a couple of requests, it will default to an operator. Also when at a self checkout, just start scannin. You do not have to press English.
Jim on July 4th, 2008 at 9:56 am | Link
After reading this, I think the #1 language of the US might be “dumb@ss”
Timinator on July 8th, 2008 at 8:52 am | Link
Well… we have just began to see what the Banshee Invasion has done for us Legal Americans ..Jack NOTHING!!
We have no jobs left now even for the damn dusty butts river dried up…or aka wet backs..
We have no damn health care ..They have drained the whole damn system!!!!!!!!!!! With there COCKROACH like birth rates
The whole place is looking like El-Slobovia because they don’t give a damn where they throw their damn crap!!! NEVER IN A GARBAGE CAN AND THERE CAN BE ONE JUST A FEW FEET AWAY…LAZY JERK OFFS
Most of the stores look like… They did the running of the bulls through them due to their banshee ways of degradation… Like they just don’t give a rats A**
TALK ENGLISH IN THE USA… OR LOSE GRAVITY AND FALL OFF THE EARTH……DINGOS
Look if you want to live like TIA—-Juana Stay There In TIA———-Juana PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L Reed on July 8th, 2008 at 2:51 pm | Link
There should be another complaint for “English as the official language of business in the US” rather than getting too far off topic here.
As to the original poster’s comment, I had an experience with one of the airline phone numbers. The first announcement was spoken in Spanish (”press one to continue in Spanish”), and the second was “Press two to continue in English,” spoken by the same person as the first announcement, but her English was not well annunciated. Amazing!
There are perfectly legitimate reasons for an airline to offer foreign language options, but I doubt they would even consider having me speak the Spanish line, so why would they have a clearly non-native English speaker say the English line?
Anyway, for all the bozos waiting to post something about cultural diversity or some other nonsense, ask yourself, “If I immigrate to France should I expect to integrate into French society without learning their language?” How about, “Should I even expect to be able to get a decent job without learning French?”
I’m going with a “no” on both counts. In fact, I bet you couldn’t even get a job washing dishes or being a prep cook - two popular non-English speaking positions in this country - with English only.
Too many people come to America just to take advantage of Social Security* or better pay, and funnel that money back to their families abroad. I’m glad they can make a better life for themselves “back home,” but I bet they would hate it if the tables were turned. I don’t care about the whole “they took our jobs” garbage, but I do care about their money not fully contributing to our economy.
*from what I have heard (from a foreigner working in the US), once the green card is issued the worker is eligible for the social security into which they have already paid and will continue to pay. Upon reaching retirement age they get the SS benefit regardless of their country of residence.
Matt on July 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am | Link
NAVAJO!!!
NAVAJO!!!
NAVAJO!!!
NAVAJO!!!
NAVAJO!!!
meh on July 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am | Link