I like eating at those little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants, but a lot of the time they get my orders wrong. Yes, it’s a language problem. The thing is, I even have trouble going to the corner McDonald's, Jack in the Box, or Taco Bell.
I want to learn Spanish. I believe that I need to speak and understand Spanish. Circumstances dictate it. I have tried to learn Spanish on more than one occasion. I’ve tried to learn Spanish in High School, College, and on the Internet. I even tried to learn Spanish in Mexico; I lived in Oaxaca, Mexico for nine months. I still know less then a hundred phrases.
How did Spanish get so popular in the U.S. in the first place? It is not the native tongue. I did a little research on the subject. I read newspapers, and looked online, a place where my English is still king.
According to Sharon McNary and Steve Fetbrandt of the Press-Enterprise a recent study showed that 61 percent of Inland Empire residents speak only English, that’s about 2.27 million people. I fit into that group, despite my efforts to learn another language. I can’t seem to even learn Pig Latin.
According to the Press Enterprise, “The children of Mexican and other Latin American immigrants represent one of the fastest-growing components of California's population. So while immigration influences the language situation, it does not tell the entire story, because many U.S.-born Latinos speak Spanish at home.”
Over 1.57 million people in the Inland Empire communicate at home in a language other then English. About 121,000 Inland residents live in a household where no member speaks English; about 85 percent of those are Spanish speakers.
I have lots of friends that speak Spanish. I believe that to live in California without the ability to speak the Spanish language can be a detriment to self-progress, job performance, and societal integration. Note the same can be said for not speaking English.
Some believe that Spanish was the first language of our country. They would be wrong. Mainly separatist and racist stick to that view. Spanish originated as a dialect of Latin. It was later taken to the Americas and other parts of the world in the last five centuries by Spanish explorers and colonists. At the same time the English language was being spread by other European explorers and colonists.
Although the language is spoken most extensively in the Americas, Spain and to a lessor extent in Africa and the Asian Pacific, it is not the most widely spoken language in the world, but it is by far the most popular studied foreign language in U.S. schools. We teach it almost as much as we teach English.
How did it get so popular here in the first place? Immigration, commerce with our southern neighbors, and our school system. What keeps me from absorbing it into my skill set? I think I may know the answer. Spite.
I hate the fact that I “have to” learn a new language just to order a taco or hamburger prepared the way I like. I don’t hate the people speaking the language, just the fact that we can’t communicate at a level where I can let them know to leave off the onions, and light on the ice in my soda. Oh well, back to Spanish class.
As always please post your comments and opinions in the comment section at the bottom of each article on the blog page, http://www.aricisom.com/. You can also post to past articles in there proper location at the bottom of each. I look forwards to your feedback
I want to learn Spanish. I believe that I need to speak and understand Spanish. Circumstances dictate it. I have tried to learn Spanish on more than one occasion. I’ve tried to learn Spanish in High School, College, and on the Internet. I even tried to learn Spanish in Mexico; I lived in Oaxaca, Mexico for nine months. I still know less then a hundred phrases.
How did Spanish get so popular in the U.S. in the first place? It is not the native tongue. I did a little research on the subject. I read newspapers, and looked online, a place where my English is still king.
According to Sharon McNary and Steve Fetbrandt of the Press-Enterprise a recent study showed that 61 percent of Inland Empire residents speak only English, that’s about 2.27 million people. I fit into that group, despite my efforts to learn another language. I can’t seem to even learn Pig Latin.
According to the Press Enterprise, “The children of Mexican and other Latin American immigrants represent one of the fastest-growing components of California's population. So while immigration influences the language situation, it does not tell the entire story, because many U.S.-born Latinos speak Spanish at home.”
Over 1.57 million people in the Inland Empire communicate at home in a language other then English. About 121,000 Inland residents live in a household where no member speaks English; about 85 percent of those are Spanish speakers.
I have lots of friends that speak Spanish. I believe that to live in California without the ability to speak the Spanish language can be a detriment to self-progress, job performance, and societal integration. Note the same can be said for not speaking English.
Some believe that Spanish was the first language of our country. They would be wrong. Mainly separatist and racist stick to that view. Spanish originated as a dialect of Latin. It was later taken to the Americas and other parts of the world in the last five centuries by Spanish explorers and colonists. At the same time the English language was being spread by other European explorers and colonists.
Although the language is spoken most extensively in the Americas, Spain and to a lessor extent in Africa and the Asian Pacific, it is not the most widely spoken language in the world, but it is by far the most popular studied foreign language in U.S. schools. We teach it almost as much as we teach English.
How did it get so popular here in the first place? Immigration, commerce with our southern neighbors, and our school system. What keeps me from absorbing it into my skill set? I think I may know the answer. Spite.
I hate the fact that I “have to” learn a new language just to order a taco or hamburger prepared the way I like. I don’t hate the people speaking the language, just the fact that we can’t communicate at a level where I can let them know to leave off the onions, and light on the ice in my soda. Oh well, back to Spanish class.
As always please post your comments and opinions in the comment section at the bottom of each article on the blog page, http://www.aricisom.com/. You can also post to past articles in there proper location at the bottom of each. I look forwards to your feedback
8 POST COMMENTS (Click Here):
One reason that you didn't mention for the language problen is all the undocumented workers and criminals that we have in this state. I think that we need to go after the companies that are doing the hiring.
Aric, Nice way of stating the problem.
Just send them all back, then we can go back to speaking the first tongue, Native American.
I go to L.A. and most of the signage is is in a language other then English. Sometimes I feel that I'm in Korea sometimes Mexico, other times in hell...
Great stuff, and i like the new look!!!
Thanks for the comments Aric. It's reminded me of my growing up in Southern Arizona. I assumed everyone had to speak a bit of English and Spanish.
This has only proven to be true as an adult living here in Southern California. I have great neighbors, some of whom speak only a little English and with my little Spanish, we sometimes struggle, but its never been a huge problem for us.
Your opinion and research have been helpful in reflecting on my family's relationship with the family next door. Thank you.
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Oi, achei seu blog pelo google está bem interessante gostei desse post. Gostaria de falar sobre o CresceNet. O CresceNet é um provedor de internet discada que remunera seus usuários pelo tempo conectado. Exatamente isso que você leu, estão pagando para você conectar. O provedor paga 20 centavos por hora de conexão discada com ligação local para mais de 2100 cidades do Brasil. O CresceNet tem um acelerador de conexão, que deixa sua conexão até 10 vezes mais rápida. Quem utiliza banda larga pode lucrar também, basta se cadastrar no CresceNet e quando for dormir conectar por discada, é possível pagar a ADSL só com o dinheiro da discada. Nos horários de minuto único o gasto com telefone é mínimo e a remuneração do CresceNet generosa. Se você quiser linkar o Cresce.Net(www.provedorcrescenet.com) no seu blog eu ficaria agradecido, até mais e sucesso. (If he will be possible add the CresceNet(www.provedorcrescenet.com) in your blogroll I thankful, bye friend).
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