How come people come to the United States and complain about always having to speak English instead of their native tongue?

Question

This country was founded on the English language. I don't understand some people. This place isn't a make it like your home country type of country

Answer 1

They're unrealistic or immature.

Growing up bilingual, I understand the attachment to a native tongue but, if you want to be able to function well in society you have to learn the language of the country you live in.

That being said, I have relatives who've lived here for decades and still don't speak English. They go to the Greek grocery story, and the Greek doctor, and the Greek dentist, the Greek Orthodox Christian Church, etc., and they have a small army of Greek friends. It's not easy to find the opportunity to learn another language when you're busy working and raising a family. What they DON'T do is complain about English. They feel lucky to live here.

Answer 2

People like to complain when they are obliged to do a difficult task, and learning a new language is definitely a hard one. I'm sure the English speakers in the US would complain if they had to learn another language as well, so it works both ways.

"This country was founded on the English language." Which languages did your ancestors speak apart from English? 99% of Americans are descended from immigrants that spoke many different languages (Native Americans represent about 1% of the US population).

Answer 3

Spanish was the FIRST language spoken in the Americas @Chi girl you Greeks still speak Greek in USA, hypocrite. Scottish people, Irish and Welsh can't speak their own language. Which one are you?

Answer 4

Brits and Americans go all over the world and alwaus complain if ever they cannot get by in English. Why should foreigners not be allowed to complain whenever they are unable to get by in their language when they are abroad? Like all human beings, they are all just being lazy. "This country" was begun by native Americans, and the first European language spoken here was Spanish, from Florida to California. English arrived in North America when sailors from Bristol started muscling in on the Newfoundland fisheries. Ten years later their countrymen were growing tobacco in Virginia. The rest is history, and you should accept the primacy of English, but there is no law against complaining, however futilely.

Answer 5

They don't have to speak English all the time. There is no such requirement. So, there's no need to complain.

We have freedom of speech, than includes speaking other language. English is the de facto language of this country. As long as people can speak it when they need to, there is no problem with using other languages as well.

Official languages only require that government documents be offered in at least the official ones. They can be offered in additional ones if desired.

The USA has no official language at the national level. Some states and territiories do list English as official, and sometimes an additional language (or more) as well. Hawaiian, in Hawaii, for example.

You can still speak whatever language you want, even in those states and territories.

Answer 6

Who says they complain? I haven't heard any of them complain. You're probably the type who complains about their speaking their native language although you go abroad and speak English. Aren't you happy enough your evil racist is in the White House? Stop whining.

Answer 7

Agreed. Learn American-English or get lost.

Answer 8

The first Europeans on this continent were from Spain. English-speakers didn't show up till 100 years later.

Answer 9

The United States does not have an official national language, yet 31 states have laws establishing English as their official tongue. The Census Bureau estimates there are more than 300 languages spoken in the United States... those are facts but we understand why some people are afraid of people who spoke more than one language.... don't worry.

Answer 10

Yo dumbf^ck... this country originally belonged to Native Americans, and English was NOT their language.. so no, it was not founded on English language..