That's just BStreet's way of welcoming you back, Kona

yes I know. I just don't wish to argue over such trival and touchy subjects like these.

Nah, welcome back Kona.

Had this been on any other thread, you would have found me more sympathetic. I have conservative opinions about how we support people who refuse to assimilate to our country. I don't believe in 'equal opportunity' for people who refuse to learn, special testing in schools, legally mandated interpretors, etc.

In terms of 'Chinatown', ethnic business areas, though, I have the utmost respect for people who can come halfway around the world, form their own community, and be as or more successful than the rest of us. The acumen and labor that takes is immense, and I can't nod when people say "learn the language or leave".

They could say the same thing to you in their neighborhood, and they'd be no worse for it when you left.

Again, no offense to you Kona, I just hope our Chinese friend didn't take your and Anthony's posts as a less than friendly welcome.

Again, no offense to you Kona, I just hope our Chinese friend didn't take your and Anthony's posts as a less than friendly welcome.

I hope not. As I wish to learn new languages as well. Spanish will be a start.

hmmm... my ancestors had to learn english to become citizens of this country. but because of our constitution , they were allowed to speak whatever language they chose amongst themselves. I don't think the issue is so much people speaking a different language around others, as it is, we're expected to learn THEIR language now ,instead,especially in the case of those of hispanic descent.
I do find it disrespectful that someone will stand in a store and speak a different language to a friend , while making gestures in the direction of an english speaking person in such a way as to infer their conversation is derogatory. But that same person has the right to demand that there be someone in that store that speaks their language , so they don't have to use ours. but I honor their heritage just the same.

I think many of the people who complain about immigrants and their speech patterns forget that they come from non english speaking roots themselves in most cases.
Those who do remember this, and still complain might have a valid point, but in most cases just come off as being bigoted.
it's too bad there even has to be an issue. though I will say that in other countries, english is taught as a second language to most of the populace.
so it isn't a case of " well if I go to your country I have to learn your language!"

What is all the fuss, here is a new customer who just happened to pop in here and say:-

My interpretation:
"Hello, New User, Need Translator"

And all you do is very nearly condem the person, because they can't speak English. And why should he have to, after all he is probably in his own country. >

And besides "Bablefish" is not that far away, and is easy to use.

On behalf of myself, I appologise to Citizen Liubo1962 for any untoward comments against you

Good Luck on future posts

抱歉为我们的无知

我翻译这里

http://www.worldlingo.com/zh/products_services/computer_translation.html or http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/

I should have thought of that

One minor nitpick: finding the right character for each word is only half your worries. Finding the right order to put them in (something online translators don't do) is the other half.

True....craeonics....just trying to do the best we can

Perhaps speaking English to English speaking people is a language barrier as well. I was just talking about how strange it is to go someplace that I remembered as English speaking, just to find that it has changed into an Asian speaking region, I don’t see any bigotry in that comment. I don’t want to spend years learning how to speak another language. I do not think the person who started this thread would be hyper sensitive about this, or find anything I said offensive, if so I apologize.

I, to, aplogize to Citizen Liubo1962. My comments were not needed.

if our education and social system was taken seriously enough, we would all have learned several languages in high school for the hell of it, if not for the handiness it has with interacting with the rest of the world.

i spent a month in germany as an exchange student. everywhere i went i tried to speak german and was replied to in english. every one knew it. in fact, most people also knew french and spanish. and they were only high school students. why? because they wanted to. they liked to travel and like to learn about other cultures. and they spoke these languages very well. i was embarrased to be in a foreing country stammering to order a cheeseburger when the guy at mcdonalds says to me in plain english: "hey.. you're over here from the states on the exchange program, right? what would you like?".

i'm on their turf. they had a right to enjoy watching me ATTEMPT to speak their language and keep the game up by talking to me in german. but they didn't.