Spanish....

[ramenth]

Spanish! Man that is so last week! Here in Macon, Ga. The wisdom of our very liberal Board Of Education has imported about a dozen teachers from China to teach our elementary children Mandarin Chinese.

So there!

Well, at least they imported people to teach it who know how to speak it. It was funny watching my very Anglo appearing guidance councilor in high school speaking Japanese with our exchange student. She taught French primarily throughout her years and he was constantly correcting her grammar, even though she was pushing for a Japanese course for the school, with her teaching it.

And the way things are going, we'll all need to learn Chinese eventually, anyway.

On a side note, I'm not making excuses for anyone's comments on this thread, but remember, English is the primary language of business the world round. There's a reason a lot of other countries teach English as a second language and that's to help their kids get a leg up in the business world around them. It shouldn't be demanded of our immigrants (legal or otherwise) that English should be learned, but it definitely should be encouraged, if anything to be able to interact with the country around them on a day-to-day basis. While the automated phone line at the bank may have "press 2 for Spanish" the actual live teller at the bank may not have that particular option. And I'm not picking on Doug's father-in-law, I'm also saying the same thing about the Japanese ball player who's been playing MLB for a decade and still needs a translator.

That being said, English is also one of the hardest languages to learn as a secondary language. Phonetically, we're all f***ed up. "F" "PH" "GH". "GH" is "F" is some words silent in others. Grammatically we're backwards from the rest world, as has been pointed out.

 

[Louie70Dart]

LOL, my shop chief in the Air Force, Cmsgt Vizcaino, used to call me chingaletta. When I asked him what it meant he would just smirk and say you're my chingaletta. And no, it's not homo or gay talk. It means little f'ing thing or piece of trash. He didn't mean it as a putdown, or at least I never took it that way. Sgt Vizcaino was by far the BEST manager I ever worked for!

 

[69DARTS]

u have crabs

 

[inkjunkie]

He did not spend damn near his entire life farming the fields of the South West without picking up enough English to get by. When he calls and I answer we chit chat a bit, but he has to think a bit before he speaks. I try to pay attention when she is speaking Spanish to someone. But you know how it is when people are fluent in a language, it seems like they are rambling more than anything. When Ernie talks to her sister they float between both languages, and often times I can kind of figure out what they are saying if I am paying attention. I learned some of the insults/curses from working in Phoenix for 15 years. Ernie has tried to teach me, but I turn it into a goof session and she gives up. She has likened it to when I taught her how to drive a clutch, frustrating.

I understand the mindset of English being the primary language here. And I agree with it.......to a point. Problem is what the hell does that have to with me wanting to learn Spanish so I can talk with my Father in Law? Absolutely nothing. My folks were racist. My Mom was rumored to have in the KKK when they lived in Texas. Grew up hearing Racial crap. Called home to tell my folks that I was going to marry Ernie, and the few people that have met her here can tell you how much of a sweetheart she is, only to hear my mother announce to my Dad that I was going to marry a ,no offense here folks, Spic. Up to that point Ernie had done absolutely nothing to offend her in anyway, they spoke several times a week, often spending there time on the phone with each other laughing themselves to tears.

 

[inkjunkie]

u have crabs

I thought we were going to keep that between us?? Damn it Eddie, you just can't be trusted.....:banghead:

 

[Revhendo]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akbflkF_1zY"]Hungarian Phrase Book - YouTube[/ame]

 

[TrailBeast]

I used to have a customer who's wife was a fat pasty W.B. with a real hate for Hispanics.
I cracked up when she got busted for meth and went to a 98% hispanic populated prison here in Arizona.

Hm,,,wonder if she ever learned spanish?

 

[Revhendo]

I used to have a customer who's wife was a fat pasty W.B. with a real hate for Hispanics.
I cracked up when she got busted for meth and went to a 98% hispanic populated prison here in Arizona.

Hm,,,wonder if she ever learned spanish?

Bet she got a little spanish in her....

 

[inkjunkie]

Bet she got a little spanish in her....

Bit of Taco sauce?

 

[ramenth]

I understand the mindset of English being the primary language here. And I agree with it.......to a point. Problem is what the hell does that have to with me wanting to learn Spanish so I can talk with my Father in Law? Absolutely nothing.

I did fail to mention it in my earlier post, Doug. I actually commend you for wanting to be able to converse with your father-in-law better. Especially if it means you'll get to know the man better. A language barrier shouldn't hold you back from wanting to do that.

I'm sorry if I didn't say that.

Personally, for me, I learned French. Even as I was learning it I had a hard time speaking it, a hard time understanding it spoken to me. But I can still read it (for the most part) and translate it in my head. I have to see the words in front of me to clarify them. So, all the suggestions above, I would say give 'em all a try and see what suits you best.

I guess what I was attempting to do with an earlier post was to open a dialogue about certain things, without any racist considerations or underlying political concerns, about how we, as a country, might be segregating our immigrants even as they walk in the door.

 

[inkjunkie]

I did fail to mention it in my earlier post, Doug. I actually commend you for wanting to be able to converse with your father-in-law better. Especially if it means you'll get to know the man better. A language barrier shouldn't hold you back from wanting to do that.

I'm sorry if I didn't say that.

Personally, for me, I learned French. Even as I was learning it I had a hard time speaking it, a hard time understanding it spoken to me. But I can still read it (for the most part) and translate it in my head. I have to see the words in front of me to clarify them. So, all the suggestions above, I would say give 'em all a try and see what suits you best.

I guess what I was attempting to do with an earlier post was to open a dialogue about certain things, without any racist considerations or underlying political concerns, about how we, as a country, might be segregating our immigrants even as they walk in the door.

Thanks Robert. I am going to give this another go. Spoke with the Boss about it and she is going to help me the best she can. I tried to learn it in school, but that was right around the time my Dad had 5 strokes and other things took priority, that was the year I was either late or absent every day and I withdrew from school.
I think you are right about the segregation. Just put yourself in an immigrants shoes for a minute. Strange land, strange culture and even stranger folks, some times. Throw in a language barrier and the mindset of you should speak English before you even set foot on US soil..........

 

[Revhendo]

.

I guess what I was attempting to do with an earlier post was to open a dialogue about certain things, without any racist considerations or underlying political concerns, about how we, as a country, might be segregating our immigrants even as they walk in the door.

I don't know if this applies or accounts for much in the context of things, but when my great grandmother came here from Odessa, her rule was that only english was spoken outside of the house. Inside was an entirely different story. That's not a philosophy I see being used as much these days. Being in SoCal, I've picked up words in several languages, but have no real communication ability in them. It's more of a having the chance to practice than anything else for me. It would be nice to be conversational in either spanish or vietnamese, but hardly necessary at this point in my life.

I question wether we segregate new arrivals or do they not wish to assimilate.

Sorry Doug didn't mean to derail the thread.

 

[Mopar to ya]

Hahaha! I used to date Chrystella Frias. Her dad, Guillermo, used to call me White Bread because, well, I'm white. He really hated that she was dating me. He could speak English, but he never did around me just to piss me off. They owned Boca Chica, an authentic Mexican restaurant. I miss that food! It was so good.

Really do need learn how to speak it. Ernestina's dad speaks very little English. Whenever he calls Ernie just rambles in Spanish. Every now & then I hear her mention me, only because I know the word her Dad calls me. It is chalkboard, for me being covered with ink. Her Dad called a couple times today, I heard me get mentioned and then I could hear him burst out laughing. Hmmmm.....wonder what she said about me?? I really would like to talk to my father-in-law without going thru Ernie to translate. Any suggestions on an easy way to learn? I have some serious comprehension issues, which is just going to complicate this.

 

[2darts]

I did fail to mention it in my earlier post, Doug. I actually commend you for wanting to be able to converse with your father-in-law better. Especially if it means you'll get to know the man better. A language barrier shouldn't hold you back from wanting to do that.

I'm sorry if I didn't say that.

Personally, for me, I learned French. Even as I was learning it I had a hard time speaking it, a hard time understanding it spoken to me. But I can still read it (for the most part) and translate it in my head. I have to see the words in front of me to clarify them. So, all the suggestions above, I would say give 'em all a try and see what suits you best.

I guess what I was attempting to do with an earlier post was to open a dialogue about certain things, without any racist considerations or underlying political concerns, about how we, as a country, might be segregating our immigrants even as they walk in the door.

Félicitation d'avoir apris de parler le francais ou un autre langue. Especialement ou le francais n'est pas parler souvent.

I never had a period in my life that said I wish I never learned to speak a 2nd language. It only helped to have this advantage at work.

I only wish I would've taken Spanish in High school to open more doors.

Otra cerveza, por favor

 

[Bulldozer]

is poota a word?

 

[inkjunkie]

is poota a word?

talking about my sister again?? Ernie just left, so this may be wrong, but I think it means *****, ***** and probably a few other things. And this is what is going to make learning so damn difficult, one word can mean multiple things, just depends on context......

 

[Mopar to ya]

Punto means bastard. When Nick Punto played for the Twins, there was a sign in the dugout once that said "Punto ... sounds bad, but isn't."

Puta, however, means *****.

 

[Bulldozer]

talking about my sister again?? Ernie just left, so this may be wrong, but I think it means *****, ***** and probably a few other things. And this is what is going to make learning so damn difficult, one word can mean multiple things, just depends on context......

my girlfriend has a spanish mom and a white dad. she cant speak a lick of it, but can understand some of it. even with her growing up around it, she still has a hard time with it. here in colorado, it is prevelant. so much so, they ran my painting business under because i just couldnt compete with "them"... no disrespect intended.

 

[Revhendo]

one word can mean multiple things, just depends on context......

It's why the population in China is so large....

The men don't know when to take NO for an answer.

 

[Abodybomber]

Done auto parts,a long time.Hispanics,trust someone,of their own ilk,can't blame them.Know a few words,enough to skiddattle by.I go "You have the car here?",they usually smile,and point to what they need.I would prefer english,not speaking it,doesn't make them a bad person.

 

[Muad'Dib15]

I took German back in high school for three years. Have been out for 2, read this thread, had a little fake german conversation in my head if I ever had a break down over there while I was at work to see what I remembered. My german actually improved as said in-head-conversation went on. Very weird. Still would have sounded like Germish to them. you know how foreigners occasionally mess up the word order here? yeah that, but in german.

 

[Dart_Doctor]

I thought we were going to keep that between us?? Damn it Eddie, you just can't be trusted.....:banghead:

Oh that was way more info then i needed .. this thread has took so many turns lol :joker:

 

[Revhendo]

Oh that was way more info then i needed .. this thread has took so many turns lol :joker:

It's not the destination, it's the journey.

 

[inkjunkie]

It's not the destination, it's the journey.

That it is........for some......

 

[Revhendo]

You now know the difference between a punto and a puta. See? You're learning already.
Are you sure you want to know what dad is saying about you?