Comments on: English only http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands Wed, 23 May 2012 01:01:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Daily Texican http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1150 Daily Texican Sat, 18 Feb 2006 17:24:01 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1150 Jeff, I have to disagree. I think it depends on the circumstance. For instance, in McAllen, the South Texas Border, would it be o.k. to reply in English to a person who has asked a question in Spanish? Negative. So, I guess it just all depends. Jeff, I have to disagree. I think it depends on the circumstance. For instance, in McAllen, the South Texas Border, would it be o.k. to reply in English to a person who has asked a question in Spanish? Negative. So, I guess it just all depends.

]]> By: kelly http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1094 kelly Wed, 15 Feb 2006 03:30:38 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1094 Ha! I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who talks in Spanish around certain people so I can talk about them. Makes me feel like I am getting away with something. Ha! I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who talks in Spanish around certain people so I can talk about them. Makes me feel like I am getting away with something.

]]> By: El Profe http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1090 El Profe Tue, 14 Feb 2006 23:28:37 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1090 Bilingual people (polyglots) working in any workplace should be considerate of appropriate language registers and codes. It's an essential part of being a strategically competent language speaker. I believe "code-switching" is a cute and powerful way to show our cultural pride and roots, but it can be controlled. As for English being the only language spoken in a workplace, I say no la chinguen. My father was a court interpreter and once read a petition that was making its way around the courthouse asking that English be the ONLY language spoken in the offices. Needless to say, he was offended and the petition was quickly defeated. Personally, I code switch so gringos can't understand me as I talk shit about them. But that's just me. Ja! Ja! !?Como crees?! Bilingual people (polyglots) working in any workplace should be considerate of appropriate language registers and codes. It’s an essential part of being a strategically competent language speaker. I believe “code-switching” is a cute and powerful way to show our cultural pride and roots, but it can be controlled. As for English being the only language spoken in a workplace, I say no la chinguen. My father was a court interpreter and once read a petition that was making its way around the courthouse asking that English be the ONLY language spoken in the offices. Needless to say, he was offended and the petition was quickly defeated. Personally, I code switch so gringos can’t understand me as I talk shit about them. But that’s just me. Ja! Ja! !?Como crees?!

]]> By: Jeff http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1088 Jeff Tue, 14 Feb 2006 20:29:52 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1088 I must say that while I agree that it is a person's choice to speak whatever language they want at a particular workplace, it is inappropriate in most instances. I have had experiences with latino's, where you ask them something in English and they'll respond in Spanish amongst people who do not speak spanish. There is a time and place for everything, but when in a serious conversation or in the precense of those who do not speak spanish, I don't feel it's quite adequate to speak spanish. We should reserve the spanish conversations for those who wish to participate in them, and understand that some might feel offended by it, especially if they don't understand spanish. I must say that while I agree that it is a person’s choice to speak whatever language they want at a particular workplace, it is inappropriate in most instances. I have had experiences with latino’s, where you ask them something in English and they’ll respond in Spanish amongst people who do not speak spanish. There is a time and place for everything, but when in a serious conversation or in the precense of those who do not speak spanish, I don’t feel it’s quite adequate to speak spanish.

We should reserve the spanish conversations for those who wish to participate in them, and understand that some might feel offended by it, especially if they don’t understand spanish.

]]> By: Daily Texican http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1075 Daily Texican Mon, 13 Feb 2006 04:37:38 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1075 oh man. I'm really late. Son chingaderas esas. I reckon' that for the most part, I can control how I speak, when I speak. But sometimes, it just comes out. Either, English or Spanish. So, I've got nothing new to say. You all said it. oh man. I’m really late. Son chingaderas esas. I reckon’ that for the most part, I can control how I speak, when I speak. But sometimes, it just comes out. Either, English or Spanish. So, I’ve got nothing new to say. You all said it.

]]> By: Colorado Luis http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1074 Colorado Luis Sun, 12 Feb 2006 21:28:53 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1074 Oh yeah, that reminds me I should say that as someone who writes all the time I have a hard time not thinking of what language to use as a choice. But then, I'm pretty English-dominant. I do have an even harder time agreeing that "by definition" what language you use is a choice, as the court in this case said. Oh yeah, that reminds me I should say that as someone who writes all the time I have a hard time not thinking of what language to use as a choice. But then, I’m pretty English-dominant. I do have an even harder time agreeing that “by definition” what language you use is a choice, as the court in this case said.

]]> By: elenamary http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1073 elenamary Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:09:07 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1073 a choice? only in so much has choosen if you want to fully express yourself. somethings i can't completly express in english, somethings i can't completly express in spanish. so sometimes i have to "choose" to express myself (ethos and all). how do you tell someone in English "no tengo ganas...ay mañana" a choice? only in so much has choosen if you want to fully express yourself. somethings i can’t completly express in english, somethings i can’t completly express in spanish. so sometimes i have to “choose” to express myself (ethos and all).
how do you tell someone in English “no tengo ganas…ay mañana”

]]> By: Colorado Luis http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1072 Colorado Luis Sun, 12 Feb 2006 18:06:05 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1072 Well, I'm late to this discussion, but I have a couple of thoughts. One is that I don't think a governmental entity should be able to get away with this stuff because I believe the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and expression protect your right to choose to speak Spanish. The second is that I assume this legal decision is technically correct, but only because the plaintiff was unable to convince the jury that race or national origin discrimination was the motive for the English only rule. I think this kind of case could be winnable with the right cross-examination of the people who made the decision to impose the English only policy (and some luck). And needless to say I think the policy itself is totally stupid. Well, I’m late to this discussion, but I have a couple of thoughts. One is that I don’t think a governmental entity should be able to get away with this stuff because I believe the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and expression protect your right to choose to speak Spanish. The second is that I assume this legal decision is technically correct, but only because the plaintiff was unable to convince the jury that race or national origin discrimination was the motive for the English only rule. I think this kind of case could be winnable with the right cross-examination of the people who made the decision to impose the English only policy (and some luck).

And needless to say I think the policy itself is totally stupid.

]]> By: seyd http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1071 seyd Sat, 11 Feb 2006 12:08:52 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1071 Yeah, it's like being gay. It's totally a choice. Every day I have the option of choosing my orientation, I have just happened to chose over heterosexuality for the last 23 years... Seriously, I think as Jennifer pointed out, our language choices are for the most part unconscious. I find that this is especially troubling for individuals who were brought up in a bilingual or multilingual settings, not so much for the rest of us who basically grew up with one language and then acquired the other one(s) later in life. I think because I learned English in my teenage years it is not so engrained in my unconsciuos and I can control when I can use it or not with a little more precision. Code-switching for me it's relatively a new thing that I've picked up mainly from Chicano bloggers, and it's entirely a conscious process, even one that requires a special effort to mimic. You know, just to be the cool Mexicano kid accepted by the Mexican-American kids, jejeje. Anyways, as always it is a pleasure to read you, you always get my brain working. Yeah, it’s like being gay. It’s totally a choice. Every day I have the option of choosing my orientation, I have just happened to chose over heterosexuality for the last 23 years… Seriously, I think as Jennifer pointed out, our language choices are for the most part unconscious. I find that this is especially troubling for individuals who were brought up in a bilingual or multilingual settings, not so much for the rest of us who basically grew up with one language and then acquired the other one(s) later in life. I think because I learned English in my teenage years it is not so engrained in my unconsciuos and I can control when I can use it or not with a little more precision. Code-switching for me it’s relatively a new thing that I’ve picked up mainly from Chicano bloggers, and it’s entirely a conscious process, even one that requires a special effort to mimic. You know, just to be the cool Mexicano kid accepted by the Mexican-American kids, jejeje. Anyways, as always it is a pleasure to read you, you always get my brain working.

]]> By: loca http://loteriachicana.net/2006/02/09/the-language-borderlands/comment-page-1#comment-1070 loca Sat, 11 Feb 2006 05:27:26 +0000 http://loteriachicana.net/?p=119#comment-1070 Wow poor guy. Personally I find choice has a huge influence in what language I speak. I've learned a lot of french and japanese as well and I love certain phrases from these languages so I knowingly use them. Still even if it is a choice a person has a right to freedom of speech right? and the first ammendment doesn't specify that it applies only to certain languages. Wow poor guy. Personally I find choice has a huge influence in what language I speak. I’ve learned a lot of french and japanese as well and I love certain phrases from these languages so I knowingly use them.

Still even if it is a choice a person has a right to freedom of speech right? and the first ammendment doesn’t specify that it applies only to certain languages.

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