As I was reading the article, where “English Only” Falls Short, I was not sure English-only policies are really something that takes away ones’ language who speak foreign languages. Is it a way of showing discrimination? As I was reading the article, I found very interesting point that Navajos, the Native Americans who said that the owner of R.D.’s Drive-in was taking their language (http://www.nathpo.org/News/Language/News_Native-Languages5.html). Elva Josley, one of the Navajo Native American said, “’It’s not fair, because you people are the ones who came to our land and you can’t tell us not to be who we are.’”
I found her point was interesting and something that I thought was ironic all the time when I think about this land. Historically, this is not a white country, this land was originally Native Americans’ and as long as they are in this land, this land should be theirs and they should be superior over whites if thought vice versa. However, the U.S is governed by the white people with power and Native Americans had to give in. However, do they have to give in their language also? I do not think so. But I don’t find English-only policy discriminating at all (instead, workers are getting themselves discriminated by Americans because people usually tend to discriminate or avoid others at the wall of the language) because it is for their business to go well when English speaking customers hear Navajo or other foreign language and those speakers seem to talk about them, they feel unpleasant and wouldn’t want to come back to the restaurant. I think since this country consist of foreigners who speak and learn English as a second language, people should not discriminate others for speaking different language, rather teach them English to learn. Also, as workers of this American society, Navajos or other foreign language speakers should try to speak English in a manner of contributing to American owners’ business and speak or practice language outside of the work or where customers are not seen.
Interesting observations. From a legal perspective, because English is not the official language of the United States under the law, is it then discriminatory to disallow individuals from using other languages? Should businesses be allowed to go against the law in order to make their businesses run smoothly and to make more profit? Which is more important?
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is discriminatory to disallow individuals from using other languages at work but it would bring up an issue if in everyday life one disallows foreigners or immigrants to use their own languages that is basically taking away the freedom of using language and sort of unlawful. There are so many aspects or events in this country that laws can not explain or control. Therefore, there should be adjustments(rules=agreed to be followed by employees) made especially at work if workers want to make money. English is my second language also and I do speak in Korean with Korean friends but sometimes people who speak English would feel offended if we speak in Korean even though we didn't talk about them. Therefore, at work this kind of misunderstandings should be minimized by the workers' will or efforts to maximize the best working place or felt pleasant by customers. I strongly believe that workers who came over to America for money should control themselves with their language with a human ability to restrain themselves from making harms on others.
ReplyDeleteI think businesses should be more important than the laws at work place during the working time but not in other aspects of workers' lives.
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