spanish or english. PLEASE pick one. (Miami, Hialeah: metro, areas, company)

[Optional Angel]

There is something that I have observed in this forum, and now I just realized it in this thread, a recurring post. There seem to be many posts that look like this:

"I was just at Publix on X Street in Hialeah/Little Havana/Kendall and the cashier spoke to me in Spanish! Miami is in the United States and everyone should speak some English!"

I always laugh because first, no sh*t. You go anywhere where 97% of the population is Hispanic and you will hear Spanish. Second, just because they addressed you in Spanish doesn't mean they don't speak English. Maybe they don't get that many English-speaking clients and do not usually need to use it. At least they attended you, they don't actually have to, you know. Stores can refuse to service you if they want, no reason needed. You choose to shop at a private company, they can choose to accept your money or not.

Just my contribution.

[Marlin331]

Originally Posted by Optional Angel

There is something that I have observed in this forum, and now I just realized it in this thread, a recurring post. There seem to be many posts that look like this:

"I was just at Publix on X Street in Hialeah/Little Havana/Kendall and the cashier spoke to me in Spanish! Miami is in the United States and everyone should speak some English!"

I always laugh because first, no sh*t. You go anywhere where 97% of the population is Hispanic and you will hear Spanish. Second, just because they addressed you in Spanish doesn't mean they don't speak English. Maybe they don't get that many English-speaking clients and do not usually need to use it. At least they attended you, they don't actually have to, you know. Stores can refuse to service you if they want, no reason needed. You choose to shop at a private company, they can choose to accept your money or not.

Just my contribution.

First of all, the forumer that talked about specific locations in this thread was not complaining that store clerks approached her in Spanish; she was complaining that she got "attitude" from those clerks that she didn't speak Spanish. There's a stark difference between the two scenarios and the latter is downright rude and unacceptable from a social and professional standpoint.

I have never had that happen to me because if someone approaches me in Spanish, I just carry on in Spanish. However, I would surely come to the defense of someone who was being treated like an inferior just because s/he didn't speak Spanish. I haven't really seen that happen, so it does surprise me that people say it occurs frequently throughout Miami.

You are absolutely correct that just because someone addresses you in Spanish doesn't mean that that person doesn't speak English. I tell that to people all of the time when they comment on all of the Spanish speakers in Miami. However, if a customer who doesn't speak Spanish enters your store, you would be an absolute fool to give him/her "attitude" that s/he doesn't speak Spanish, as this would surely discourage him/her from patronizing your business in the future.

[Hialeah_Rules]

Originally Posted by cixcell

cuz id like there to be an official language here. itd make things alot easier. whether it was english or spanish it doesnt matter. if it were spanish it would force me to learn, if it were english id be already prepared. it doesnt matter to me so long as we arent making our way to some sort of pidgin english here incompatible with everything else.

pfff

[Hialeah_Rules]

You can tell the ink on that door sign is different. The 50.00 is darker, the zeros are from a different writer. The 50.00 was forged, you can see the old ink erased if you look closely I bet you Mr Cixel had something to do with the change. Also the spanish is wrong, someone used a dictionary to write that crap or google translate.

[Optional Angel]

Originally Posted by crisp444

First of all, the forumer that talked about specific locations in this thread was not complaining that store clerks approached her in Spanish; she was complaining that she got "attitude" from those clerks that she didn't speak Spanish. There's a stark difference between the two scenarios and the latter is downright rude and unacceptable from a social and professional standpoint.

I have never had that happen to me because if someone approaches me in Spanish, I just carry on in Spanish. However, I would surely come to the defense of someone who was being treated like an inferior just because s/he didn't speak Spanish. I haven't really seen that happen, so it does surprise me that people say it occurs frequently throughout Miami.

You are absolutely correct that just because someone addresses you in Spanish doesn't mean that that person doesn't speak English. I tell that to people all of the time when they comment on all of the Spanish speakers in Miami. However, if a customer who doesn't speak Spanish enters your store, you would be an absolute fool to give him/her "attitude" that s/he doesn't speak Spanish, as this would surely discourage him/her from patronizing your business in the future.

I was not referencing any specific post. I just read the first couple pages and it reminded me of similar posts I have read in the past. That is obviously an over-exaggerated example. I did not say anyone said that, merely that some posts had that tone. I agree, they would be fools to scare away customers, but they can be fools, it's their loss anyways. A small business does not need to cater to non-Spanish speakers if they wish not to. In many areas, it makes no difference. Losing 3% of your customers is better than trying to learn English or paying for a bilingual employee. Not that I feel this way, I'm just trying to see it from the other side's eyes.

[WINTERFRONT]

Ok guys, help me out here

The other day, my friend stopped me short cuz I was speaking in English, something I do with everyone my age. He said that I should speak to him in Spanish; I refused and responded with: speaking the language of the country is a sign of respect. He then answered me with: How are you showing respect by speaking a language? ... to be honest, I didn't know what to say. How is speaking English a sign of respect?? (Note that I'm pro English, but don't have the proper words or ideas (?) to defend it)

[WINTERFRONT]

Originally Posted by Hialeah_Rules

You can tell the ink on that door sign is different. The 50.00 is darker, the zeros are from a different writer. The 50.00 was forged, you can see the old ink erased if you look closely I bet you Mr Cixel had something to do with the change. Also the spanish is wrong, someone used a dictionary to write that crap or google translate.

They probably used another marker

[Optional Angel]

You're acknowledging that the original Constitution was written in English and all of the founding fathers of the country spoke English. You are respecting the fact that the land you stand on belongs to a country in which most of the populace, and all government officials speak English, and all official documents are written in English. By speaking English, you are making a distinction between the country you are in and some other country in Latin America.

Not exactly a hardcore pro-Anglo either, but I see the argument.

[Marlin331]

Originally Posted by Optional Angel

I was not referencing any specific post. I just read the first couple pages and it reminded me of similar posts I have read in the past. That is obviously an over-exaggerated example. I did not say anyone said that, merely that some posts had that tone. I agree, they would be fools to scare away customers, but they can be fools, it's their loss anyways. A small business does not need to cater to non-Spanish speakers if they wish not to. In many areas, it makes no difference. Losing 3% of your customers is better than trying to learn English or paying for a bilingual employee. Not that I feel this way, I'm just trying to see it from the other side's eyes.

It sounded like you were referencing GatorMama's post on the previous page. That is why I pointed out that she was not merely talking about being addressed in Spanish; she was talking about getting "attitude" from employees because she doesn't speak Spanish.

Also, while being able to understand others' viewpoints and perspectives is certainly commendable, I am glad you don't feel that a shopkeeper losing a percentage of his/her customers is "better" than learning English or making sure that at least some of his/her employees speak it.

[Optional Angel]

Originally Posted by crisp444

It sounded like you were referencing GatorMama's post on the previous page. That is why I pointed out that she was not merely talking about being addressed in Spanish; she was talking about getting "attitude" from employees because she doesn't speak Spanish.

Also, while being able to understand others' viewpoints and perspectives is certainly commendable, I am glad you don't feel that a shopkeeper losing a percentage of his/her customers is "better" than learning English or making sure that at least some of his/her employees speak it.

Oh wow, I hadn't even read her post but it sounds almost like mine. >.< My apologies. Still, that only reinforces my point of all the posts like that. And yes, I'm not agreeing with them, I feel that business is one of the areas where being bilingual should be a given, you can speak with family or friends in whatever language you want, but at least try to speak the language of the country you're opening a business in or representing a company in. Just common courtesy.