I think the US should have a law that all outdoor advertising (billboards, etc.) should be in English. What do you think?
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shammers avoiding the holidays
ANSWERS: 9
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No, I'm opposed to all English-only laws. The spirit of America has always been inclusion and valuing the contributions of multiple cultures. Just as a gene pool which is too isolated becomes stagnant, a culture which becomes too homogeneous loses vitality. I'd rather learn bits of other cultures and languages and expand my world than try to keep my world small and rail against "them".
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I think people should be able to post adds in whatever language they want, regardless of what country they're in.. But that's just my opinion.
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I've never seen anything else but English where I live. There may be some in larger cities. Advertising should have the language the people who are targeted to receive the ad should understand. When I travel to Mexico, I have a hard time trying to read all the Spanish as fast as I read the English. I really look for any sign in English to help me get around there.
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My grandfather had to learn English in the first grade. He was born in the US and raised in a German speaking household. I do not think we should ban another language just because we do not understand it. Heck, that is one less billboard to read. Are you worried that they are talking about you?
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Well, if so, they should be in good, gramattical English. No calling things "Lite" for example. No using Txt-speak like 4ever. No, actually I think that is as chauvinistic as requiring that everybody should have white skins. Why should you choose how they should live their lives - and their advertisers try to fit in to their lives. What you are advocating is a kind of slavery - I choose what language you speak inside your head - because that is what advertisers are talking to. Welcome to the KKK.
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Well, there is a line somewhere. I don't think anyone would argue that policemen and emergency rooms shouldn't have to speak English. I think that the First Amendment freedom of expression applies here, though, and advertisers have the right to put whatever they want on a billboard. The real issues come in the middle. Should government services be required to be bilingual in certain neighborhoods? Because finding 911 dispatchers who speak Korean can drive of the cost of running a city. And when you shop in your neighborhood, the one you pay taxes to support, shouldn't you expect that any businesses which are Public Accommodations (most of them) will be able to conduct business in English? But a billboard? No, that is a clear First Amendment issue.
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I understand what you are saying, and do feel that everyone should have to learn English to be a citizen. The problem with what you are saying is that a billboard is not a public service or educational, etc. A company has a right to try to reach whatever group they want. I would try to avoid buying from such a company (and possibly write to them) as English is supposed to be the language of our country. It does bother me that most packages, instructions, etc., now seem to have both English and Spanish.
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What? Why? I support making English the official language but this just doesn't make any sense. Chinatown with no Chinese? Mexican restaurants with no Spanish? It would just create problems.
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Remember we always have guests here in the form of tourists from other countries. This idea is as stupid as if Mexico had a law that all outdoor advertising should be in Spanish. How would tourists get around? With thick dictionaries to look up every word? Advertisers need to speak to their target markets, and if that includes people who speak other languages - such as tourists - they should be able to speak to them. It's *polite* and *inclusive* to include translations regardless of which country you are in, but it should not be a law.
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