What language is the primary language in your country, and does it offend you wnen someone cannot speak & understand it correctly even though it is clear that they live here?

"American" (USA), and it has always been my belief that if you are going to move to a foreign country and live there, that you should at least master the native language(s) of your new home country, BEFORE you do any re-locating.

+5

English. I am more offended by English speakers who can not put together an intelligible sentence, than I am non English speakers who do not know the language. Both, however, would find themselves better served if they spoke the language.

English (USA). I'm more offended that people who don't speak english can get jobs over people who do speak english.

English.

It doesn't bother me much, as I'm not exposed to it often. I attend a college where there are many international students, and most of them are fluent in both English and their native languages.

It offends me when they've been here for a number of years and don't even attempt to learn the language. Much of that is the fault of the government for making it so easy for them not to have to learn.

English. Most everyone here can't speak it. Immigrants who actually took the time to learn English speak it much better than those born here.

English. It doesnt offend me as such, but it is kinda annoying sometimes...I think if you're gonna move somewhere you should at least make an effort to learn the language, or at least hang out with people who speak it so they can help you :)

can you even legally live here before passing an english test? i thought that was part of the citizenship test. as for illegal immigrants, i dont think they should live here at all

I honor anyone who has the courage to move to a foreign land and try to acclimatize themselves to a new way of life. If they do not learn the language, it is way more to their detriment than my own. They are limiting themselves and neglecting many opportunities. The only time it affects me is if I have to communicate with them which is not very often. Anyone that attempts to learn a second language should be respected since most of us can't even speak English correctly here any longer.

I agree that before you come, kno0w enough of the language to be understood.

Too many times I have gone to Fed offices and they have translators of several different languages. Some of them are paid VERY well and maybe once a month do they really do anything!

I think it's great we are "The melting Pot" but this includes a bit of understanding you follow the countrys ways. I'd do the same if I was heading south or to the east or such..

Nothing worse then having an emergency and not knowing who or what to say!

English .
Any newcomer to our country should be required to take basic English second language lessons before acquiring citizenship or landed immigrant status; nor should they be able to acquire employment or social welfare benefits without proof of attending same.
Example 1: I can't tell you the number of times I have entered a well known coffee franchise and have given my order to someone whose native language isn't English and I either repeat the order several times or get the wrong one. Attempting to rectify is an exercise in patience. Do I sometimes think they use lack of English as a cover not to address a situation...you tell me. I end up emailing the corporate website to make my case known.
Example 2: at a fast food establishment; no probs with orders ecc. BUT elderly man suddenly suffered what appeared to be a heart attack. NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE came to his aid at this establishment while I yelled to call 911 and went to his side. Minutes passed, no ambulance, no police and they are literally 2 minutes down the street. A passerby rushed in to help me and he had to literally enter the restaurant kitchen to call 911. (This was before cellphones.)
When we explained to medics/police what transpired, we were told it was likely this was a haven for illegal immigrant trafficking. It wasn't the language barrier that disgusts me, but the total lack of sensitivity to the situation at hand.
Not only language barriers exist when newcomers enter our land, but those who DO NOT CARE to understand and respect what our countries hold dear concerns me deeply.
Example: Canada is now facing a number of "honor-killings" being perpetrated by newcomers to our country. Why are we allowing such foreign and violent ways of thinking into our land?

Why should I be offended because someone has not learned my language?

First of all, it is HIS/HER problem, not mine.

Second, after age 12 or so, at puberty, it is much harder to learn a language and especially hard to eliminate accents, no matter how much effort is expended.

globish. http://www.globish.com/

it only offends me that someone can't speak or understand it when it's clear that it's their first language.

English (USA)

I am not offended by people who reside in the USA and cannot speak English. I am annoyed by it though.

I am primarily German and Swedish. My grand parents were all born in the old country and immigrated to the US where they learned English. This is an important point to make...just because someone is white doesn't mean English is their native tongue. They were quite proud to be in this country and were also proud to learn English.

Having a common tongue unites us.

English USA. I don't mind if non-English speaking people want to converse with each other in their native language, but if they want to communicate with me, they must speak English fluently and without heavy accents.

America is the land of opportunity and 1st generation immigrants are VERY hard working people. To belittle people for not speaking English is Xenophobic and mean spirited. If there was a better life in China, for your family, you would go to China. You go learn Chinese!

Greek as i live in Greece!
i could say that the most annoying and even unbelievable that happens here is that almost no one (except for the philologists) knows the ancient-greek which is considered the perfect language. we (including me) cannot understand or even imagine what most of ancient greek words mean.and as the new-greek derives from ancient-greek you can say that we don't know our own language. lol

French and English. In my opinion, Inuktitut should be included as well. It does not offend me when someone speaks a different language. That being said, I do want to understand what people are saying and I also want to be understood. I wish I could understand and speak every language in the world!

English (UK)
yes it is bloody annoying...however I don't mind the ones who can speak English but speak in their native languages to each other.
I.e. Eastern Europeans are actually quite good at this.