Trilingual Britain.
 

Recently I received a leaflet from Hyndburn Borough Council about how we can contact our councillors.

Fair enough.

Why though, as on most council documentation, does the information come in two other languages besides English?

Even on the bloody re-cycling sacks the instructions about what can be included are trilingual.

If I emigrated to France I would have to speak, and be able to read French, or employ someone to interpret for me. There is no way would I expect or be offered information in my mother tongue.

Where will this divisive and patronising trilingualism end?

Will Hyndburn become like Wales, where all road signs are in Welsh and English?

I also feel it is wrong to have sections of public libraries that are given over to languages other than English, other than for educational purposes. Again as an example if I moved to Morocco I wouldn't expect to be offered books in a public lending library in my own language, I'd have to buy them or assimilate with the local population and learn the language.

I have absolutely no problem with classes being taught to help people with their English, but I find it very, very patronising for offical bodies to offer forms in anything other than English.

I can understand the need for information to reach all members of the community, but in England it should be in English.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

agree entirely rindy, theres sod all wrong with any foreigner learning to read english, i think we are the only country ive visited that does this. what this trilingual rubbish costs the tax payer i shudder to think.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

No help for us in Spain. You have to make the effort and learn the language or employ an interpreter.

We have had some chuckles, especially with our early attempts. Our first Christmas, almost five years ago, was such an instance. I wanted a turkey and after lots of sign language........you can imagine, I don't need to explain..........we were given a number and told to go back later.

Not being too sure how to proceed, we decided to hole up in the bar next door and take turns to check the lie of the land. Four hours and a crate of beer later, they sold us a turkey. We didn't need to understand the language to know that they were taking the pssssssss, but as we took it in good part, they've respected us since.

We wobbled home, clutching the turkey and the tale is still remembered locally.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Wait until you start getting election material in languages other than English, here in California election pamphlets and mail-in voter ballots are automatically printed in English, Spanish and Chinese (other languages available on request ) What gets my goat is that any foreigner including Brits who apply to become a US citizen have to pass an English test (read and write a sentance in basic English). Same applies at the local driving test center , you can take the test in any languge you want .

I do remember 20 odd years ago having to take an eye exam for a driving license in Jeddah Saudi Arabia , not knowing the arabic alphabet the expats were given the childrens eye test , big burly constrution workers with a hand over one eye saying moo moo at a picture of a cow or whoo whoo at a picture of a train is a memory I won't soon forget , wether the Saudis were taking the mickey I don't know but it was something we all had to go through if we wanted a license .

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

*L* whoo whoo? really? no way!!

well to be fair if u go india pakistan all the signs there are in dual language. to work in the airport or any other govt building u have to know english. even as far as the shop signs are in both languages even though the chance of getting someone who doesnt speak the native tongue is remote - and those that say its from the raj days etc its not the govt actively encourages this esp in the last 10/15 yrs. there was a time when all the progs on national tv in pakistan was all in urdu but the govt has greatly increased allowances for english progs in pakistan. so u get shows like friends etc coming across. and that for pakistan is a HUGE deal considering they are extreme when it comes to censoring and control.

i'm pretty sure dubai and saudi are the same though i know saudi is very unwelcoming to any other nationality apart from fellow arabs.

as for france thing - france actively encourages more usage of french than english since it was coming to a point when english words were replacing french ones in their daily general usage and the govt felt it had to stop this encroachment. the dutch however havent and alot of the local talking does include english words esp in the younger generation. the fact that in france only a very small percentage is given to non-french programming futher enhances this. france in my opinion has been very hostile to anything foreign. apart from the germans.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Mani , it's true ....there were no dogs on the chart but there was a cat "Meow Meow" ....guess that because some cat had slept on Muhammeds coat/jacket sleeve and according to legand he didn't want to disturb it .......probably a Persian (Shia) cat

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

yeah cats are looked favourably in islam but keeps dogs isnt considered islamic...

though there is debate as to the interpretation of this

who knows.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

The difference is France has laws to actively protect it's culture, be it's language, film industry or even popular music.


How long should council forms be trilingual?

Ten, twenty, thirty years, forver?

If the council came back and said the forms were trilingual because they were afraid some people might not pay their council tax that's rubbish, no other utility bill comes in anything other than English, and presumably they are paid in time otherwise people would have been cut off or up in court.

I have no problem for specific information, English classes for non-Speakers etc., being in other languages, but when offical forms are printed in languages other than English I feel it just adds to feelings of alienation from all sections of the community.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

In one of the daily rags it seems the Aussies are taking a hard line on this and want all who emigrate there from any part of the world to intigrate and intigrate fully into the Aussie way of life. What will become of it know one knows so maybe its a show of defiance by the gov there that if you want to live there you will become one and lump it.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

For once. I think we agree.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Why should any non-english speaking visitor want to learn our language when the PC brigade bend over backwards to give them all the information they need in whatever language at our expense. It should be learn English or don't unpack you're going back !!!

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Couldnt have put it better mate:) Well said....................:)

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

It is just another sign of how our government both local and national is bending over backwards and pandering to immigrants.

A word to the immigrants; you are in England, so learn English!

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

They can, it is the patronising councils of Britain, and other offical bodies, that are fueling a backlash.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

I agree that immigrants should learn English, but there is another side to this "speak English" thing.

My missus has lived here over 20 years and speaks very good English (especially when she's telling me which jobs she wants me to do around the house).

The other week she was walking along the street talking to her mate - another Peruvian who has lived here over 30 years and also speaks excellent English. Because they were talking to each other, they were conversing in their first language - Spanish - when a chav rushed up and shouted "speak f*****g English." When my wife replied to him in distinctly Anglo-Saxon vernacular, he went on, "you're in f*****g England, speak f*****g English!" Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I wasn't there at the time or I might well have been moved to express my feelings towards him. so, you see, you can take this "when in England, speak English" lark a bit too far at times!

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

I quite agree, people should be able to speak in whatever language they like, and I'm glad she told him where to go. I take it though, when Mrs. Wynonie first came here, none of the offical forms she came across were in Spanish? Even in metropolitan, bend over backwards for minorities Manchester?:D

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Not a chance and I totally agree with you on that point, Gary. In fact, she had to learn a lot of her English from me with the all the pitfalls that entails. I well remember her looking up at the sky with a puzzled, slightly alarmed look on her face, after I told her it was "raining cats and dogs"!

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Diversity is wonderful - but multiculturalism is not. When you emigrate to another country you should be prepared to adopt its language and customs. A hiatus is definitely needed until all current immigrants have been assimilated, on both sides of the pond.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

[QUOTE]quote]

You are pushing the edges of reality and not explaining it fully, they ask you if you understand the above and can you copy it, this is for litracy, not if you speak and understand english.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Bazf.....see attached from the USCIS site, it clearly states the test will be carried out in English, the only non US born exceptions I know of are filipinos who served in the US forces during WWII .

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/servic...z/natzsamp.htm

quote....SAMPLE SENTENCES FOR WRITTEN ENGLISH TESTING

To be eligible for naturalization, you must be able to read, write, and speak basic English. The sentences on this page are examples of the types of sentences an USCIS officer may ask you to read aloud or write during your interview. They are not an exhaustive list. The USCIS officer who interviews you may ask you to read or write other sentences.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Even at the hospitals all the leaflets are printed bilingual. Funny that really cause in any other country if you didnt understand the language it meant you are a foreigner and you would have to pay for your medicals and treatments.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

After just having an operation at the new BRH I think the reason for the multi language leaflets is so the Doctors can read them :D. I would be interested if anyone has any figures on percentage of UK birth Doctors compared to overseas ones. I am not asking in a racist manor just interested thats all.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Get you.

Now we know where to find you....in the undie department at M & S.:D

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

depends where you are an E111 is a wonderful thing,soon to be replaced by a card.;)

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

That's why they are called French Knickers:)

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

i spent 2 days walking around chemists and hospitals in barcelona looking to replace medical supplies that had been left at manchetser airport

there was no english text on any of the sighns and most of the people in the hospitals and chemists didnt speak english or very little so i got by and eventualy got what i was after

bloody expensive as well so i made do with my own variation of what i needed , i shoulda got a blue peter badge :)

throughout the holiday i picked up bits and peices of basic spanish and although at places like train stations and shops in tourist areas they spoke good english they appreared to either appreciate or be amused at my attempts to speak their language

however there was a bit of confusion on teh metro ( underground) when i was approached by what i thought were beggars and i pushed them away

turned out they were armed police and i apparently looked like the guy they were after . Fair do's to them as well coz they tried 2 other languages before they got to english

oh and i soon learned how to say no after i was approached by a rastafarian prostitue in barcelona lol , apparently my advice to my friend to try not looking like a tourist dosnt work :confused:

edit:

oh yeah my point is , put other languages on signs at hospitals and tourism information desks etc but levae the rest alone , if your gonna live here learn english

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Funnily enough, I encountered my first Polish beggar only this morning...well, he may have been Russian/Baltic Republic/Czech. His English was good enough to ask for 50p for a cup of tea and "..maybe a cigarette..". My reply was to brutally snub out underfoot my half-smoked B & H, and then to tell him, in my usual diplomatic manner, to return from whence he came. Although in London, he understood a Lancashire accent and he was not very happy.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

You need to get out of the East End more.

I used to chase with a broom a mad old Eastern European female beggar down Knightsbridge ten or so years ago.

Well, she appeared mad until she'd met me.:D

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

I think we all remember the Romanian gypsy women beggars with the drugged up kids. You don't see many of 'em now - they've been shipped off back home. Come next year though you can be sure they'll be back, and in force. But its OK - this time the government is only estimating 200,000 of 'em.

God help us all.

Re: Trilingual Britain.
 

Stop complaining.

A load of old women beggars?

You might not be still single this time next year.:D