Languages in the USA (thread drift)

Damsel in dis Dress said:

The only time I ever had any problems with this, I was still living
in St. Paul. We'd go to fast food places where the counter workers
spoke Spanish to each other, and halting English with us. This was
not a problem. The cooking staff was all Asian, and the counter and
cooking staffs couldn't communicate with each other. We wound up
with some weird orders.

Bizarre.

Used to go to lunch at a little food stand where the cook was Mexican
and the owner/front man was Chinese. They spoke Spanish to one
another, English to the customers. Menu was German. "Dos órdenes de
bratwurst." Part of the fun of living in the melting pot.

Incidentally, I didn't assume the cook was Mexican because they spoke
Spanish. You can't make that assumption in SoCal. When I asked the
owner "Where are you from?" (meaning which part of China), he said,
"I'm from Guangzhou, he's from Guadalajara." -aem

aem' said:

Damsel in dis Dress said:

The only time I ever had any problems with this, I was still living
in St. Paul. We'd go to fast food places where the counter workers
spoke Spanish to each other, and halting English with us. This was
not a problem. The cooking staff was all Asian, and the counter and
cooking staffs couldn't communicate with each other. We wound up
with some weird orders.

Bizarre.

Used to go to lunch at a little food stand where the cook was Mexican
and the owner/front man was Chinese. They spoke Spanish to one
another, English to the customers. Menu was German. "Dos órdenes de
bratwurst." Part of the fun of living in the melting pot.

Wow, that's definitely a melting pot thing!

Quoted message said:

Incidentally, I didn't assume the cook was Mexican because they spoke
Spanish. You can't make that assumption in SoCal. When I asked the
owner "Where are you from?" (meaning which part of China), he said,
"I'm from Guangzhou, he's from Guadalajara." -aem

I guess I assume that people here are from Mexico because this whole area
of the state is one big farm. One of the larger packing companies brings
seasonal workers up from Mexico in buses. When the harvest is over, these
poor people are left to their own devices to get back home. Consequently,
there are a lot of Mexicans who have chosen to stay living in this area.
They're good people.

Carol

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

Back whenI was going to school, we used to frequent these mobile food
stalls that were run by a Vietnamese family. They had 3 - 4 carts all
over the campus.

As soon as you got to the counter someone would ask, "May-I-hep-you?"
It was not 4 seperate word, but rather 1 long word. And, yes, the "l"
was missing from "help". Eveytime I ordered, I was sure they had no
idea what I just said and I would be not get what I wanted. But I don't
think they ever did mix up my order. It probably helped that they
didn't have a huge menu (just Tacos, Fajitas, Fried Rice, Stuffed
Bread, Egg Roll etc). Everything came with either Chicken, Beef or
Vegetable and sometimes Pork.

- manzoor

Manzoorul Hassan said:

Back whenI was going to school, we used to frequent these mobile food
stalls that were run by a Vietnamese family. They had 3 - 4 carts all
over the campus.

As soon as you got to the counter someone would ask, "May-I-hep-you?"
It was not 4 seperate word, but rather 1 long word. And, yes, the "l"
was missing from "help". Eveytime I ordered, I was sure they had no
idea what I just said and I would be not get what I wanted. But I
don't think they ever did mix up my order. It probably helped that
they didn't have a huge menu (just Tacos, Fajitas, Fried Rice, Stuffed
Bread, Egg Roll etc). Everything came with either Chicken, Beef or
Vegetable and sometimes Pork.

- manzoor

Just because they have an accent, doesn't mean they don't understand (and it
quite certainly doesn't mean they're stupid).

And, btw, many if not most service industry types--accented or not--say,
"May I help you" as one word. In fact, I would go so far to say most
people--not just those in the service industry. "Hep" instead of "help" is
also something I have heard frequently from my southern US friends. Would
you assume they also are incapable of understanding English?

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We
had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the
energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in
Newsweek, November 22, 2004

Manzoorul Hassan said:

Back whenI was going to school, we used to frequent these mobile food
stalls that were run by a Vietnamese family. They had 3 - 4 carts all
over the campus.

As soon as you got to the counter someone would ask, "May-I-hep-you?"
It was not 4 seperate word, but rather 1 long word. And, yes, the "l"
was missing from "help". Eveytime I ordered, I was sure they had no
idea what I just said and I would be not get what I wanted. But I

don't

Quoted message said:

think they ever did mix up my order. It probably helped that they
didn't have a huge menu (just Tacos, Fajitas, Fried Rice, Stuffed
Bread, Egg Roll etc). Everything came with either Chicken, Beef or
Vegetable and sometimes Pork.

- manzoor

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in blowing
them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust you less. I'd
have no problem drowning your children while you watched and then
threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your left ear.

Sheldon

Sheldon said:

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in blowing
them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust you less. I'd
have no problem drowning your children while you watched and then
threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your left ear.

Ugly bigot? Wow, is THAT the pot calling the kettle black!

It'll be interesting to watch the Sheldon apologists defend this
vituperation. People like Sheldon like to TALK tough on the Internet, but I
doubt he'd have the courage to say anything like that in person. One quick
slap and Sheldon would be blubbering like a baby.

Just about time for YOU to hit the showers, Sheldon...

Bob

Bob said:

Sheldon said:

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in
blowing them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust you
less. I'd have no problem drowning your children while you watched
and then threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your left
ear.

Ugly bigot? Wow, is THAT the pot calling the kettle black!

It'll be interesting to watch the Sheldon apologists defend this
vituperation. People like Sheldon like to TALK tough on the Internet,
but I doubt he'd have the courage to say anything like that in
person. One quick slap and Sheldon would be blubbering like a baby.

Just about time for YOU to hit the showers, Sheldon...

Bob

I'm definitely not going to defend him, and I happen to *like* Sheldon. But
this sort of bigotry merely mimics the attitudes of those he professes to
hate.

The little store down the street, which I've frequented for 9 years, was
recently bought out buy a family from Yemen. They are extremely polite,
friendly, helpful people who (with one exception) speak excellent English.
It's funny, if they don't know the price of something they ask ME what it
costs. I'm honest enough not to attempt to rip them off. In return
sometimes I get a free lighter or even a discount on what I'm buying. What
more could one ask? 🙂 Try getting the tight-fisted former owner (from the
U.S.) to give a regular customer *any* kind of price break. I was also
told, if there's anything they would like for me to stock just let them know
and they'll try to get it. They know me by name and greet me with a "hello
Jill!" and a smile no matter how busy they are.

Jill

Sheldon' said:

Manzoorul Hassan said:

Back whenI was going to school, we used to frequent these mobile food
stalls that were run by a Vietnamese family. They had 3 - 4 carts all
over the campus.

As soon as you got to the counter someone would ask, "May-I-hep-you?"
It was not 4 seperate word, but rather 1 long word. And, yes, the "l"
was missing from "help". Eveytime I ordered, I was sure they had no
idea what I just said and I would be not get what I wanted. But I
don't think they ever did mix up my order. It probably helped that they
didn't have a huge menu (just Tacos, Fajitas, Fried Rice, Stuffed
Bread, Egg Roll etc). Everything came with either Chicken, Beef or
Vegetable and sometimes Pork.

- manzoor

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in blowing
them away.

Question, Sheldon. Which of you sounds more like a terrorist?

Carol
--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

jmcquown said:

Bob said:

Sheldon said:

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in
blowing them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

less. I'd have no problem drowning your children while you watched
and then threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your

left

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ear.

Ugly bigot? Wow, is THAT the pot calling the kettle black!

It'll be interesting to watch the Sheldon apologists defend this
vituperation. People like Sheldon like to TALK tough on the

Internet,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but I doubt he'd have the courage to say anything like that in
person. One quick slap and Sheldon would be blubbering like a baby.

Just about time for YOU to hit the showers, Sheldon...

Bob

I'm definitely not going to defend him, and I happen to *like*

Sheldon. But

Quoted message said:

this sort of bigotry merely mimics the attitudes of those he

professes to

Quoted message said:

hate.

The little store down the street, which I've frequented for 9 years,

was

Quoted message said:

recently bought out buy a family from Yemen. They are extremely

polite,

Quoted message said:

friendly, helpful people who (with one exception) speak excellent

English.

Quoted message said:

It's funny, if they don't know the price of something they ask ME

what it

Quoted message said:

costs. I'm honest enough not to attempt to rip them off. In return
sometimes I get a free lighter or even a discount on what I'm buying.

What

Quoted message said:

more could one ask? 🙂 Try getting the tight-fisted former owner

(from the

Quoted message said:

U.S.) to give a regular customer *any* kind of price break. I was

also

Quoted message said:

told, if there's anything they would like for me to stock just let

them know

Quoted message said:

and they'll try to get it. They know me by name and greet me with a

"hello

Quoted message said:

Jill!" and a smile no matter how busy they are.

That's EXACTLY how those composing the "cells" behave... whaddaya
think, they're gonna attempt to blend in by behaving like radicals...
it's the "sweet/meek" ones you gotta worry about.

Sheldon (doesn't drink evian)

Sheldon said:

jmcquown said:

Bob said:

Sheldon wrote:

> You're an ugly bigot.
>
> Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
> really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written
> like yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second
> in blowing them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I
> trust you less. I'd have no problem drowning your children while
> you watched and then threading a steel rod up your ass till it
> exited your left ear.

Ugly bigot? Wow, is THAT the pot calling the kettle black!

It'll be interesting to watch the Sheldon apologists defend this
vituperation. People like Sheldon like to TALK tough on the
Internet, but I doubt he'd have the courage to say anything like
that in person. One quick slap and Sheldon would be blubbering like
a baby.

Just about time for YOU to hit the showers, Sheldon...

Bob

I'm definitely not going to defend him, and I happen to *like*
Sheldon. But this sort of bigotry merely mimics the attitudes of
those he professes to hate.

The little store down the street, which I've frequented for 9 years,
was recently bought out buy a family from Yemen. They are extremely
polite, friendly, helpful people who (with one exception) speak
excellent English. It's funny, if they don't know the price of
something they ask ME what it costs. I'm honest enough not to
attempt to rip them off. In return sometimes I get a free lighter
or even a discount on what I'm buying.

What

Quoted message said:

more could one ask? 🙂 Try getting the tight-fisted former owner
(from the U.S.) to give a regular customer *any* kind of price
break. I was also told, if there's anything they would like for me
to stock just let them know and they'll try to get it. They know me
by name and greet me with a "hello Jill!" and a smile no matter how
busy they are.

That's EXACTLY how those composing the "cells" behave... whaddaya
think, they're gonna attempt to blend in by behaving like radicals...
it's the "sweet/meek" ones you gotta worry about.

Sheldon (doesn't drink evian)

I'm not exactly sweet or meek. And by the way, I don't drink Evian, either.
Water from the tap here tastes just fine, thank you. Of course, then you
have to worry about that flouride stuff...

Jill

Sheldon said:

Manzoorul Hassan said:

Back whenI was going to school, we used to frequent these mobile food
stalls that were run by a Vietnamese family. They had 3 - 4 carts all
over the campus.

As soon as you got to the counter someone would ask, "May-I-hep-you?"
It was not 4 seperate word, but rather 1 long word. And, yes, the "l"
was missing from "help". Eveytime I ordered, I was sure they had no
idea what I just said and I would be not get what I wanted. But I

don't

Quoted message said:

think they ever did mix up my order. It probably helped that they
didn't have a huge menu (just Tacos, Fajitas, Fried Rice, Stuffed
Bread, Egg Roll etc). Everything came with either Chicken, Beef or
Vegetable and sometimes Pork.

- manzoor

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in blowing
them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust you less. I'd
have no problem drowning your children while you watched and then
threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your left ear.

Sheldon

HE'S a bigot???
Jeez, Sheldon, you sound as though you're preparing for the next
Holocaust, all by yourself. Why do you assume that everyone with a
middle eastern name is a 9/11 terrorist?

gloria p

aem said:

Used to go to lunch at a little food stand where the cook was Mexican
and the owner/front man was Chinese.

Quoted message said:

Incidentally, I didn't assume the cook was Mexican because they spoke
Spanish. You can't make that assumption in SoCal.

You can't really assume that anywhere these days. We had a new
roof installed last summer and every one of the roofers spoke
Spanish including the foreman. When I asked during a lunch break
where they were from, only one was Mexican.

The rest were from Guatemala, Ecuador, Honduras, and Panama.
Every one of them was an incredible worker. They had all the wood
shakes stripped off, two layers of roofing felt and new ones applied,
and the yard cleaned of nails and debris in a total of 1 1/2 days.
And we have a large house.

They were very polite, letting us know what they were doing and
where, and each thanked me individually for the cold sodas, ice water,
donuts and coffee we provided. It pays to treat human beings
like...human beings.

gloria p
in suburban Denver

Puester said:

Jeez, Sheldon. Why do you assume that everyone with a
middle eastern name is a 9/11 terrorist?

Survival. Actually comparatively few are terrorists... all the rest
cheer and gloat when the terrorists are sucessful... you don't even
have a middle eastern name and here you are on the side of the
terrorists... you're either using a western alias or are dumber than a
rock, either is scary. You're either with the towel heads or against
them, there's no middle ground in war, and make no mistake about it,
this IS a war.

Sheldon

I just found this. English is the official language of many states in the
USA. It's just not nationwide.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/langleg.htm#State

The official language of Minnesota is pig-latin.

Arol-Kay
--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Sheldon (doesn't drink evian)

chuckle

Sheldon said:

That's EXACTLY how those composing the "cells" behave... whaddaya
think, they're gonna attempt to blend in by behaving like radicals...
it's the "sweet/meek" ones you gotta worry about.

It's also EXACTLY how NICE people behave! Must be terrible being you, so
paranoid and stupid.

Furthermore, what gives YOU such expertise into the behavior of "sleeper"
cell terrorists? Did you read some fictional works, and suddenly gain
insight into covert terrorist operations? Until you have real credentials
in the field, maybe you ought to STFU, ignoramus.

Bob

and, I am not even from the Middle East.

- manzoor

"Manzoorul Hassan" <[email hidden]>, if that's their real name,

Quoted message said:

and, I am not even from the Middle East.

Even if you were from Mars, you didn't deserve that. Glad to see that
you're not being driven away. 🙂

Carol
--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

Sheldon said:

You're an ugly bigot.

Before 9/11 I was *sorta* tolerant, open minded, and trusting (not
really), but now when I encounter those whose names are written like
yours, one obtuse eye blink and I'd not hesitate a NY second in

blowing

Quoted message said:

them away. I trust the vietnamese not at all and I trust you less.

I'd

Quoted message said:

have no problem drowning your children while you watched and then
threading a steel rod up your ass till it exited your left ear.

Sheldon

Wow that's got to be undoubtedly the most racist thing I have ever read
on Usenet. That even beats the garbage in alt.flame.[censored].

-L.