bman

I've never really minded items that had multiple languages on them, particularly when the item is closely related to the culture involved.

I dunno. Just never bothered me.

Now, if you want to know something that annoys me, try the 'ethnic' aisle at the supermarket. I enjoy many of the items there: Tacos, Japanese noodles, Indian supplies, etc. (btw, ever notice Italian is elsewhere? At least it is in mine)

But they are separated from the rest of the similar items just to be in the ethnic section. For example, Goya sells fruit juice. Not in the juice aisle. They have dried peppers and spices. Not in the spice aisle. They have Spanish rice. Not with the rest of the rice. Drives me up a freaking wall because you have to double check multiple aisles if you can't find an item.

Also, just for something more on topic.... WHAT THE FUCK HAD SWAHILI ON IT?

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln

To any that don't think multiple languages aren't a problem, what could be more divisive than not being able to understand someone?

Amen bman.

It's interesting, I had recently noticed something wrt multi-lingual services myself lately.

I have a prescription with CVS, a very large drug-store chain. They have a nifty service where you can call an automated prescription line a few days before you have to get a refill and put in the number of your item and the time you want it picked up. Now originally, when I started using the service about 3 years ago it was all in English. At some point , maybe two years ago they started offering users the option to hit '2' at the start of the message for spanish - however they still delivered the initial greeting and menu options in English ("For Spanish speaking users please press 2").

More recently still the greeting changed so that you were now being greeted in English AND Spanish and told if you spoke English to press '1' or stay on the line (and then in spanish please press 2). Now I'm pretty fucking far north, we don't have a huge number of hispanics in the area. I was annoyed at the extra second or two wasted from my life by this message. I'm speaking English dammit why should I have to press ANYthing.

Just a day or so ago I called in, and the message had changed again. Now it's back to the original message, all in english with the "for spanish please press 2". I'm happier - and ffs if you can't recognize the name of your own language in the country you live in then you really, really need to move.

Rou,

In response to your question:
"WHAT THE FUCK HAD SWAHILI ON IT?"

It was a 12 pack of Charmin toilet paper in a Kroger Grocery store.

Wow, two anti-immigrant rants in one day. Better pace yourself.

And now, my actual reply:

Imagine you're an immigrant. You decided to leave your home country for a better life in the US. Maybe you came with part of your family; maybe you left them behind and are alone. Either way, you left behind your culture and everything you've known to start a new life.

So you get to America, and you don't speak English, or you barely speak it. (Keep in mind that most immigrants have very little education, and would have a hard time learning a new language even if they had the time and money. Most Mexican immigrants don't even speak Spanish properly.) You work a minimum-wage job, or maybe less than minimum-wage if your employer can get away with it. You live in some crappy apartment with your entire family, or a dozen other migrant laborers. Every day you're surrounded by language and culture that you don't understand.

Now, you go into the grocery store, and see toilet paper labeled in Spanish. Do all of your problems go away? Are you now living the American dream? Of course not! Your life still sucks! But now one small aspect of that life, buying toilet paper, is a little easier for you. Hooray.

Oh, and here's something that'll really shock you: Sometimes I go to the store and I buy a product that has 10-12 different languages on it! It's almost impossible to deal with. I waste valuable seconds scanning for the English text. But at least I'm able to look at these products without throwing them down in rage and rushing to the nearest computer to tell the whole Internet about how I can't stand to read 6 words of Spanish.

Where is it stated that because a package has multiple languages you have to know them all? Are there products here that you can't get with an english label?

I'm with Abba on this one, big fucking deal that some products are labeled in different languages. Some of the reason is that the product is sold in multiple countries so they want to save on packaging (think electronics). Some for valid reasons deal with a large population base that isn't quite up to par with the languages yet (mexicans for example).

And what about countries that have english up everywhere when its not their national language. Should we advise them to remove all of those signs/labels/etc since it might cause division in their country? Hell, even Pakistan has english on a lot of their billboards and street signs, and I'm pretty sure that its not for their booming tourism industry ;)

I take it that those of you who disagree must not have very many immigrants pouring into your neighborhoods. Its ok.. I felt the same way until it began happening here and Im quite sure you'll understand soon.. whether or not you'll admit to it is another story ;)

Besides..you're all missing the point. The point is to not make it any easier to skate by NOT learning the english language while you are here. Get it?

I agree that there is an immigration issue in the US, however based on what you've written so far I disagree with your personal assessment of the real issues and problems.

And we have plenty of immigrants where I live. Here at least tho they work their asses off and contribute to the area. You don't here of any social issues with them nor any complaints. Unlike say, the white trash neighborhoods and the like around here full of Americans where nothing but crime and Jerry Springer episodes emerge from.

I would hope that if I were in a country where I did not understand/read the dominant language, that I would be able to recognize a package of toilet paper without having words in my native language on the packaging.

Ominous - in answer to your question about products without English? The answer is yes. If you go into strongly ethnic neighborhoods in NYC. In Brighton Beach, your shopping experience will be very difficult if you do not know English. And there are even some Asian stores near me (about 150 mi from NYC) that stock stuff that might (or might not) have a sticker with English (usually a poor translation) on it.