English Only Please
In the Japanese blogosphere there is a discussion that comes up fairly often about discrimination against foreigners in Japan. Today I ran across an article on CNN about English Only Signs at a cheese steak store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The sign in question reads “This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH.’” and the city’s Commission on Human Relations has deemed that the sign is not discriminatory and I agree.
I don’t have a problem with this sign nor any sign in Japan that reads “Japanese Speaking Only”. I consider myself a guest of Japan and feel that it is my responsibility to make myself understood in Japanese. I never expect to be understood in Japan when I am speaking in English or even poor Japanese and I am always very appreciative if and when someone tries to help me out.
I have know foreigners who feel discriminated against simply because someone doesn’t understand them and they don’t get things their way. This is the attitude of a spoiled brat and should not be considered acceptable anywhere.
I am lucky as I have never been blatantly discriminated against in Japan but I understand that it does happen. I don’t think that foreigners should be denied entry anywhere but also feel that foreigners should treat living in Japan like the privilege it is. With privilege comes responsibility and whether you live in the United States or Japan I think an effort should be made to learn and respect the local language and customs.
What do you think?
on 20 March, 2008 on 4:12 pm
English Only Signs not Discriminatory – What about Japanese Only?
An English Only sign was deemed not discriminatory in Philadelphia. Are foreigners in Japan discriminated against when they are expected to speak Japanese?
on 20 March, 2008 on 4:25 pm
Below the sign “English only”, you can see a poster “Management has the right to refuse service to anyone.”.
The top sign is ok, but with the bottom sign combine, it is clearly discrimination. The owner also mentioned send all illegal immigrant back. You can see, he is clearly targeting immigrant.
on 20 March, 2008 on 5:09 pm
I have no problem with the request to speak English while ordering something, but the way it is requested seems a bit…pushy. Languages other than English should not be discouraged because this is America, it should just be known that workers will not understand you (and become frustrated) when you speak a foreign language to them.
Really, the sign I feel the most uneasy around (though feel it is quite true) says something like this, “We have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.”
on 20 March, 2008 on 5:23 pm
I totally agree.
When I was in japan I felt like an ass for not speaking Japanese. Somehow I made myself understood with hand gestures and bad grammar…when I had to speak at all. I never felt discriminated against because I was a foreigner…well there were some glares on the train in Saitama pref. but nothing really over the top. It’s not like I don’t do the same thing to tourists on the bus here at home lol, but I never felt it was discrimination that people couldn’t understand me if I spoke English.
English speaking people who feel they’re being discriminated against when they are in a country where English is NOT the first language irritated me greatly. Having a temper tantrum because YOU went somewhere foreign and they don’t cater to your every whim is the most childish idiocy.
on 20 March, 2008 on 5:37 pm
I agree that in combination the two signs imply that if you can’t speak English you will be denied service but the owner of this establishment claims that this is not the case.
If the sign said, “No shirt, No shoes, No English – No service” then I would agree that it is more discriminatory.
on 20 March, 2008 on 9:13 pm
Thank God there is a city commission out there w/ a little common sense. I’ve never lived in Japan, but I’ve lived all over Latin America and Europe. At a minimum, I always learn how to order food in a restaurant in the foreign language and other really important phrases such as, “Please help me. Where is the restroom?” and “Where is a doctor?” It doesn’t take much effort. It shows respect and appreciation for the people of the country that are kind enough to let you visit them and explore their culture. Most importantly, you don’t look like a rude, ugly American who expects the entire world to speak English. If I can make an effort to do this, then individuals from other countries who visit or live in the US can do the same.
on 20 March, 2008 on 10:19 pm
Well put, JO…if you choose to come to the US to visit or to live, please try to adapt to the way our country works. Otherwise, if you don’t like the language or other customs, you can choose to leave or not come in the first place.
Now steve, you said:
“The owner also mentioned send all illegal immigrant back. You can see, he is clearly targeting immigrant.”
But it seems you omitted a very key word in the second sentence. Why is it so hard to understand the meaning of the word “illegal”. I’m all for legal immigrants who come here and adapt (including speaking English) and contribute to our country, as I’m sure this store owner is, but illegal is illegal. If I say “reckless drivers should be fined” are you going to drop “reckless” and say that I’m against all drivers? I’m all for discussing immigration reform, but that doesn’t mean breaking our laws.
on 20 March, 2008 on 10:20 pm
I’m sorry, the topic in Japan is NOT about speaking Japanese, it is about not allowing non-Japanese people into a shop. There’s a difference. The Japanese management often say, *We don’t speak English, so we don’t want to cause any trouble to our foreign guests,’ and so ban all non-Japanese from their shops, but this is a bit of a mistake as it assumes 1) that all foreigners in Japan speak English and 2) that no foreigners in Japan speak Japanese. Both assumptions are false, and I personally have been turned away from establishments because I was not Japanese, even though I do speak conversational Japanese.
It’s not a language issue, it’s a racial one that many people try to dress up as linguistic. This is very likely also the case in Philadelphia, but the sign does say “Speak English,” not “Americans Only.”
on 20 March, 2008 on 10:43 pm
Jim;
I think that the larger issue is why some Japanese don’t want foreigners in their shops. If it is not because they can’t speak the language then why? One would assume that it is because they have had some bad experiences in the past. Quite possibly it is due to foreigners (English speaking or not) that do not respect the customs and language of the country that they are in and act rudely?
Rudeness and disrespect transcend language and while they, as shop owners, have the right to refuse service to anyone, I believe that they are excluding a whole set of people because of a few disrespectful ones in the demographic and that is wrong.
Check out the comments here for some more interesting discussion: http://www.japansoc.com/Discrimination/English_Only_Signs_not_Discriminatory_-_What_about_Japanese_Only/
on 20 March, 2008 on 11:47 pm
When “Americans” (i.e., English-speaking settlers) spread across this continent, English was not the dominant language. Various dialects spoken by native Americans were dominant. Knowing what happened to them, the attitude of English-speakers has always been “learn English or die.”
on 21 March, 2008 on 12:02 am
i wonder if mr. vento’s grandparents or great grandparents spoke english when when they arrived in this country. i think it’s ridiculous that a country based on different cultures has come to this. ciao mr vento.
on 21 March, 2008 on 12:23 am
It is beyond me how anyone can come to the conclusion that a business owner should be forced to do business with anybody in particular. It is their business. It is their money at risk. It is not the government’s money at risk. It is not your money at risk. If you don’ t like their policies, don’t patronize their business. If you are so thin skinned that you are offended, do not patronize thier business. If enough people stop patronizing a business it either fails, or changes. Or, more likely, another business emerge to compete. It is called Free Enterprise. It is called Capitalism. It is called Freedom. It is what the US is all about.
What should be disturbing to everyone on this blog and others is that there was a city government organization that even thought it was their business to get involved. And, once involved that there was one moonbat who voted that the sign WAS a problem. What planet did these people come from?
on 21 March, 2008 on 1:22 am
Between the recent destruction of Obama by the right wing media, and now this, America seems to have NO shame at yelling across the globe YES!!!! We are THE racist nation of the world!!!!
on 21 March, 2008 on 1:36 am
This is America. If a guy wants to put up a sign like that he has the right to do it. It may not be the smartest or nicest thing to do but this is a free country. It is not even our business to decide whether he should take it down or not.
on 21 March, 2008 on 1:41 am
It should have never went to the city’s Commission on Human Relations. It is his business, not the city’s.
He did say “please speak English” The magic word
…..Please!
on 21 March, 2008 on 2:00 am
Alleluia!!!! FINALLY some sense. I am so tired of trying to find English on labels, signs, etc. We need to MANDATE Congress to make English the official language in America; it’s ridiculous that it isn’t.
on 21 March, 2008 on 2:02 am
I think it is discriminatory. It puts forth the lethargy and arrogance of the idiotic extreme right to rally against immigrants.
No foreign country has signs like these that says “Japanse only” or “Arabic only”. Yes, we’d be furious as tourists then, wouldn’t we?
The least they can do is, assuming they have half a brain, is to make a universal and esy to understand menu. I doubt any immigrant has trouble ordering food. They are smarter than we think they are.
on 21 March, 2008 on 10:52 am
Yes Danthelib, you are absolutely right according to your own point of view. It is a freedom of business owner to put any sign he want. Next time he will put sign “White only”……
on 27 March, 2008 on 10:31 am
I feel like it is okay to have a sign that says, “Please order in English/Spanish/Japanese, etc” for the simple fact that if I don’t speak Spanish, I cannot help you. In that case, it could be a warning to a potential customer that the workers don’t know a different language (just like when I see the “Habla Espanol” signs outside of businesses here, that is extending a hand to the Spanish speaking community).
I have had people call in to my job who don’t speak English–I feel bad because I cannot help them but I have no anger toward them because they don’t speak English. However, I think that putting “This is AMERICA/MEXICO/JAPAN, etc” with it does seem a bit rude, or pushy, as someone above put it.
I think it is very appropriate to learn the basics of the language of a foriegn country to which you are paying a visit (whether short or long term), but I think that many times people are really intolerant of others who are different.
on 3 April, 2008 on 1:30 am
Interesting , I have friends that have traveled to France (Paris) and Germany they told me the people are also very rude about the language.
Lets spread speranto hehe, I am not a very well english speaker but I have not problem comunicating with others non-english speakers or native