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Why do some Americans get angry at other people for not speaking English? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 4 months ago by TheImpressiveX@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I've hears stories of some Americans telling other people who are speaking a non-English language "This is America, speak English!" even if the conversation has nothing to do with them. Why do they do this?

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[–] card797@champserver.net 48 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Just like any other asshole who gets mad about this. It isn't a uniquely American attitude.

[+] irish_link@lemmy.world -7 points 4 months ago (3 children)

This is true however there are much more documented instances of this in America. Could be a pure numbers game (more people more cases) but no full proof of that.

[–] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

Find proof and come back to us, then.

(I didn't downvote you, by the way.)

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

Oh really! Can you link to one of these documented instances? Since there’s so many …

[–] pingveno@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago

Conflicts over language have been tied to other conflicts (political, cultural, war) for a very long time. Cultural genocide against indigenous people has targeted indigenous language use among young people. Many people in India have objected to the establishment of Hindi as a UN language because they fear it will advance the extinction of their own language. I'm not saying some Replacement Theory bigot kvetching because someone dared speak a language besides English is equivalent. It's more that language does have a special place in culture in a way that is very common.