Show of Hands

Unless you're a waiter/waitress in a ethnic restaurant (and the menu isn't in English, so if I point to it and ask what's that? They can tell me) or a driver, they need to understand directions, otherwise who cares?

Why is it anyone else's business since they are talking to each other?

I believe people in the service industry should be required to speak the common language. Especially doctors and drivers. Food service I give a pass on as you can always point at the menu.

Nothing wrong with expecting it. Outright demanding it is different.

Since I live in SoCal, I never know what language I will hear when I’m out in public....Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, maybe English. Sigh

Unreasonable and totally asinine in every possible context and any imaginable situation. It’s basically saying, "I'm too lazy or stupid to learn your language, but my nosiness demands I hear and understand your every word, so speak English, and speak up."

Maybe not to each other, but if you work as a waiter in an American restaraunt for example then you definitely should know English

Not reasonable.

However, in public we speak English or sign language. People do not like to hear a foreign language. It makes people think they are being talked about.

So, it’s rude to ask but it’s also somewhat rude, if you speak English, to not do so in public.

Actually, I insist they speak Sohandeese. It sounds more like “wah wah wah” than whatever they’re speaking. If they refuse or look at me funny >BAM< natural selection.

Not if here talking to each other. Even if they’re speaking to me I wouldn’t require it. I wouldn’t understand them but I’m not the “speak English or leave type”.
If it was a business I may not go there simply because I couldn’t understand them.

America is the land of freedom. Freedom of speech!

I would say no. It is not reasonable to dictate how one people holds a private conversation with another person who is not you.

The majority of the world’s people speak more than one language. Americans are some of the few who seem to think people have to speak English at all times. By all means, if living in a country, learn the language as best as you can. But if you are talking to someone who speaks a common language or your native language, it’s nobody else’s business that you do.

Utterly ridiculous... again

If they aren’t talking to you, no.

That’s fine if they are speaking to each other. You will have a hard time communicating with them, though, unless you speak a common language.

To me, it's about communication, conveying your intended message accurately to the receiver. If they're more comfortable doing that in another language, so be it. I live in a city that is 76% Hispanic. By all means, learn English. But everyone is at different stages of progress toward that goal, and I accept that.

No. They may be more comfortable speaking in their native language, or they might still be learning English and aren't that good at it yet.

People that would do that are the same type that would say, “This is America! Speak American!” 😂😂