Thread: What we have here is a failure to communicate

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What we have here is a failure to communicate

Richard White | Special to the Sentinel
Posted July 2, 2006

Question: There was a board meeting recently to discuss major repairs. The majority of owners living in our condominium are Hispanic, and that is fine with me. However, the meeting was in Spanish, and the board did not have a translation of the business discussed.

It is unfair to those who do not speak Spanish. Are we not protected against their failure to discuss business in English?

Answer: Recently, this has been a hot subject in our legislative bodies. During the past few years, several attempts have been made to make English the official language, but to my knowledge, no law has been successful to date.

Citizens of Florida, and more specifically South Florida, have this problem, which should be corrected by the residents and visitors, not necessarily the government.

Write to your board and explain that you do not speak Spanish and request that the board members be considerate and translate the important facts so you can understand the business conducted.

It would be far better for you and your board to work out the language problem.

Right? No; Legal? Yes

Answer: Recently, this has been a hot subject in our legislative bodies. During the past few years, several attempts have been made to make English the official language, but to my knowledge, no law has been successful to date.

WHY should there be a law for this?

Write to your board and explain that you do not speak Spanish and request that the board members be considerate and translate the important facts so you can understand the business conducted.

Well they'll likely tell you to learn spanish...underdog.