FORUM: 'Press One for English' angst

By BUD AARON -- Oceanside resident
Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:12 AM PST

"Press one for English!"

Why, oh why, am I obliged to listen to this announcement in the first place? I was born in the U.S. and grew up here. I spoke English as a child and still do. My wife is a naturalized citizen, and one of the requirements for her citizenship was to speak, read and write English.

So neither she, nor I, nor any legal citizen of this country should be required to "press one for English." It should be assumed that we speak English and the phone should go straight to a live person or a message in English! If you must cater to another language, provide an alternate number!

Today marked a breaking point for me. I called my Secure Horizons/AARP representative. She was not available, but left fairly detailed and long-winded instructions for leaving a message. Not a problem, but in this case I was obliged to listen to the message in both English and Spanish before I was prompted to leave a message. Thing is, this is for geriatrics like me who, in the vast majority of cases, speak English.

If a business or service wants to cater to Spanish-speaking folks, just provide an alternate number. Don't make it a requirement that the English-speaking majority needs to listen to messages catering to any other language, including Spanish.

Now I have no fundamental animosity toward any nationality, but I have become progressively angrier at the consistent catering to Spanish-speaking people by all kinds of businesses and services.

My wife was born Romanian and raised by adoptive parents in Greece. Thus, when I married her, she spoke very little English. She spent a number of years learning English because it was a requirement for naturalization. Please understand that I am not suggesting that "English is the official language of the Unites States," but let's take a look.

Anyone born in the United States is raised in a predominantly English-speaking environment. They also attend schools where English is the language of choice for educational purposes. Second, if you are a naturalized citizen of the U.S., English is a requirement for naturalization.

The only other category of residents in this country are those waiting for naturalization or those who are in the country illegally.

Now no one provides messages in Chinese, my daughter-in-law's native language. No one provided messages in Greek for my wife when she arrived in this country; so why should I be obliged to listen to messages catering to Spanish-speaking folks?

You want to communicate with businesses and services ---- learn English. You are welcome to speak the language of your choice at home, but please don't force me to listen to messages catering to your language!

And please, oh please, don't force me to "press one for English" before I get a live person or a message on the line. It's irritating to this veteran of three wars!

Bud Aaron is a resident of Oceanside.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/01 ... 704d15.txt