# How DARE you speak two languages! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976 "2005-12-10T01:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/81 "2005-12-13T14:07:15Z")
The child was using Spanish as slang, not as an ordinary communications means. Could this have started with an English teacher complaining, & an administrator misunderstanding the nature of the complaint? Or hijacking the issue to her own agenda? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/82 "2005-12-13T20:39:13Z")
Seems to me the two children were using Spanish as, well, as Spanish. To assert that they’re using it as slang is, well, pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/83 "2005-12-13T21:12:37Z")
Florida’s new state motto: At least we’re not Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/84 "2005-12-13T22:55:46Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Seems to me the two children were using Spanish as, well, as Spanish. To assert that they’re using it as slang is, well, pretty funny. More of a suggestion than assertion, don’t get all heated. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/85 "2005-12-13T23:00:18Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > More of a suggestion than assertion, don’t get all heated. > [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > The child was using Spanish as slang, not as an ordinary communications means. Sorry, but that’s an assertion. If you’d stuck a “maybe” in front of there, it could pass as an assessment. And it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a silly suggestion anyway, considering the article quotes the boy as saying “No problema” in response to his friend’s request, in Spanish, to borrow a dollar. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/86 "2005-12-13T23:01:19Z")
…it could pass as a suggestion is what that should have said. Posting at 1 am does funny things to me. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/87 "2005-12-13T23:05:52Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > …the article quotes the boy as saying “No problema” in response to his friend’s request, in Spanish, to borrow a dollar. I’ve been waiting for someone to bring this up! DID the kid who asked the question get punished too? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976/88 "2005-12-14T10:01:43Z")
I did, toward the end of post 55. I also pointed out that it’s natural for me to respond in the language I’m spoken to if it’s one I speak fluently. **Bosda** , I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with you. If one of my company’s ex-sales reps who’s no more Hispanic than I am responds with “No problema”, I’d say that’s probably slang. If someone who speaks fluent Spanish responds with “No problema” to a request which has in made in Spanish, I’d say it’s speaking the language naturally and being polite. Besides, the slang term I learned was “No problem **o**!” CJ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dare-you-speak-two-languages/334976.md?page=4)