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Comment by alvah | Hacker News Reader

>What would be the benefit or reason for this?

Do you think it is a) easier and cheaper or b) harder and more expensive, to deliver services in a vast range of languages or a single language?

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Of course it's cheaper and easier to deliver services in one language, but the United States is not a monolingual nation, nor has it ever been in its history. It would be a disservice to significant populations to assume otherwise.

Maybe so, but that's obviously the benefit.

Benefit to whom? I only see a benefit to the companies and government here (saving money), but it seems to me that you've forgotten to consider the people.

I'm not sure why you want to pick a fight; I was merely pointing out the obvious benefit the OP questioned.

It would be nice if government letters were written only in English. I.e. getting an 8-page letter with only one page in English is annoying for the people. I pay for that with my taxes and would wholeheartedly support a bill to stop doing that and reduce taxes or increase spending somewhere else that matters more, like road maintenance.

Well, I'm sure when your neighbor gets their 8-page letter in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, or whatever their language might be, they too find it annoying that the government finds it necessary to send them a letter in English. I mean, what a waste, right?

The logic of how you get from there to road maintenance... my god, the mental gymnastics it must take.

I think the context you’re deliberately omitting is that we’re talking about the US, not Vietnam, Spain, Mexico, or Russia.

If you moved to one of those countries, you’re saying you would demand official government programs be in English? That seems arrogant to me personally.

The country can accept immigrants without bending for them. And getting official docs in 10 languages makes people more wary of immigration.

Well then, you'll be ok with having Spanish as the official language the because the majority of American citizens in my area speak Spanish. Or would you prefer German, because for more generations my family has spoken German while being American citizens than English.

Nope, English only. I don't want my family's Persian or Arabic to be official either.

I actually think it is easier overall for companies and government to provide services in multiple languages than for every individual to have to learn fluent English including businessese and legalese. It is also cheaper to hire some translators and interpreters than to offer free and extensive courses to everybody.

And to refuse to provide services in other languages and then also refuse to offer courses, as in, “you're on your own now, good luck!”, is a real dick move.

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