# 🗣 :engerland: Should English be spoken in England? **URL:** \ **Category:** Reasonably serious discussion\ **Created:** [19 February 2020 19:11 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473 "2020-02-19T19:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 19:11 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/1 "2020-02-19T19:11:34Z")
Very simple question. Potentially big discussion. Let’s start with a secret poll. _Poll ([view on site](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 19:13 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/2 "2020-02-19T19:13:37Z")
Might have to give Liverpool to the Welsh ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 19:16 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/3 "2020-02-19T19:16:32Z")
Careful now. In my subtle vengeance, I may just arrange for some Carragher sound-alikes to start trawling London recruiters ;D ---
**Author:** ![WorzelScummage](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/worzelscummage/32/73175_2.png) [@WorzelScummage](https://www.sotonians.com/u/WorzelScummage)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 19:21 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/4 "2020-02-19T19:21:40Z")
As a first language for natives, yep. For non-natives, in situations where English is needed (public interaction) then use of English should be encouraged. Not sure how you would propose something like that being policed mind. ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 19:41 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/5 "2020-02-19T19:41:25Z")
I think it’s one of the qualifying factors in the new points-based immigration system. ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:23 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/6 "2020-02-19T20:23:30Z")
Immigration: please can you tell me the purpose of you visit Migrant: Je ne comprends pas Immigration: About turn / volte face ---
**Author:** ![Goatboy](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/goatboy/32/167_2.png) [@Goatboy](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Goatboy)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:27 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/7 "2020-02-19T20:27:49Z")
There will be plenty of ‘ex-pats’ returning to Blighty if other countries reciprocate. ---
**Author:** ![Polski\_Filip](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/polski_filip/32/75318_2.png) [@Polski\_Filip](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Polski_Filip)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:32 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/8 "2020-02-19T20:32:29Z")
1. I have a 5 year residency visa with 4 years left. After 5 years I can apply for Citizenship. To do that I must pass a Polish Language & history exam. 2. That has been the case for all non-EU working Visa applicants since a Russian employee of mine from Dubai was promoted to work out the UK Office 12 years ago. She needed an MBA the exam and it had to be a role where she had specialist skills. In other words, nothing has actually changed at all except EU citizens now follow the old system. Smoke & mirrors ---
**Author:** ![saintbletch](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/saintbletch/32/618_2.png) [@saintbletch](https://www.sotonians.com/u/saintbletch)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:48 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/9 "2020-02-19T20:48:48Z")
> [@CB-Saint](#): > > Immigration: please can you tell me the purpose of you visit > > Migrant: Je ne comprends pas > > Immigration: About turn / volte face How does that conversation play out for your Japanese skiing holiday? (Assuming your Migrant placeholder simply represents border control’s assumption about their status) ---
**Author:** ![Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/barry-sanchez/32/76_2.png) [@Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Barry-Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:49 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/10 "2020-02-19T20:49:40Z")
I don’t understand the context of the question, should English people speak English? ---
**Author:** ![Fatso](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/fatso/32/18_2.png) [@Fatso](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Fatso)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:55 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/11 "2020-02-19T20:55:48Z")
No, should the foreign muck that have polluted our shores be made to speak English or deported back to their shithole countries? ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:56 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/12 "2020-02-19T20:56:08Z")
I am reminded of Mike Harding’s excellent observation. > **Languages while travelling** > _An upper class Englishman never learns a foreign language. He knows his own language is the best, why should he bother learning something inferior? The one phrase he needs to know in any language is ‘Do you speak English? Then fetch me someone who does’._ Lord Longdongle of Kloot ---
**Author:** ![Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/barry-sanchez/32/76_2.png) [@Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Barry-Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:58 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/13 "2020-02-19T20:58:19Z")
So if someone can only speak Pashtun they should get the gig for the Southampton matchday announcer? ---
**Author:** ![Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/barry-sanchez/32/76_2.png) [@Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Barry-Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 20:58 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/14 "2020-02-19T20:58:53Z")
The Empire was mercantile, the language of money is still English. ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:03 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/15 "2020-02-19T21:03:08Z")
> [@Barry-Sanchez](#): > > The Empire was mercantile, the language of money is still English. Within twenty years, you’ll be living underneath a motorway bridge wearing a cardboard sign bearing the legend “WILL WANK FOR YUAN”. ---
**Author:** ![Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/barry-sanchez/32/76_2.png) [@Barry-Sanchez](https://www.sotonians.com/u/Barry-Sanchez)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:05 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/16 "2020-02-19T21:05:21Z")
I live in hope Pap, but it’ll be Trevor not Yuan… ---
**Author:** ![pap](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/pap/32/74795_2.png) [@pap](https://www.sotonians.com/u/pap)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:10 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/17 "2020-02-19T21:10:51Z")
> [@Barry-Sanchez](#): > > I live in hope Pap, but it’ll be Trevor not Yuan… Yeah, it’s good not to devalue yourself. ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:15 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/18 "2020-02-19T21:15:35Z")
Konichiwa customs man sama Piece of piss ---
**Author:** ![CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/cb-saint/32/95251_2.png) [@CB-Saint](https://www.sotonians.com/u/CB-Saint)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:16 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/19 "2020-02-19T21:16:24Z")
They might make more sense ---
**Author:** ![saintbletch](https://www.sotonians.com/user_avatar/www.sotonians.com/saintbletch/32/618_2.png) [@saintbletch](https://www.sotonians.com/u/saintbletch)\ **Post date:** [19 February 2020 21:19 UTC](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473/20 "2020-02-19T21:19:59Z")
> [@CB-Saint](#): > > Konichiwa customs man sama > > Piece of piss So the purpose of your visit is… Good day/morning /evening/etc? That’s you off to the holding camp. Do you have Amazon Prime Video? James May’s (if you can stomach him) travels around Japan - very entertaining. [Next page](https://www.sotonians.com/t/should-english-be-spoken-in-england/5473.md?page=2)