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English is the lingua franca of the US. Pretty much all business and government paperwork is done in English.

subsection1h 1y ago
> Pretty much all business and government paperwork is done in English. TIL.
SequoiaHope 1y ago
At least in California plenty of government paperwork is available in a variety of languages. For example you can take a driver’s license test in 32 languages. https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article251249384.html https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-wo...
xenophonf 1y ago
> lingua franca It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`, i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay for with their taxes.
- bluefirebrand 1y ago
  It's interesting to learn that this means "language of the Franks" I've always thought it meant more "language of the francs (old french currency)", ie "the language of doing business" Learn something new every day
- amy_petrik 1y ago
  >It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`, I don't know if that has an argument fallacy like ad hominem, would we call this "ad etymology"? >i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay Shut out? They came of their own volition to a nation known to primarily speak English, did not learn English or have a means to communicate in English, and that's on us if we don't bend a knee? I can tell you any american living in France, they're gonna find situations where businesses say straight up (in French), speak French or I won't help you. I guess those poor Americans were just getting shut out

> Pretty much all business and government paperwork is done in English. TIL.

At least in California plenty of government paperwork is available in a variety of languages. For example you can take a driver’s license test in 32 languages. https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article251249384.html https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-wo...

xenophonf 1y ago

> lingua franca It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`, i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay for with their taxes.

bluefirebrand 1y ago
It's interesting to learn that this means "language of the Franks" I've always thought it meant more "language of the francs (old french currency)", ie "the language of doing business" Learn something new every day
amy_petrik 1y ago
>It's pretty hypocritical to unironically use an Italian idiom for a Mediterranean pidgin that literally means `language of the Franks`, I don't know if that has an argument fallacy like ad hominem, would we call this "ad etymology"? >i.e., French, in a comment supporting neo-reactionaries' attempts to shut minorities out of the government services they deserve per the democratic social contract not to mention pay Shut out? They came of their own volition to a nation known to primarily speak English, did not learn English or have a means to communicate in English, and that's on us if we don't bend a knee? I can tell you any american living in France, they're gonna find situations where businesses say straight up (in French), speak French or I won't help you. I guess those poor Americans were just getting shut out