Polish is an official language in the UK?

Well yes. I have to admit to admiring France's stance and the pride it takes in its language. However, at a coach station such as Victoria I think it is permissible to have notices in various languages (if that particular sign is even genuine) as holiday-makers would also come through that area. I fully exploit economic migrants value for money in relation to work done, but I know the people who do the work barely speak a word of English and follow a sleep-work-sleep pattern socialising, I'd guess, with those who they find easiest to converse.

But still, The EU model is for a mobile and nimble workforce which is a key difference in this situation between the UK and the US. Farm hands may only be here for the summer period and back off to their place of origin...possibly somewhere else in the EU. Contracts for road diggers can be sought anywhere in the EU(I think!).

When I traveled regularly on public transport during the rush hours very many conversations I heard were in foreign tongues (on phones etc), I was just happy they were employed. There is some discomfort when in some work places I have been that the cleaners, supposedly naturalised, retire after 30-40 years service who haven't bothered to develop any language ability. They always seem chatty with those that can speak the same language regardless of job level. All I'd get is 'hello, dear!' I do wonder now if they could qualify for jury service.

I work from a home office now. Today I was surprised to have a Polish women come over to read the electricity meter. Surprising as I have never known a woman to do that job. She was in and out like a flash! Hardly fifty words were spoken by her in very heavily accented Engish, but she was professional and courteous and was able to speak-up and to the point. If she goes home to watch cabled Polish t.v. and speaks to her folks and friends in Polish there is nothing I can do or want to do about it. Most of my home deliveries are by Eaast Europeans, Africans etc. They can speak well enough to get the job done. When I go to various Asian restaurants the menus are in English. When I occasionally go to English restaurants the menus are French! I also used to go to the Jewish area of N. London for the supreme cake and pastry shops but never batted an eyelid that lists were up in Jewish scripts. The service would all be in English. I could easily imagine if a customer spoke in a Hebrew the attendant could also switch, It wouldn't make me uncomfortable as the unintentional snubs of cleaning ladies. My local newsagent's staff always talk in their own language to each other and to me in English. The till operators wear poppies in early November. What more can one ask.

In a hospital I worked in the early nineties, translator costs for Somalians were the highest. They tried family members but in one early case the lady was telling her consultant that her husband was abusive towards her, and the husband would completely mistranslate! It has dropped down dramatically with the new translators in demand now being for East European languages. With the migratory nature of low skilled demand its not going to change. The better they can speak the less likely they are to cut my asparagus spears.

Of course, the reason for immigrants from poor countries (Bangladesh, Slovakia, Honduras, Vietnam etc.) to rich, i.e. industrialized ones (Sweden, UK, Germany, US, Holland...) is because the governments of these countries are in love with the cheap or low-cost labor which immigrants afford them! Why hire a demanding, native-born German to cut asparagus tips in a restaurant kitchen when a Turk, Bangladeshi etc.. would willingly work at the same job for slave wages, uncomplianing and/or unable to see they're being taken advantage of?

Isn't that exactly what happens in Poland right now?? Even worse the Polish government actively encourage this.

Here is my response to a post on this subject on another thread:


Why?

I'm beating the same drum here but it really makes me angry that Poland is being portrayed as the IT Hub of western Europe. Even Trusk peddles this damned lie!!!

The large companies are in Poland for one reason and one reason only.

They can employ (I mean exploit) a Polish person for a fraction of what they pay someone else anywhere else in Europe.

In addidtion, Poles have multiple language skills are highly trained and highly proficient in IT meaning that the Operations and Support centre's for other countries can be hosted from Poland.

The government further encourage this exploitation of the Polish worker by giving the large corporations tax breaks.

ENGLISH is the language of the world !

Seems like Englishmen are becoming more Americanised, to make such a fatuous statement.

You just have ana answer for your question. I am living in Warsaw. It's still so many homeless and alcohol abused people there, but I NEVER buy tobaco or give monet to them. So the most people do.

I am sorry for my post. It shoud be quoted to Mr_Bruxelles and I made some mistakes in it. Cant't change anyway.

I think you're wrong. MONEY is the language of the world. Once you've understood that, you'll start understanding immigration and stop blaming the immigrants.

Well, how about this mistake in Wales:


news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7702913.stm