Thread: A Controversial but Serious Question

As a linguist, a language teacher AND a language learner, let me tell you it ain't that simple.

You say "They can't speak the language" but can I ask you, have you talked to them? Do you know their actual linguistic ability? They can't understand the survey--but as you said, that was their "reasoning". It wasn't, in fact, what they know to be true (unless you misused the word "reasoning." English is hard, innit?)

Language is not a simple thing, and to say that they have to be able to speak English is, in fact, misleading. Deep understanding of medical English is NOT equal to conversational English. In fact, nearly every doctor in the world is going to have a good understanding of Medical English--but not conversational English. Why? Because the textbooks/research documents/journal articles they have to read and write all have to be in English (and, at least in Japan, German...). I have been to several doctors in Japan, and while most of them are unable to speak English conversationally, they were certainly able to write Academic articles in English and tell me "grbrbrbrbra risk of Spinal Meningitis grgrgrgr possible Allergic reaction grgrgrgr twice a day after mealsgrgrgrgrrgrgrOverweight..."

In one real sense, their English is probably better than yours--but not spoken. These doctors may be very well capable of discussing your medical problems and making an accurate diagnosis, while at the same time be unable to ask where to find a paint roller at the hardware store. As for the surveys--what are they about? Medical problems, or facilities, or what?

And can I ask, have you, yourself, had a doctor who didn't speak English? I bet you didn't. Cause the people who hire doctors don't conduct interviews in whatever language these people you're talking about DO speak.

This is a fake problem, I bet. And as for the other stuff--Unrelated nonsense.