[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21259401

The number of people living in England and Wales who could not speak any English was 138,000, latest figures from the 2011 census show.

It was the first census to ask how well the population could speak English when it was not a person's main language.

After English, the second most reported main language was Polish, followed by Punjabi and Urdu.

Meanwhile, the percentage of the population that is married fell from 51% in 2001 to 47% in 2011.

English was the main language for 92% - or 50 million - of residents aged three and over. The remaining 8% - or 4 million - spoke a different main language, but most were proficient in speaking English.

Of those with a main language other than English, 1.7 million could speak English very well, 1.6 million could speak English well, and 726,000 could speak English, however not well. The remaining 138,000 could not speak English at all.

That's a surprisingly low figure but those who speak English, however not well, is, IMO, far too high .....

In London, 22% - or 1.7 million of residents - used a main language other than English.

City of Strangers .....

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Omah

City of Strangers .....

Over 200 languages are recognised in Newham where I come from. While there are the usual social problems of an inner-city area, the fact that not all the reisdents are white Anglo-Saxon protestants doesn't mean they're all strangers. That's a very strange thing to say.... There have been foreigners coming here since before the Romans. We're all foreigners if you go back far enough.

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Livia

That's a very strange thing to say....

If people can't talk to each other, they'll never get to know each other.

"Getting by" in English while on the bus, shopping, or visiting the doctor is, IMO, not enough for a "resident".

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Omah

If people can't talk to each other, they'll never get to know each other.

"Getting by" in English while on the bus, shopping, or visiting the doctor is, IMO, not enough for a "resident".

but being able to swear in english is!

[InOne]

My Great Grandparents came here not knowing a word of English

[Omah]

Originally Posted by InOne

My Great Grandparents came here not knowing a word of English

My mother was an illiterate peasant and an immigrant.

[arista]

Are they Fruit pickers?

Send the buggers back.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Omah

My mother was an illiterate peasant and an immigrant.

well my mum was born without a mouth!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Omah

If people can't talk to each other, they'll never get to know each other.

"Getting by" in English while on the bus, shopping, or visiting the doctor is, IMO, not enough for a "resident".

English for Speakers of Other Languages, and English as a Second Language courses in Newham are always oversubscribed. While there will be a few not interested in learning the language, the vast majority are interested.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

Send the buggers back.

But who will pick my Veg?

[Vanessa]

Most people in my workplace don't speak english. Not because they can't, they don't want to.

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by arista

But who will pick my Veg?

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Livia

English for Speakers of Other Languages, and English as a Second Language courses in Newham are always oversubscribed. While there will be a few not interested in learning the language, the vast majority are interested.

I'm pleased to hear that.

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Most people in my workplace don't speak english. Not because they can't, they don't want to.

If people want to work and live here who are immigrants etc they should have to do mandatory English lessons.

It does not look good on a company, for example if they have an employee who does not speak a word of English and they are supposed to communicate with the public as part of their job.