Should we insist that immigrants speak our language?

If such a law were applied throughout the world, it would mean an awful lot of British people being deported back to Britain! That would include many people I have met in France.
Free English lessons for all who want them would be a good idea, but I think many Asian men prefer their wives not to be able to speak the language in case it incites them to disobedience.
The British colonialists rarely made any effort to learn the language of their 'conquered' nations. Many Britons and Americans still believe, arrogantly, that everyone should speak English.
Court interpreters cost more than they should because the government made a complete c*ck up by giving the contract to a company which is not only expensive but inefficient. (cf Private Eye).

I think we should certainly do all we can to help immigrants learn English. When I went to work in Thailand, I felt it was only polite to try to learn the language of the culture I was living in. I think the same should apply anywhere and I don't understand people who don't want to learn the language of the place where they live and work. However, in England I taught the children of Bangladeshi immigrants. Their parents were very keen for the children to integrate and do well at school, but usually the mothers were not encouraged to have lessons. By the next generation things will have eased, one hopes.

I can't believe that anyone could use such a sad case, and criticise the child's parents, to illustrate an entirely separate point!

In this case, criticise the evil so and so's that shot her!

Unbelievable!

There was a word which sprang to my mind when I read the op but I have managed not to use it.
Immigrants are usually tax payers too.

I don't think anyone was criticising the parents, Wotsit, just saying that they needed an interpreter and that that was expensive. We aren't told how long they'd been living here. The sadness of the child's death does not detract from the very real problem that the OP has raised. One can feel sad for the people at the same time as thinking about connected issues.

Sorry, she hasn't died, but sustained awful injuries.

Was no need to use it in this way Bagitha. Can't see any reason for that.

No need, perhaps, but not wrong. One can separate emotion from reason to discuss an issue.

I enjoyed teaching a Bangladeshi housewife in her own home, but was deterred from continuing because, as a volunteer, I was expected to jump through the same red tape hoops as a paid teacher. Form filling, attainment targets and so on when what she really needed was the ability to understand and be understood in the doctor's surgery, meeting with teachers and other practical applications. I'd be happy to do this as a volunteer.
When I had a job in Kenya, I made a good stab at learning Swahili - a fairly easy language and was able to get by reasonably well.

I think there is a difference in the level of English which is needed for everyday life and that needed to deal with the language in a court of law. I think some native English speakers might be helped by someone to interpret legal jargon for them!
Not everybody has a facility for language and not everybody has had the benefit of any kind of education.
I do agree that as much help as possible should be given to immigrants to help them learn enough English to be able to deal with normal situaions. My own French is fine for dealing with my doctor, tax forms, in shops, registering my car, and so, but I think I would want to have an interpreter if ever I was called upon to appear in a French court. I would be happy to pay the fee.
These parents were appearing as witnesses, not the accused, so it seems reasonable to me that they should be provided with an interpreter at no expense to themselves.
As has been said, the children of immigrants quickly learn English and often act as interpreters for their parents, so it is possibly a self-limiting problem.

A lot of people, sorry but Asian people in particular, live in areas that are made up of their own people - shops, religious temples and any kind of socialisation. However, the second generation - the children - learn English and go on to colleges and universities. They eventually, and certainly their children become absorbed into British life. When I lived in Jackson Heights New York, a lot of the Hispanic mothers at my son's school couldn't speak a word of English. So at any school meetings we had their mothers who could speak English, translate for us - at Parent/Teacher meetings the same thing. Again their children became American. My best friend there was American Chinese, her parents spoke no English at all, however she was a very American girl. We have some lovely Polish people in my road, they tell me that they learn our language as quickly as possible - one reason being to make sure they are being treated the same in employment as their British counterparts. Most of the Poles intend to return home and aren't true immigrants. They are very hard workers, my son said that when they had their extension built the workforce was Polish and they worked so hard.

I can't be responsible for what our empire-building forebears did centuries ago.

I would prefer immigrants who intend to settle here permanently to make an effort to speak English. Especially, women should not be deprived of the chance to do so in order to keep them in their place.

Think the original post mentioning the tragic case of the little girl was okay.

We should not forget that with the best will in the world, some folks just can't learn a foreign language. When my sister moved permanently to France, my very intelligent Mum, then in her 60s, just couldn't manage to learn French.

Here in Queensland Australia, volunteers teach isolated women English in their homes. This is less threatening for the immigrant woman. They are taken on shopping expeditions etc, and taught to use buses, choose and pay for goods. Still, some never manage it.

The very sad case of the little girl was used to highlight a problem about which we should be concerned - that of enabling non English speakers to have a voice in their communities. I can see no criticism to be inferred, merely a sympathy.

petallus I don't understand. Why has the shooting of the little girl got anything to do with immigrants speaking English or not.

But on the subject of the little girl, for her to be such an obviously happy child, as was shown in the video of her skipping around the shop, her parents are obviously doing a grand job in bringing her up, English or no English.

She, no doubt will grow up to speak English but if the parents can't, that's ok. So long as they are living decent lives in their community, why should there be any problem? They probably shop in the shop in question, go to local mosque or whatever, socialise with others from the same background. Most forms have multi language options these days. The computer in our doc surgery has.

The Saxons, Viking and Danes didn't speak the lingo when they washed up on these shores.

And now I've got hot cross buns to make!

We use a variety of interpreters at tribunals! This week I have had a Kurd. A pole and a Bengali. The most common one however is Somali.

Actually, using the case of the little girl was crass and insensitive.

And if you can't see that, I pity you.

It's OK if you don't understand, jings. The rest of us do. Have fun baking.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.

Jingl. Have you got a hangover? You aren't your usual refreshing self this morning!

I guess I should have kept my mouth shut.

Sorry.

jeni I'm not a drinker.

It's likely that the parents of the little girl could speak enough English to get by, but not to respond effectively to an interviewer. I can get by pretty well in French, but might quail at an interview.