[lg policy] Atticus Bookstore Deserves A Break

[Harold Schiffman]

Atticus Bookstore Deserves A Break
LANGUAGE FLAP • Memo a bit heavy-handed but not intentionally demeaning


Let's give Charles Negaro the benefit of the doubt. His record
suggests he was trying to promote good customer service, not
narrow-minded nativism. Mr. Negaro is the owner of the Atticus
Bookstore and Cafe in New Haven, a multicultural business that
unpleasantly surprised many in the Elm City with a recent memo
directing workers to speak only English on the floor and behind the
counter. Spanish, the first language of many workers, was allowed in
other parts of the store. The revelation of the memo sparked a protest
from those who found it demeaning and offensive. Mr. Negaro has said
that wasn't his intent.

He and his manager, the trilingual Jean Recapet, have hired
immigrants, contributed to the community and even started an English
tutoring program with Yale students. Though they didn't say it very
well, we think they were simply reminding workers to be sensitive to
customers who might feel excluded in the presence of a conversation
they couldn't follow. In this economy, customer service is the sine
qua non of a successful business. One of the great advantages of our
society is a common language, English. But there's always been room
for other languages as well, and in a global economy we should be
trying harder to learn those languages — and immigrants should learn
English as quickly as possible.

Mr. Negaro said he is reviewing the language policy, and we hope he'll
dial it down a bit and get back to what he does well. The store makes
a very good cup of coffee.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-atticus-bookstore-english.artjan28,0,7293245.story
-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to
its members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner
or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents.
Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal.
(H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************

_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list