Well, from a strictly business perspective this makes sense.  They need to be able to market the sport to the largest audience and being that the LPGA markets to the US, it seems that is a smart move to have their athletes be able to speak to the press in English.

I agree that they are in the US and should learn to communicate with us.  If I decided to move to France or Russia, I would expect to learn French or Russian so I could communicate with others.  I wouldn't assume they would all know English. I'm surprised that Formula 1 uses English as their primary language, but it's mostly a European sport.  But, they have racers and engineers from so many different countries, they felt it best for everyone to speak English to each other for communication purposes.

MLB forcing all players to speak English would be such a riot. Manny has been living here for 15 years and still can barely speak the language. We're coming for you, Ichiro!

English is the language of business around the world. Golf and baseball are businesses so it makes sense to me.

I have no problems with something like this.  And it would, dare I say it, make sense to have English be mandatory for all who wish to live in the USA.  I am tired of trying to communicate in a public venue with people who seem clueless when I open my mouth and speak.  If I moved to France, I would learn French.  If I moved to Spain, I would learn Spanish.  What's so wrong in expecting others that immigrate to live or work in the USA to learn English?

Chris Ann:

Thanks for your nice comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Ron:

Thanks also for your nice comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF and that it should be also for MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Donna:

You are correct that Formula 1 uses English as primary languag.  Thanks for your nice comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

John:

You are right about Manny Ramirez.  He is protected again on language because he is in LA.  Thanks for your nice comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Barry:

You are right about golf and business around the world. Thanks for your nice comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

As a business, I think they can do whatever they want. The only question it poses for me is: If we had a bunch of our people dominating a sport outside of the US and the sport decided that we must speak the language of the host country, would we be upset? Would we cry "foul" and say that they just don't like us ruling their sport or would we be objective and say that as a business, they can run it any way they want?

Patrick:

If US citizens are dominating a sport in another country, those participating should know the language of the country.  Thanks for your thoughtful comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Thanks for the comment on my blog, hope you get a chance to try the bannana split Kabobs!!

Andy:

Thanks for your comment at our article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

I don't believe they said English is the official language. As I understand it, the requirement is to pass an oral evaluation in English. That is different. How can a deaf person or a mute person pass an oral test in any spoken language? Something to think about.

Hi Harrison,

Some things to consider are that many athletic and business professionals are learning English, but it takes time to learn a new language.  English is a linguistic blend of many other languages.  You should know that if you have ever taken another language course.

Our world has been a very global society for a long time.  When I was in Europe, there were so many people speaking a variety of languages, that I was impressed with most of the European people and how they blend their society and accept their cultural differences.  My parents came from Italy and France to settle in the U.S. where I was born (NYC).  Now, I'm reciprocating and educating my daughters to grow from that by them learning French in Canada.  My younger daughter wants to learn Chinese and the other daughter learned Spanish when she was in a U.S. high school in Michigan.  Learning new languages will give them both more skills and opportunities world-wide by them speaking other languages. 

I happend to disagree with you, since this is a GLOBAL society, people with different languages, culture, races, sexual orientation and all seem to live on the same planet.  We as Realtors or other professionals, are SMART ENOUGH to learn new languages, even if we struggle with new languages, it shows we are diversified and open-minded enough to accept people and have respect for them to make an attempt to learn their languages.  We are not an Imperial Society in the U.S. to force people to think our way and only limit our skills to one language.  Our country was built on diversity, we just have to remember that!

                           ;>)

Annie-Marie:

Good to hear from you.  I've read some of your blog notes and am not surprised at your opinion on this.  Please do not be in such a hurry to generalize my opinion.  I don't believe you read my post carefully about LPGA golf and English being language required of their players.  I did not suggest that we speak only ENGLISH in the USA.  On the contrary, it's great for folks here to learn other languages. We recognize how multi-cultural our cities and towns are in the USA.  My wife and I live in Irvine, Ca, where many different languages are spoken.  However, I believe that ENGLISH is the primary language of our country the USA, and the State of California, that all people who become US citizens should be proficent in English, and that all people in business here should know and primarily speak ENGLISH.  I agree with the LPGA rule the ENGLISH be the language spoken of its players.  Do you?

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties group, Irvine, CA

Isn't this kind of an example of "When in Rome".  I think if you are making millions off of a sport and they want to market you to get a return on their investment or just build the sport they should be able to. 

Again, one thing to keep in mind, is there's a good chance they are learning English, but it takes time to simulate the language.  As a U.S. Citizen who moved to Genoa Italy (west coast of Italy), after I was born, and learned ITALIAN first, it's very difficult to just jump in and learn English.  My parents (who worked for Air France Airlines at the time), when I was 5 years old, threw me back to the U.S., specifically, New York City and I had to learn English very, very quickly, it still took me a good 5 years to simulate the language, from my native Italian (even though I was technically American).  Since I've been through the process, I can tell you English is a tough language, since it's a combination of several languages.  Most people don't ever realize that.  I still use my hands to communicate, because that's what I had to do when I came back to the U.S. as a child to communicate with other American kids. LOL.

I don't believe the LPGA Golf should have English as mandatory, so yes, I did understand your blog.  I always try to keep an "Open Mind", because the world is changing very rapidly.   I honestly don't see a problem with having translators available, as long as the people participating hire them to translate any information.  This is a Global Economy, we need other countries to work with us, after all "Other Countries"  are basically bailing us out of our mortgage crisis.  Healthy competition is good for our country, it tends to keep us on our toes. Basically, we don't get lazy with our culture and future outlook as a country, relative to the rest of the world.

                                                      ;>)

Ted ...  Thank for your comment at our blog about ENGLISH being the official language of LPGA and hopefully MLB.  Keep it going.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA

Annie-Marie ... Good to see and hear from you again.  Thank you for the careful note and taking time to consider the points.  It sounds like you are a woman of significant education, language skills and experience.  That's fantastic.  I am pleased that you will be passing it along to your children.  

My point about the LPGA is that it is a business, just like NHL, or the NBA, or Major League Baseball. The teams and players are there to MAKE MONEY.  If management believes it will do better for the players to speak ENGLISH ... or JAPANESE ... or ITALIAN ... or any other language, that is the right of management and ownership to do that.  If it's good for business, that's up to them.  I support the concept that all businesses here in the USA have ENGLISH to be mandatory for their employees. 

If there is a business or economy system in Canada that wants and requires FRENCH to be the official language, that's great.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Harrsison the LPGA or MLB or any other professional sports agency or real estate agency forcing people to speak English could only happen in the USA. If you or anyone else who has commented on this blog has ever traveled to Europe, Canada (Ann-Marie Clements if an excellent example and she's right about being a Global Economy!), and a lot of other foreign countries you would find the majority of people who would know that you are American would be willing to speak English to you to make you feel welcome.

Now Imagine the shoe being on the other foot. Americans traveling to other peoples countries and expecting or requiring them to speak their language!! How if foreign countries required all foreigners and Americans to speak French, Spanish or whatever their native language is? How would you feel then? Only in America must we force people to speak as we do. I could understand the LPGA hiring translators but I didnt think they've offered to do this.

The world is a big place with lots of people who speak a lot of different languages. If you look at tennis, its played all over the world by people who speak a lof of different languages. It is a world renowned sport, played all over the world and if you go to tournaments different languages are spoken for both countries for their fans.

How in the world can the LPGA force its pro golfers to be proficient in speaking English? Are they going to offer courses? are they going to pay for these courses? are they going to test their players?

 The LPGA is forcing their golf pros to speak their language- the language of money! They're not trying to become a more well rounded, world renowned sport such as is tennis. They're not forcing their pros to speak English for the fans. They want their foreign golf pros to give interviews in English so that corporate sponsors will endorse and back their tournaments with $$MONEY!!

Oh by the way, why were the Koreans singled out in this issue? are they the only Golf Pros who dont speak English? are they being singled out for some reason? you as a lawyer should see that this spells D-I-S-C-R-I-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N!

Americans are thought of the world over as stupid and lazy as to not wanting to be able to speak other peoples languages. The rest of the world speaks multiple languages including Enlish but most Americans have trouble with their own language!

Stephen ... Thanks for your comment and ideas.  One of my points on this and other issues involving business has been ...the LPGA is a business entity, privately or publicly owned ... like the National Hockey League, or the NBA, or Major League Baseball, or DISNEY, or IBM, or GOOGLE, or Coldwell Banker, or Prudential, or MICROSOFT, or YAHOO, or Microsoft, ETC.   The teams and players are essentially employess and agents of the company and there to MAKE MONEY.  If management of such a business company believes it will do better for the players to speak ENGLISH ... or JAPANESE ... or ITALIAN ... or French ... or CROATION ... or German ... or LATION ... OR RUSSION ... or Vietnames ... or Mandarin ... or Chinese ... or Cantonese... or any other language, that is the right of the company and management to make that decision.  If it's good for business, that decision is up to them.  If we don't like the business decisions made by management, we have the right not to buy their stock ... or go to their games .. or pay for their merchandise ... or buy their products. 

I belive that business entities here in the USA should have ENGLISH proficiency to be mandatory for their employees and agents. 

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Harrison the LPGA does not have the right to discrimate against anyone based on their race. I'm assuming that most Pro Golfers are not employees and work for themselves as contractors!

Stephen ... Thanks for your note. I do not believe that the LPGA is discriminating against anyone based upon race.  The LPGA is a business entity ... and has members ... just like the NBA... or the NFL ... and it apparently has rules about learning ENGLISH LANGUAGE by its members.  This is about what LANGUAGE is to be used by the LPGA and its members.

Business entities here in the USA have the right to require ENGLISH language proficiency to be mandatory for their employees and agents.  This has nothing to do with race discrimination.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Irvine, CA

Harrison it is my understanding that Pro Golfers are not employees of the LPGA just like Realtors are not employees of the NAR but are self employed contractors. These golfers dont get their paycheck from the LPGA but from the tournaments they play for from their winnings. If the LPGA is going to make English their mandatory language than they cannot just for the Koreans but all ladies in the LPGA!

My other point is that if the LPGA is going to enforce the English as their mandatory language shouldn't they offer English instruction, and testing before they start pulling their Pros permit to Golf in LPGA sanctioned events?

Stephen ... Thanks again.  It sounds like you have some special interest in the LPGA.  I don't.  It is my understanding from what I have read that the LPGA is a private business... and that it operates and runs the tournaments, and that it has members, and that membership is required of people to play in the tournaments, and that LPGA gives out the monetary awards to members, that if you are not a member you cannot play and make money in its tournaments, and that it requires LANGUAGE OF ENGLISH to be used by members.  I also believe that LPGA does provide some kind of ENGLISH language instruction for members.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties group, Irvine, CA

Harrison I dont have any special interest in the LPGA (im not a lady golfer obviously or a member of the LPGA) but they are nothing more than a management company just like the NAR is to realtors.

The LPGA is a private organization, if they want to make English mandatory, I think they should be able to. After all, some private as well as government organizations have a bi-lingual requirement. As long as all members have the same requirement there is no discrimination. The question will be if the LPGA can enforce the English rule on sponsor exemptions (the sponsor usually has the right to bring any player into the tournament, they don't have to be LPGA members. i.e. Michelle Wie and several others that played in tournaments while still amatuers. They were not members of the LPGA as amatures, after all the P does stand for Professional)

We are the only major industrialized nation without an official language.

Mike  ... Thanks for your careful thoughts and insights shared here about the LPGA and language requirements.

Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties group, Irvine, CA

Mike can you name any private or government organizations that have a bi-lingual requirement and what languages that may include please?

Michele Wie is a very good example of an Amateur player who wasnt a member of the LPGA who was allowed to play because she is a very good player. In this case the LPGA couldnt do a thing to non-members who play. Harrison take note that non-members can play in LPGA tournaments who are sponsored exemptions.

And I agree with you that the LPGA as a private organization can do almost anything they want to but enforcing and managing a English Mandatory requirement is a total separate issue! So my point is that there will be exceptions to the rule and it would be difficult to enforce and manage.

Just because we are a major industrialized nation doesnt mean we should have an official language? does it?

Stephen - yes, I can. The Oregon Department of Forestry has a requirement that contract crew chiefs have bilingual capabilities if any member of the crew does not speak English.

As for private companies, just check out many employment requirements, there are plenty of bilingual job requirements.  Here is a google search link

http://www.google.com/search?q=bi+lingual+job+requirments&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Mike thanks for the info and the examples. I agree with you that in many instances where communication at a job would be very important and require a translator and an employee to speak English and communicate in order for the job to get done correctly.

But in sports as in Golf, to be able to hit a ball and be good at it should that require a need to speak English?

Stephen - if the LPGA wants and English requirement, for interviews, etc. they have every right to require it. It is not a question of need.

herer is the LPGA backing off of trying to force a policy of english requirement for their golf pros

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20080905/48c0aec0_3ca6_1552620080905-1804827983

I told you So!

here is the LPGA backing off of trying to force a policy of english requirement for their golf pros

 http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20080905/48c0aec0_3ca6_1552620080905-1804827983

The article talks about the English requirement as obviously discriminatory against the Korean Golfers!

I told you SO!

Hi Harrison - I read your article about ENGLISH TO BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF LPGA GOLF AND THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR MLB MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

I appreciate your viewpoint but don't entirely agree.  I worked overseas and found that most American expatriates in the American bank in which I worked did not learn the local language fluently.  So it feels like a double standard to me.  IMHO.

I DO think that speaking more than one language imrpoves your brain "circuitry" and we should all strive for it.

Margaret thanks for your viewpoint. Pls read my link above about the LPGA backing off of their discriminatory requirement

Margaret ... thanks for your note and comment.  I agree that speaking more than one language improves your brain circuitry ... not to mention that it will help us all communicate better.  Best wishes to you.

Harrison, Explore Group, Irvine, CA