‘He cant speak English, Im his translator but he will drive you to your destination..’
Posted on: Saturday, December 9th, 2006 at 9:22 PMI had heard about this from a selection of Taxi Drivers:
In Glasgow, some kind of unpublicised work idea for asylum seekers ( EDIT: actually Katie pointed out they are immigrants, asylum seekers are not allowed to work.. ), Glasgow City Council are offering non English speakers the chance to become private hire drivers with the freebie of SatNav and a translator sitting in the passenger seat.
Im all for a multi cultural society, but this is not right. Regardless of colour or creed, I wouldnt feel comfortable being in a taxi with two men, one who is behind the wheel and cant speak English. How could he read and understand our roadsigns? Surely it would be more logical for a would be taxi driver immigrant to undertake some sort of English course?
A lot of women certainly would not go into a car with two strange men.. Racist taxi drivers are having a field day with this absolute nugget from Glasgow City Council and I have to listen to thier filth on some mornings..
UPDATE: I have been informed that this may not be exactly a Council idea...
December 10th, 2006 at 1:03 am
Think about it this way, he can’t bore you titless about football/politics/the weather cos he
doesn’t speak English and the interpreter will probably tend not to engage you in too
much mindless banter. If they do it’ll likely be of a higher calibre than the usual bollox
you have to put up with. On top of that, why would the interpreters necessarilly be male?
Maybe i’m being naive here but I don’t see any huge problem with it in any sane society.
That we don’t live in a sane society kind of pops my arguement a bit I suppose. Besides,
you’re as likely to be murdered/robbed/raped by a lone cabbie as you are with a translator in tow.
I see the scheme as being a little cumbersome and maybe not very well thought out, but
i’d have no problems whatsoever about getting into such a cab.
December 10th, 2006 at 4:31 am
i would like to disagree with you mister…. as an English teacher to asylum seekers….
point one -asylum seekers ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK. Please please, do not lower your wonderful intelligence by classifying ANYONE not scottish, white, or born on this shitty island as an asylum seeker.
point two - what is actually your issue?! If you choose to get in an unlicensed cab, then you are already at some degree of risk.. regardless of race, class or language…
I usually put you down to be one of the brighter lot, i think it is time to escape glasgow and allow your mind to re-open honey xx
December 10th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Thanks for misunderstanding me. I dont go into unlicensed cabs anyhow. My mind is as open as yours Katie.
Ill Man, you do raise a good point regarding interpreters gender.
By the way. If anyone thinks I am or have racist conotations, then your sadly mistaken and miss the point. The point is, that there are folk who cant speak English in public services. They are going to be /have been open to all sorts of abuse.
My point is, that if one cant speak and understand English, then how are they going to understand our road signs and traffic laws? Thats not for the remit of the interpretor is it?
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:02 am
Hi,
It’s a stupid idea. The state of language provision for immigrants in this country is terrible.
If it wasn’t for church and voluntary groups it would be virtually non-exitsant. Schemes like this
help no-one.