madenon
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 27, 2007
I agree....kind of like speaking in their native language rather than speaking English while in public...I find this VERY disrespectful myself...no matter what the nationality. AND...before everyone jumps my case....I think the same is true when a US citizen visits a country where another language is spoken...to me it is just common-courtesy.... Respect for the country you are VISITING not a citizen of!
Being disrespectfull just because someone talks to a relative in their own native tongue? Just because you can't listen in on their conversation, that doesn't make them being disrespectfull. Or do you really think you'll be speaking fluent japanese 24/7 when you take some kids on a trip to disneyland Tokio, just because your in public? Poor kids, not even being allowed to talk to eachother in their own language.
Or think about the do-Europe-in-no-time-tour a lot of americans and azians take. If you visit several countries in a couple of days, never staying more than 3 days (most of the times not even more than one) in a country, you simply can't speak the native language of each country, let alone of each region. (yes, there are quite a few countries overhere with more than one official language being used in one country)
If you ask me; speak whatever you like, as long as you at least try to speak the language used in the region you're in at that particular time when you're speaking to or want to speak to someone other than those in your party. It's non of anyones bee-wax what I'm talking about with those I'm travelling with if I'm just minding my own business.
I'm proud of the way most of us overhere think about this subject. Respect is shown by the effort people put into understanding our country and culture (which includes the language but is way more than that one thing) and their overall behaviour. Actually speaking the language at a proper level or not doesn't make or break the deal for being respectfull or not. Not only will tourists have a big chance of running into anyone that besides dutch also speaks english, french, german, turkish, maroccan, papiamento, spanish or italian, but most will actually put the effort into helping people out in their own language if they see those people are really trying hard and appreciate the help they get.
Really, how disrespectfull can it be to hear someone talk russian for all I care, when you walk down main street, as long as they say "please", "sorry", have some kind of translation booklet with them etc. when talking to those around them? Even Mickey doesn't speak most of the time. Is he disrespectfull when he bumps into someone on accident and doesn't say sorry in english but in gestures? Or do we have different standards to hold the mouse to?
If we can like the mouse and think he's all that, just because of his great additude and putting effort into it, why can't we give those who happen to speak a different language or come from a different place the same treatment?