Does it bother you when foreigners don't speak English in front of you? (SORRY, DOUBL

[Planogirl]

I think that if it's obvious that you're being left out as in the taxi, then it's rude. But if you're just out and about and people are having their own conversations then not so much.

My mother and grandmother used to speak Dutch regularly. It never seemed rude unless there were visitors.

 

[pfishgirl]

That is one of my BIGGEST Pet Peves.... If you know the language, speak it..

 

[jgmklmhem]

If the the people using the language are not with you then I could care less what the people in line in front of me are saying or at another table in a restaurant are talking about. I will say it is rude in this situation which I have been part of: Myself and an old firend are walking along and she runs into another friend from her native country and they begin conversating in their native language (they both know English very well) for 5 or so minutes leaving me completely out and just standing there. It is almost like telling secrets when others are around. Another thing that can be a little disconcerting is when two people are using another language and all of a sudden you hear your name thrown in there. We have two Koreans at work who do this every now and then. Not necessarily rude but you do wonder what they are saying about you.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

If I thought they were talking ABOUT me, then yeah, I would be uncomfortable. but from the OP, I don't think that was the case.

Imagine you are living in Spain. You need to speak spanish all the time. You are in a cab with a Spanish person, but then discover the cab driver speaks english! I think, in the times you are directing you portion of the conversation to the the cab driver, and not the other passenger, you would probably speak english without even realizing you are leaving the spanish speaking person out.

 

[misskrystal]

I'm guilty of something similar I'm afraid.

Whenever I meet up with an old friend of mine, we spend hours talking about old times. Unfortunately, we do it when others are around, too. It drives my db crazy, because he's completely excluded from the conversation.

I try not to now, or I pre-warn him, because I know it's incredibly rude and I can't stand it happening to me.

I think the taxi situation is the same. The OP entered the social situation with the lady and was then excluded when the woman found someone she had more in common with. It's more about rudeness than language.

 

[Disney Doll]

Do you mean German?

Well, their native country was Austria, so whatever language is spoken there. Maybe it is German????

 

[Disney Doll]

I hope you all remember these rules of etiquette when you are in countries in which English is not the native language!

Well of course I would. If I was livig in a country, I owuld learn the language native to that country. If I was with an English and non-English speaking friend, if I had to speak to one in one language, I'd at least translate it to the other language too.

 

[GailT]

It sure does bother me, I am sure if I went to another country it wouldn't be accepted as a way of life to use American, speak English when you live in America

 

[auntpolly]

I'm guilty of something similar I'm afraid.

Whenever I meet up with an old friend of mine, we spend hours talking about old times. Unfortunately, we do it when others are around, too. It drives my db crazy, because he's completely excluded from the conversation.

.

Why is it that you do this with your friend? You seem pretty proficient in English, but isn't it because you love talking to your friend because it's comfortable and familiar -- the chance to really be yourself for awhile, speaking in a native language. I mean, it isn't the case of 2 native English speakers speaking French just so someone else will not understand; is it? And I'm not even sure if it's the same at all as in the OP, because it really wasn't a friend -- just a lady she met waiting for a cab.

Really, I'm all for being polite, but I just feel like in this discussions people are too quick to judge, and are holding other people to a higher standard than they would hold themselves. I would really love to see them in Europe, being oh, so very careful not to engage in English conversations when there are those who speak other languages around. None of the Americans I ever see abroad seem very worried about it.

 

[misskrystal]

We are speaking in English. It's just a topic other people find it hard to join in with.

We don't mean to leave people out, we just forget sometimes.

I try not to do it now, though, because I know how rude it is.

 

[auntpolly]

We are speaking in English. It's just a topic other people find it hard to join in with.

Oh, sorry! I misunderstood -- but I guess my point is the same.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Since moving here to Texas, it is normal. My neighbors on the right are from India. My neighbors on the left from Long Island. Everywhere I go there is many different languages being spoken.

I got used to it and I am trying to listen better to the Spanish. In fact we all would like to speak other languages.

 

[Talking Hands]

Well, their native country was Austria, so whatever language is spoken there. Maybe it is German????

Yes, Austrian's speak German as do many Swiss.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Yes and in fact it was the # reason why I left my prior job.

Spanish co workers who knew fluent English and refused to speak English at work, ever unless they were being spoken to by a manager.

Drove me nuts. I'm glad I left though. I get a paid a lot more now so hey gracias Maria y Isabel y Jeanette. By the way, I know what you were saying about people. I took 5 years of Spanish in school.

 

[olena]

It doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Stitchfans]

Yes, that has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. I always thought if your in America speak English. Especially when some are immature enough to look at you and laugh as if they are talking about you to make you feel uncomfortable.

Of course if they are here just for a visit that is a different story. Of course they wouldn't have time to learn English.

 

[epcotfan]

Toronto is a city full of different cultures with their own unique languages. On any given day I encounter people speaking different languages in front of me. Doesn't bother me at all.

 

[magicfan]

The situation in the cab - we don't know where the lady lived, do we? And the nail girls, I'm sure they speak English, but it might be difficult. I don't know if any of you know how stressful it is to speak a language that is not your native language all day long. I do. I go to Italy for long periods of time. I love the language, but it is exhausting!

As a matter of fact, I do know where she lived. She told me she lived in California.

Speak your native tongue at home, when your amongst your family and friends, etc... but when there is someone, or several people right there in front of you that you are purposely excluding, it is just plain rude. I don't care what country your in, it's rude.

And, as you can see, a lot of people agree with me.

 

[magicfan]

Well of course I would. If I was livig in a country, I owuld learn the language native to that country. If I was with an English and non-English speaking friend, if I had to speak to one in one language, I'd at least translate it to the other language too.

BINGO!

 

[Sparx]

It bothers me when I know they can speak english and they are doing it just so I don't understand them. Many hispanic people at my school do this, it is very annoying. One time someoen asked them why they didn't speak english, they said, "because most people can't and we are trying to talk without everyone butting in" I can have a private conversation in english. why can't they?
This is America, and we are made up of many different cultures, and I am in no way trying to stamp out other cultures. It just bothers me when people do that just to make sure I am left out.