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So if we moved to Mexico or Brazil, or Germany, or China, or take your pick, would it be right for us to speak English or learn their language? Why does this even have to be an issue? If you move to a country to live, you should speak the language of that country. To do otherwise is rude.
I lived abroad, in Asia for many years. When my family and I would be out together, we would often speak English together, even tho all of us except our father spoke the native language. No one ever said anything in any way shape or form negatively to or about us for doing so. It is not rude to want to speak and hear other languages you speak sometimes.
Do you also think it is rude for deaf people to use ASL around others if they can speak?
As I said, it's rude. It indicates someone who wants to be separate rather than part of the group and culture they have supposedly chosen to become a part of. Essentially a language version of the person who moves from the big city to rural and then proceeds to try to change rural to be the city they came from. If you move to a country, then behave and become a part of the culture of that country. And like I said it would be just as rude if I moved to Germany or Mexico and kept to and only spoke to other Americans outside of work. It's just a simple matter of respect to the people and culture you moved to.
This is so far from the truth as to be laughable. Most people in the world ARE bilingual, even most Americans are bilingual. What you expect is to lower the bar to the lowest common denominator. Learning English is part of the so called melting pot, abandoning all other languages in public is not. Get over yourself. English is not our culture. And no, you do not get to decide what is rude for other countries, particularly ones like Germany or Mexico where most people are bilingual at least and would not be remotely offended by people speaking other languages.
So if we moved to Mexico or Brazil, or Germany, or China, or take your pick, would it be right for us to speak English or learn their language? Why does this even have to be an issue? If you move to a country to live, you should speak the language of that country. To do otherwise is rude.
Spanish <is>a language of the United States, we made that happen when we took Florida and large parts of Mexico. As some of the Mexican Americans in Texas say: we didn’t move over the border, the border moved over us.
So if we moved to Mexico or Brazil, or Germany, or China, or take your pick, would it be right for us to speak English or learn their language? Why does this even have to be an issue? If you move to a country to live, you should speak the language of that country. To do otherwise is rude.
Plenty of people move to another country, for a variety of reasons. It's certainly helpful to know the native language, for sure, but not necessarily required. People get transferred to Mexico to work at factories, and they don't necessarily know Spanish. Luckily, a lot of Mexican folk know English, especially in border towns and resorts. I do know that people appreciate it when you try to speak the native language though.
We have no such rule where I work. We have a few Bosnian folk where I work. They know English, and they speak it very well. They're also somewhat related to each other. 2 of them are Father/Daughter, another is an inlaw of the father, and I think the other two are somehow related.
Sometimes I see them on break. They're very nice, and they always say hello and ask how I'm doing. SOMETIMES, when talking to each other, they speak to each other in Bosnian. It has never seemed like they were talking about me. The tone always struck me that they were talking about familial or mundane things like "What's for dinner?" or "How's so and so doing?" It has never bothered me when they're talking to each other in their native language.
But I used to know a co-worker who hated that they would talk to each other in their native language. She felt they might be talking about her. I just rolled my eyes. Whatever.
So if we moved to Mexico or Brazil, or Germany, or China, or take your pick, would it be right for us to speak English or learn their language? Why does this even have to be an issue? If you move to a country to live, you should speak the language of that country. To do otherwise is rude.
I don't work in a diverse area, so I don't experience this. I'd imagine, even being fluent in the language, speaking your native language just feels better. I'd hate to not be able to speak English when I could should the roles be reversed.
But in public places if someone isn't speaking English I don't care. I know people's fear tend to be they feel like they are talking about them. People talk about people in English, they just whisper it or wait till someone walks further away. And with texting now people can text their friends to gossip about someone in the room lol It's always going to happen, so who cares what language it's in
I'm not offended by it.. So long as people don't switch languages when someone walks up.
If I were in a job where sensitive information might be present.. Someone mentioned Government work before, or a place where credit card numbers were used (call center or similar) then.. From a security standpoint I can see some possible problems with it and reasons why a rule might be needed.
As I said, it's rude. It indicates someone who wants to be separate rather than part of the group and culture they have supposedly chosen to become a part of.
Pardon, but if I'm having a private conversation, I'll pick what language best furthers that goal. As far as I can tell, the only interest you can possibly have would be eavesdropping. And I have no qualms excluding anyone from doing that.
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If you move to a country, then behave and become a part of the culture of that country.
In public, you should obviously go by the local mores - when in Rome and all that. In private, sorry - you or anyone else do not get a say. You're not invited to comment.
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And like I said it would be just as rude if I moved to Germany or Mexico and kept to and only spoke to other Americans outside of work.
This is so far from the truth as to be laughable. Most people in the world ARE bilingual, even most Americans are bilingual. What you expect is to lower the bar to the lowest common denominator. Learning English is part of the so called melting pot, abandoning all other languages in public is not. Get over yourself. English is not our culture. And no, you do not get to decide what is rude for other countries, particularly ones like Germany or Mexico where most people are bilingual at least and would not be remotely offended by people speaking other languages.
I work for a government agency and the written policy is English ONLY.
Really? Hmmm... Both state testing I took required bi lingual ability in both written and oral. The more languages known, the better to serve the ppl of the community. No federal or state regulation has in place that the indentured servant ( I mean employee) is mandated to only use English. It may be a general advisal (suggestion) but I highly doubt even our govt stated what you proclaim.
I admire folks who can adapt and accommodate the public thru languages of various lands. Fascinating not offended.. Admirable.
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