Why do certain people think it's rude to speak a foreign language in public in the U.S.?

Question

I keep reading answers from people regarding immigration, English as a proposed official language, and other topics where they say that speaking a language other than English in public is rude. Why do they think this is the case? It's one thing to say that not knowing how to speak English at all if you're in immigrant (or perhaps even a tourist) is problematic. It's a completely different thing to say that people shouldn't speak their native language in front of others.

If you're one of those who thinks it's rude, ponder this situation first before you respond to the other: How many languages do you speak? Do you ever travel? If so, what language do you speak when you're in public overseas? Even if you speak French fluently and use it to order food, purchase tickets, etc..., don't you speak English when you're talking to other Americans, even when in France? If you do, then by your very own rules, you're being rude. Sounds kind of stupid if you look at it that way, doesn't it?

I do remember when I was young & newly married to my Arabic-speaking husband that I sometimes thought other Arabs were being rude when they spoke Arabic together when I was around, rather than speaking English. I later realized that I was being paranoid and rude myself, expecting them to accommodate me in spite of their common language! It wasn't the part of any evil plan on their part to conceal their discussion from me, it was simply more natural for them to use their native tongue together, even though they spoke English, especially at cultural gatherings that mostly Arabs attended. You come to realize that this just comes with the territory when you hang around people who are multilingual. (I speak French fluently now, so I'm a little more sensitive, or should I say sensible, about being open to foreign language speakers.)

To seadoodad74, cowgirl91, Dawn, & bmwdriver11: No, no, I didn't ask if you think it's rude if they try to speak their native tongue when ordering food or purchasing goods in a non-ethnic store in the U.S. I'm with you on that. I'm just talking about saying it's rude when, for example, a family talks to each other while in line at a store or while having dinner in a restaurant...after having ordered their meal in English. And incidentally, English is neither the official language nor the only language in the United States. You can't use that as a response because it's not true.

Answer 1

Part of the issue is ignorance, another part is ego-centrism. People seem to always assume when they hear two people talking in another language that the speakers must be somehow talking about the non-speakers.

Another part is that many people here feel put off and less 'superior' if there are people speaking other languages around them. I speak three languages other than English. I am a LEGAL immigrant. I take every chance to speak any of my languages as a chance to share, develop and practice skills.

It also gives me an understanding of how people think from other cultures. If you refuse to learn other languages/deal with non-English speakers, you limit yourself.

English, for the most part will always be 'under attack' and will also always be the common language in the US. As new groups come here from other countries (not just South America and the Carribean) those languages will be heard as well. Give the current group of immigrants two generations and let's see how many still can't speak English.

Answer 2

It is rude when you're with a group of people to speak in a language that not everyone can understand. This is because you're excluding some people and making them feel awkward. If, however, you're in a group where everyone can understand, then I don't believe it matters what language it is you're speaking.

If, for instance, you have five people at home, and one of them doesn't speak Arabic, then it would be rude for the others to do so if there's a language they can all understand. On the other hand, if you're in a public restaurant with four other people, and all of you can speak Arabic, there's no reason you shouldn't. It has to do with who you're with, not where you are.

I speak French fluently and have been to France and so know what you're talking about. Still, if a friend and I are there and both of us speak French while the French friends we're with don't speak English, it's only polite for us to talk in French when they're around. It lets everyone feel included.

Answer 3

I completely agree with you. I do get mad if I go to a restaurant or call somewhere, like the cable company or phone company for technical help and can't get anyone that speaks English very well. It is frustrating for me and the other party. It gets me even more upset when they get mad at me because I don't understand their accent. And you would have to have a very strong accent for me not to understand. However, if someone is speaking to someone else in public in a language other than English, I don't care. The only thing I could think of would be if someone was insecure about themselves and thought maybe they were being talked about. You have a right to speak whatever language you want.

Answer 4

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I speak English but if I were to move to say France, I'd sure learn to speak French. I don't have a problem with others speaking among themselves in their own language, but English is the majority language on this planet. It doesn't matter where a person lives though. Learn to speak the language of the country you are living in.

Answer 5

There is a time and place for everything. At work, there is a woman from Croatia, she speaks English while she is working with all of us. She has a heavy accent , we all understand her. When she is speaking to her husband on the phone she uses her native language. They have only been in USA for about four years, are both learniing English.
This is not a problem.

Answer 6

At Japan, Japanese will look u so rude if u speaking English. For example you ( English ppl either American or British ) go to a restaurant at Japan and after you got a non English people. The Japanese will serve for non English first although you come first. But the non English should not speaking in English.

Answer 7

Because they're close-minded and think that the only language spoken in the world is English, but now, if you go to the bank, there's spanish.

There is seriously this guy I know who doesn't believe French is spoken at all by normal people (just because people in the town don't speak french 100% of the time). He thinks nobody out there speaks french because that's how close-minded he is.

Answer 8

Speak the language that I know the other person knows...so If i'm speaking to a hispanic....I will speak in Spanish....If their French...i will speak french.....seems easy....but there's always people who think they are being spoken about behind they're back.....but sometimes I just don't care what they think because i'm sure people like their privacy sometimes so apparently speaking a different language helps from telling the whole world what is going on......

Answer 9

I can only speak for myself here, but I DON'T have a problem with people speaking their native language in my presence. It affords me the opportunity to learn a little of their language, and maybe I can even teach them a little English at the same time. The only reason I can see for English to become the "offical" language is NOT to keep people from speaking their own languages, but to make sure they can get help here in the USA when they need it. Just think of the many other languages represented here today. Do you really think it's practical for EVERY government employee, every medical professional, or every service provider to be able to speak ALL of them and converse with anybody who walks up?
Only once have I found myself in a situation where I thought it WAS indeed rude. I was in a Korean nail salon for an emergency single-nail repair, and this girl who was working with me kept looking at my manicure, laughing and babbling to her co-workers in Korean, and then they laughed some more. I might have been mistaken, but it just seemed to me she was making fun of me. I never went back to that salon again.
I highly support anybody keeping their native language and their native customs. But this is a multi-cultural world we live in now, and we all need to learn to live with each other and embrace our differences.

Answer 10

They only CLAIM it's rude, since they don't know what is being said. If a person thinks it's rude then they are rude for wanting them to speak English to know what they're talking about. That's why people talk in other languages so no one will know what they are saying. Cause too many people eavesdrop and then spread rumors. It's really not rude to speak in public in other languages, people just don't like it since they don't know what's going on.