Have you ever been demeaned because you are speaking your native language?

Question

Have you ever had a difficult time adjusting to speaking your language in public?

Answer 1

I have never been demeaned for speaking my native Russian in public. However, there is a common rule of courtesy: if there are speakers of other languages in your group and they don' speak your native language, speak their language. If you can not, speak English or any other language you and your companion can speak. If you are, let us say, a restaurant manager in an English speaking country and you have employees that are from the same country you are, speak English while you are communicating with them at your place of work.

Answer 2

Ironically, I've always felt a bit uncomfortable when my husband speaks in his native language while in public. I think I feel this way because we are Muslims and I wear a scarf - so obviously people stare even more than usual when he's talking. His voice is deep and carries easily also. I'm proud of who I am but I've learned to sort of shield myself from the glares because I wear a scarf. When he starts speaking Arabic then it's just another reason to raise my shield again.

Answer 3

Yes, after living in India for a few years and speaking only Hindi, my English came out really weird for a while when I went back to England. Now I've lived in Japan for 20 years I sometimes wonder what I am saying when I call my mum on the phone.

Answer 4

I think it's a very common situation where kids grow up in an English-speaking situation, but their parents speak to them in their own language, the kids can feel really embarrassed and shown up as foreign in front of other kids. It's really sad that other people's mockery can make kids try to disown their parents' language, so that they can eventually lose it. :(

Answer 5

I have had a few stares while i speak Sindarin Elvish to a friend or Scots Gaelic to my wife but English is my native tounge.

I used to have a girlfriend who spoke Russian and we'd speak Russian to each other just to annoy the rednecks and when we wanted to have private talk about our plans for later in the evening in front of her family who only spoke English.

Answer 6

Yes, I was speaking German once and some black woman referred to me as a Nazi. Funny, becuse the person I was haveing the converstaion with was Jewish, and she wasn't the least bit offended by the choice of langauge spoke. Just becuse I am proud to be German dosn't make me an idiot Nazi. What a fool that woman was.

Answer 7

No I speak English and live in the USA. So, no problem. When I travel, I have no problem speaking English. I have more problems trying to speak other languages.

Answer 8

Yeah, it happens to me at school a lot. I am from Costa Rica and so is my boyfriend, but we go to school in Arkansas. Anyway, people are really paranoid here and they look at you like they must know what you are talking about, even if it doesn't concern them. I use a lot of "spanglish" and they look at me like I have to decide one or the other. It's especially uncomfortable when they stare or even ask what you are talking about.

Answer 9

Yeah, although sometimes i get confused and speak the other language though.

Answer 10

I remember once being told to "speak white" in the 'ol US of A once when I was speak to my wife in French while on vacation, and I was not even addressing that gentleman - he was just eavesdropping on our conversation...