is speaking another language other than English, considered rude or is it just uncomfortable?

Answer 1

Some Americans are so accustomed to hearing only English for the majority of their life that it DOES make them uncomfortable when there are others nearby speaking a foreign language. I had to laugh at one of my friends when we stopped at a little gas and go place to get some cold drinks on the way home from work. There were two guys behind us in line joking and talking in Spanish. When we got back to the car my friend commented he didn't like it when they spoke gibberish, "they might be saying bad things about me."
I said, "so what, as long as you don't know it won't hurt."

The Hispanics were okay with them speaking language foreign to us but guess what happened the next time?

A few days later, we were standing in line at the same store and the same guys came in speaking Spanish. I poked my friend on the arm and said "Just nod your head once in awhile and go along."
When I started speaking to my friend in German, the two Hispanics stopped joking and were looking at us a bit disturbed. Now guess who was uncomfortable? It would seem they too were ill at ease when they couldn't understand what was being said.

I would say it is rude if in a group the people can speak the same language and two of them switch to another language that excludes the rest. That suggests they have some secret they don't want to share with the group and makes the others feel left out.

When people are in a multicultural environment they should be expecting to hear other languages. When I was in Vienna, Austria for a week I think I heard 90% of every language on earth. When I heard one I thought was new I would politely ask if anyone could interpret English and I would try to learn what the language was and where it was from. All but one group was complimented that I cared enough to learn about them. But they had no interpreter and that may have caused them to be uncomfortable. For the most part they were glad to share what they knew, proving to me that most people really do have a good heart and a wish to get along with the others in the world.

Answer 2

No, I do not think it's rude to speak in another language than English. Except when a group visits an English speaking country and keeps speaking English in the company of their local host/friends.

I guess that people who can only speak one language might feel uncomfortable when stuck in the company of people speaking an other language............. but hey, that's why we learn languages at school............

By the way........ I find it rude when English speakers come to my country and expect me to speak English, it happens all the time...........

Answer 3

Its only considered rude when you're in a group and not everyone understands what you're saying in another languauge. Other than that its totally fine, Its kind of uncomfortable because there are others that dont understand and they might misunderstand what you mean.
I speak my language sometimes at school, like lunch. That's because people i hang with speak the same language. A year ago I hung out with people that only knew english and when people start talking in another language with me I'd feel really uncomfortable and i'd only reply with english back to them. Then this year, since others understand, I speak languages other than english.

Answer 4

Its not rude to speak in another language besides english even though there are people who can only speak in english. Its pretty natural. In countries which are multi-racial like Singapore, where I live, people speak different languages and you shouldn't expect anyone to speak just in english just so that you would understand what they're saying. If I was the one who didnt know the what they were talking about I wouldn't feel like they were rude or anything coz' that's what they are comfortable with.

Answer 5

That is really an opinion to be formed by an individual!! I do think that if you are in The U.S....you should learn English....just as a courtesy!!!

If I were to move to another country and decide to live there and they don't speak English....I would have to learn the language of the land right!!!
I generally don't think its polite to continually speak in a native tongue other than English...but it is a free country right?
People speak in American sign Language do you understand that???
I do wonder how most of our forefather's handled this situation???

Answer 6

Personally, I'd say it's rude. I am only English speaking. I have many family members that speak both English and french, English and Italian and English and Polish. Although most of the time they repeat what they've said (hopefully honestly lol!), sometimes it's inappropriate, and isolates a whole section of the family (not only me I'm talking about).
It's not taken very seriously, since we usually speak up and say "Hey Hey! What's that now?" It's all in fun, but be careful not to leave anyone out of your conversations!

Answer 7

I think sometimes people feel uncomfortable because they don't know what you are saying or speaking, but it's really not rude to me, because if i knew another language than I would speak it also.

Answer 8

What? Millions of people speak another language than English. What would be rude or uncomfortable about that? If you mean speaking another language when you are in a roomful of people who are unilingual and can't speak anything other than English, then it might be considered rude.

Answer 9

Neither. People speak in the language that is most comfortable to them.

I lived in Japan as an American for three years. I did not know Japanese, so I spoke English all the time. I hope no Japanese people were offended, but if they were it was unintentional.

I think it is pretty two-faced for English speakers expect everyone to learn and speak in English so that we don't feel uncomfortable.

Answer 10

It really depends on the context. Not everyone on the planet speaks English.

If you're talking about someone else in front of them in a language that (you think) they don't understand, that's rude. There's also the risk that they know that language, and they know that you're talking about them, and what you're saying.