Why is it considered impolite to speak a foreign language around people...?

Question

Why is it considered impolite to speak a foreign language around people who aren't even involved in the conversation? I could understand the objections of someone who's a participant in a conversation, but if someone isn't taking part in a conversation, then it's none of his business what's being said in the conversation. If anything, if someone objects to a foreign language being used in a conversation that doesn't involve him/her, then it implies that he/she wishes to eavesdrop, and that's ruder than anything!

Answer 1

Are all English speakers traveling to Quebec in Canada going to speak French? Are all the thousands of Americans touring Europe every year going to speak German in Germany, Italian in Italy and Russian in Russia? Of course not.

If you are having a conversation with someone, you may use any language you like. What interest is to to anyone else? I certainly don't get offended when people speak a language other than English within my hearing, why should I?

Answer 2

If you are all sitting at a table, it is rude to not include anyone near you in the conversation. There is nothing more uncomfortable than for someone to be sitting there looking stupid, while others are having a conversation in a foreign language right in front of them. I think most people would assume that if you carry on a conversation in a foreign language, you are talking about the person who can't understand your conversation or you are purposely excluding someone from the conversation, which is RUDE.

Answer 3

In islam, we r advised not to use foreign language around ppl, even if they r not involved in the conversation, and this is for alot of reasons but all serve the same end, to preserve the solidarity of the community.
most ppl tend to have negative feelings when put in situations like these, some may get paranoid, some may feel inferior, and all would feel uncomfortable.
just imagine if we managed to put an end to all the negative feelings, how great would that be!

Answer 4

It's a very American attitude since most of us are fairly ignorant of other languages and of globalization. Go to Europe, and you'll hear a variety of languages spoken all around you, and people don't have a problem with it -- it's a beautiful thing. And besides, most Europeans speak at least one other language (and often more than one.)

I used to be sure that anyone speaking another language was talking smack about me, so I went out and learned a few languages (and found out they weren't talking about me after all); unfortunately, the average American will just trumpet the old "You're in America, so you should speak English" rather than try to broaden his/her linguistic horizons. It's kind of an American thing. I mean, how many of the original colonizers of this country actually tried to learn the native languages of the country they were invading? :P

Answer 5

Some people might think your talking about them or something to do with them. I have also had friends that spoke another language between themselves even though they were at the same table with us. You have to remove yourself a bit because when you travel the same thing happens when you speak english around others... there is always a suspicion.

Answer 6

You seem to have a strong sense of self entitlement.

Good manners and respect for those around you in a work or social setting is indicated by speaking in a language that everyone can understand.

If the conversation is private enough that you wish to exclude others, then you and your confidante should remove yourself from a group setting and then you may speak whatever language you choose.

When you speak in a language not understood by those around you the message you are giving is clear: "What I am saying is none of your business, but unfortunately I have to tolerate your presence so I am going to put up a communications barrier just to let everyone know I am somehow more special than everyone else."

Answer 7

Because when other people speak in a foreign language around you, it makes you paranoid because they could be speaking about YOU, for all you know. I've seen instances of people speaking a foreign language around people they know don't understand them, and they are really insulting that person and having a nice joke about it, without that person knowing, even though they are right in front of them.

Answer 8

I think if you are in a business...or you have a business...like for example when i go to the nail shop the women are always speaking their language and i dont mind...but i think others do because they think that they are talking about them. and out of respect for customers they should just talk in english so it wont seem rude.

Answer 9

Because they could be talking about you and you wouldn't know it. I'm sorry, but you live in a country where the main language is English. Speak it in public. When you're at home I don't care what you do. Yeah, I'm likely gonna get "You're a racist," blah blah blah, but I don't care, that's what I think. If I moved to, say, China, I think I would make an effort to learn the language and try to speak it as often as possible, it just makes sense.

Answer 10

there is a possibility you may be talking about the listener in your language, the listener, especially when you start laughing tword the them(probably not intentionally) brings wonder to a curious mind what is being said, and if its about them!