In your own country would you get ofended if a person spoke in their own language?

Question

meaning that i live in a foregin contry and i have met some people who get angry if i speak in my language and not their language, they say that if i live in their country i should speak their language all the time even if i am speaking to my family members. so i wanted to know if all people felt like that

mo you misunderstand me i am saying that i when i am speaking to another person that know my language the people of this country get offended givenn if i am not talking to them or i don't even know them they just come up to me and tell me to stop talking in my language. in know the language of this country but i want to speak mine when i feel like it

Answer 1

I don't get offended when I'm out at the store and there are people talking to each other in another language. It doesn't involve me. I'm too absorbed in my own tasks to be offended because I can't eavesdrop on another person's conversation. I also don't get offended if a person knows very little of my country's language and speaks in their own language to me half the time. At least they're making the effort.

There are only three language-based possible incidents that offend me. (And these are all assuming that I am speaking the language of the country in which I am living. If I'm traveling to another country, these don't factor in.)

1) I'm trying to talk to a person who I know speaks English and who knows I don't speak their mother tongue. Yet they pretend they don't speak English.

2) I'm trying to do business with someone from another country and they say something like, "Let me talk to my associate about this" and then they talk with another person from their country in their mother tongue right in front of me. For all I know, they could be insulting me to my face and scheming about how best to take advantage of me. Not good business.

3) The person speaking the other language is pointing at me and laughing. Yes, I'd be offended if someone speaking English did that, but at least I'd be able to walk up to them and say, "What is your major malfunction?" Can't do that with someone who can't (or refuses to) speak the language.

It doesn't sound to me like you do any of these. There's nothing wrong with speaking to your friends and/or family in a language that you are all comfortable with. If anyone butts in on your conversation and informs you that you are speaking the wrong language, there is nothing wrong with telling them to leave you alone. You're not hurting anyone.

Answer 2

The old rule was, always speak in the language of the land, if you see other people around you, especially if you understand both languages well enough. Speaking in the language that people do not understand will invite suspicion, distrust, and goes against fostering a good will.

That's the rule I went by when I came to the US 25+ years ago. We used to switch the language when others were around. I don't think many people go by this rule anymore.

Today, if you are strictly speaking with family member though, I don't see why you can't use your own language. I would be respectful of others, and lower your voice. (not whisper, just speak in reasonable amount of volume) Some people are annoyed when someone is loudly and openly speaking in foreign language.

To me, this is not a question of ones right.... it's all about being courteous and being aware of others. I'm glad you are asking this question.

Answer 3

I don't think this is a question of any country..I believe this is all about courtesy..I will feel uncomfortable too when someone speaks their language knowing that I couldn't understand a bit..there should be a common ground..a common language where at least for the whole crowd to understand..all in the matter of deciphering the situation...it is not polite to speak another language when others dont speak or understand the language!!!

Answer 4

My future son-in-law has been in the united states for 7 years. He speaks Spanish most of the time even though he speaks English very well,

My husband is also a native Spanish speaker whose parents were from Chile. I never heard him speak Spanish until the son-in-law came into the picture. I asked him why he did not speak Spanish more and he said his ex wife and others looked down on him for it.

Now we are a bi-lingual home and very happy to be. We sometimes speak Spanish out or Spanglish, whatever we feel like.

If people don't like how you talk in your native language, they, not you have the problem.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say it's offensive per say, but I find it incredibly rude. If there are three people, you speak that language that ALL three people know, you never want to exclude someone.

I worked in retail and CONSTANTLY had customers that did not speak English... certain nationalities were MUCH friendlier in realizing that I shouldn't necessarily know their language... others felt that not only was it okay to hold conversations in another language while I rang them up, but to also talk ABOUT me in another language while I rang them up, or charged them the correct amount that they couldn't comprehend because they didn't know the language of the country that we are in.

Regardless, if I moved to another country, or I was visiting, I WOULD NOT assume that people knew my language and I would make the effort to at least ATTEMPT their language and be FRIENDLY about it.

Answer 6

Foreigners are like cue balls, the harder you hit them the more English you can get out of them. I found from living over seas that if you at least make an effort to learn and speak the language, they will appreciate your effort and at least try to speak English or effectively communicate with you. To answer your question though, I would not be offended, I would just ignore them until they at least tried to use the language. I think if a lot of stores and businesses quit putting up signs in Spanish or hiring people to translate Mexican'ts would have to learn the language.

Answer 7

No, I am not offended when I hear people speaking in languages other than my own. I think the people who spout such nonsense have never bothered to study a foreign language, so they have no idea how difficult it is to stay in that language 100% of the time.

Answer 8

No not really because there could be a chance i could understand most of it and some people don't always feel the need to learn the language especially if they are just visiting. I would be weirded out a bit but i wouldn't be angry that's just silly.

Answer 9

In America, we hear a lot of foreign languages, and that's not a problem. But when we are expected to provide all services and functions of society in a language other than our own, that is a huge problem.
In your case, I don't think others should be angry with you for using your own language. However, you should also be willing and able to function in the society in which you live, using the language of that society.

Answer 10

no I wouldnt be offended however depending how long you plan on being in this country it probably is best to learn as much of the language as you can. I think that shows respect for their country and cultural and even if you completely demolish the language at least you are trying and learning!