I know you speak English?

Question

Why do you pretend you don't? Why don't you want to speak English? I know there are people that do not speak English, I am not writing about them.

Answer 1

It's a control issue.

Answer 2

I also think, like at least one other answerer, it is quite rare for people to pretend, online, that they don't speak English when they actually can. What's the use? Maybe one or two weirdos would, but not a lot.

That's online. If you are talking about travelling in a non-English speaking country, it is quite rude to just start chatting away in English, without politely asking first, especially if you need help. That attitude communicates the message that you demand that everybody should be able to speak English, and that you think the local speech is inferior. In cases like that, I would certainly consider pretending not to be able to speak English. I do not think anybody should travel in a foreign country without learning at least 10 words in the local language. It is called respect. If you can't phrase "Do you speak English?" in the local language, ask the question clearly and slowly, before you initiate a conversation in English. I wonder what this "know you speak English" means. Do you have pschycic powers? Unlike the way we are portrayed in American movies, people in non-English speaking communities are not very phrone to speak English with each other.

And yes, there are a lot of people that actually can't speak English. I'd say failure to recognise the non-assumability of English proficiency, would be the most frequent reason for people refusing to speak the language.

Answer 3

I don't think that people often pretend not to know English while they understand it.
If they do they must have serious reasons for it: they don't like English speaking countries, policy of the governments of these countries or consider everything that comes from English side of the world evil that is destructing other cultures and ways of life in order to spread "English" values all over the world.
People of smaller countries, little independent cultures or even big but not very successfull in economical sense countries speak their own languages, they are proud to have it and they find that foreigners can learn it as well as other most spread langauges. And if you don't make an effort to learn it even a bit why should they make a step forward to you in learning or understanding your language.
Such situation is typical for many dominat langauges and you may face it in many countries.
People from Flam part of Belgium appreciate the language they speak - Nederlans and not french. French people from France find thier french better than that in the french part of Belgium.
In western Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia they will behave as they don't understan a world of russian though it's a lie, people in these countries studied it in school and for many years Russian was wide spread in the daily life thier contries...
So it's a problem of attitudes, I think.
Plus, if you don't speak you can listen pretending that you don't inderstand you can get info that you won't get in the open talk.

Answer 4

Et tu Brute! ET TU!

I thought I DID speak english of course not correctly

Answer 5

I read English see movies, But reluctant to speak its my accent .

Answer 6

Deja de fumar eso.

I do, but I prefer my native language, Spanish.

Answer 7

because english isn´t the only language in the world.
there are thousand others.

you understand me?

Answer 8

Simple!
Just because they DON'T want to show their ability off.
They are introvert person. They will NEVER go far in life

Answer 9

Er - you talking to me?

Answer 10

Ok, ya got me.