do you think it is rude when....?

Question

people speak a different language to each other knowing I do not speak that language? At work there are two guys that speak french creole. sometimes while they are talking, they switch back and forth from english to french creole. I don't think they are talking about me or anything. but I do get a little irritated. do you think I am right to be a little aggravated at the situation? I mean, this is america. and I only speak english. I think it is just rude.

I work in a hospital.. they do this in our break room. it is a very small room. thank you all for your answers. I do realize now that they probably do not intend to be rude.

I do speak a little spanish, and I have tried to learn different languages. However, I'm not good enough at them to carry on a conversation. I wasn't "boasting" about anything. I wento to college for a respiratory degree, not a degree in foreign languages. not that I wouldn't consider it.

Answer 1

I am mexican living in the U.S. For several periods of time I have had co-workers that also speak Spanish.
We would speak Spanish among ourselves when it was a private conversation. If there was another person present or participating in the conversation we would either translate and inform the person what we were talking about or we would definitely switch to English.
If your co-workers speak a language that you don't speak in front of you or when you are part of the conversation then yes, it's rude.

Answer 2

It's rude if it is a conversation that you are participating in. If not (and you're just overhearing, or worse, eavesdropping on them), it's none of your beeswax what language they speak.

It is always very funny to me that Americans are the most easily irritated when people speak another language in front of them or when someone doesn't speak English. (I'm an American, by the way). I have traveled over several different continents, and invariably, it is the American tourists who are shouting at the locals in English and growing more and more furious because the locals don't understand them. It is also usually the American tourists who are complaining loudly to each other in English (as if the locals are too dumb to understand them) about how confusing the money is, why the toilets are different, and that the food doesn't taste "right."

You say "I only speak english." Are you saying that you are multi-lingual, but you are exercising careful, polite discretion to speak only English so as not to alienate other people? Or are you saying that you didn't ever try to learn a second language? I hope it's the former. If it's the latter, that's not something to boast about.

Answer 3

FYI, America does NOT have an official language.

On May 18, 2006 the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 has an Amendment (Inhofe Amendment) that, if passed, will officially make English the language of U.S.A.

You company may have a one-language policy and therefore would make it improper to use a non-English language in the workplace.

However, it's not generally considered rude to speak another language "around" someone else.
My wife and I are polyglots and enjoy the freedom of practicing that flexibility. We are normally sensitive to others around us but I'm sure have offended someone without intent.

That being said just some interesting facts:

(This only covers imported languages)

English is the most common language,
Then in this order of commonality:
Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Tagalog (Philippines), Llocano, Italian, Russian (so much for the cold war), Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic

Answer 4

Had a couple Spanish speaking friends who, before they knew me really well, thought it was safe to speak in Catalan as it's more French than Spanish.... Well.... I understand people who speak in other languages might revert to those in order for more privacy and bonding with the other person, but it does feel like they're shutting you out when they do it around you, like they're trying to get away with saying stuff they don't want you to hear. Kind of like those aliens in the Simpsons show. You don't think they'd make the commentaries from their space ship if they thought the people of Springfield could somehow hear them, LOL? But this is what multilingual people are used to being able to do, like twins who have their own little private language, and monolingual people have their own kind of rude social habits too. :D

If your company doesn't have an English only policy, then just use your common sense and step away when they're speaking what you don't understand...coz they don't want you to join in.... Some companies DO ban other languages on the grounds of not knowing what might be said, could be trade secret issues, LOL. But I bet all you're missing is your coworkers laughing about the color of someone's shirt....

Answer 5

IT is rude but than again it could just be out of habit.
My family does the same thing with spanish though I tell them they speak "spanglish"
At my old job in a post-acute rehab. facility we weren't allowed to speak any language besides english while on the floor but we could speak whatever we wanted when we were in the break room.
Maybe when they speak there language you could ask them what there saying and maybe you'll start picking up on there conversation.

Answer 6

Yes I think your wrong many Americans go to other countries and speak English it is no diff. I mean the whole point of America is its acceptence of diversity when you complain about someones differences it goes against that.

And I have to say this to all the people on here saying if your in america you should have to speak english. Then I say no american should visit another country unless they can speak that countries language fluently because trust me many Americans come to Japan and can't speak a word of the Japanese language and we don't consider them rude.

Answer 7

Imagine that you are in Germany at work and while you and your coworker speak fluent German you speak to her in English on your breaks, even though the others in your office just speak German. You do this because it's easier for you and it feels more natural because you grew up speaking English.

Instead of being annoyed, ask them to teach you a few phrases and words. I have relatives who are bilingual and when I'm with them we'll converse in English and every now and again one of them will launch into German and the others will begin to speak German - they're not trying to be rude, it's just how they talk as a family. I either wander off or remind them to speak English.

Answer 8

I dont agree with you. If they wanted you to be a part of their conversation, they would speak in your language to you. I believe French has a long history in certain parts of the US.

If you worked in Mexico and there was only one other English speaking person in your office, would you avoid speaking to them in English so as to not offend the others in the office?

Answer 9

I think it's completely natural for people who share a common native language to speak to each other in that language. Have you ever tried to learn a new language and found it difficult? It's just so much easier to speak in a language you're more comfortable in, if you can. As you've said, you don't think they are doing it to conceal the content of what they are saying, so I wouldn't take it as rude.

Answer 10

Yes this is America - a country made up of immigrants!
You may speak only English, but a lot of people speak more than one language.
Besides, if you went to another country, I bet you would be aggrevated if nobody there spoke English to help you get around.

But yes, it is rude for them to be doing that in a work setting.

It obviously makes you uncomfortable but it also might make other coworkers and even customers uncomfortable.

Speak to your boss to best handle the situation.