Speaking a Language Others Cant Understand?

[Saj]

I was listening to a radio show the other day about immigration in the UK and how folk should speak English when they are around people who can only speak English.

One caller rang in and said that he felt uncomfortable when he was in a taxi in Bradford and the driver started to speak Punjabi on the radio with his colleague, as he didnt know what he was saying.

Do you think its ignorant of people to speak in a language that they know others around then cant understand ?

[Oxy]

Language is communication - and you speak the language that you communicate in the most effectively.

If 2 people want to speak Swahili with each other, then go for it!

Dont see English people going to live in Majorca & speaking Spanish...

[the_game]

It's very rude, that's for sure. I have a few friends who do that and it really does annoy me; nobody is telling you to forget about Urdu but for the love of God hold off on it until non-Urdu speakers are not present.

[Ghoshtbuster]

Why was the guy in the taxi listening?

If the driver was not talking to him, then there is no issue at all.

[the SHA]

Its discourteous to speak in a different language in the company of someone who doesnt understand it! Whether some by-passer down the road passes for 'company' though Im not sure, cabbies will be cabbies though...

[me_asim]

I think it depends on the situation. I have no problem speaking in Urdu with my friends or family while I am in public. However, if you are in a dialouge with a third party who can't speak in other language then the use of common lanuage betwwen 1st and 2nd parties should be avoided.

[Saj]

Originally Posted by Ghoshtbuster Why was the guy in the taxi listening? If the driver was not talking to him, then there is no issue at all.

Because he was in the same car as the taxi driver and didnt cover his ears when he was speaking.

It happened to me once when we were in Spain a few years ago and the taxi driver was rabbiting on in Spanish. I found it a bit unnerving to be honest as we were in a strange country etc - thankfully my daughter could speak and understand a bit of Spanish and she assured me that the driver was talking to his wife about food

[Ghoshtbuster]

Dont worry I understand the dynamics and acoustics of a taxi/car.

Just to be clear, why was the passenger concerned/uncomfortable with what was being said, since it was not being directed to him.

[BD-fan]

If the conversation (gathering) is held between three person or more, where one or more don't understand the language being spoken, then the speakers should use a language that is understandable to everyone. One should not alienate someone in the crowd intentionally or unintentionally.

Now with the Taxi driver the case is different. What if the other person (wife in this case) in the phone only understands one language?

[Geordie Ahmed]

As others have mentioned if 3 people are in company and 2 of them speak in their own language (even tho they can communicate in a language all 3 understand) then that is rude

BUT absolutely nowt wrong with what that Taxi Driver did, i have been in that situation before (me being the Taxi Driver) and i dont see owt wrong with it

[jusarrived]

^ agree with GA here , dont see anything with the taxi driver speaking in punjabi ..but when you are in a group , you should speak in a language every one can understand , if you can !

[nazimcricket]

Reminds me of something which happened to me once. I used to be part of a social charity group years ago and one of my co-volunteers was uber rascist. He considered me an exception and started talking to me. Turns out the crux of his problem was with "foreigners" who talk in their own language in "his" country.

I simply posed a question to him. I said, imagine you're on holiday in a foreign country. You go to a takeaway shop, place your order and then turn to your wife to say something to her. What language will you use? That's when the penny dropped for him.

Having said that, it would be nice if foreigners were more aware of people around them. As one of the posters mentioned, it's all about courtesy.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Oxy Language is communication - and you speak the language that you communicate in the most effectively. If 2 people want to speak Swahili with each other, then go for it! Dont see English people going to live in Majorca & speaking Spanish...

exactly...why should anyone have to speak English out of courtesy, especially if they aren't speaking to them

[kingusama92]

lol that guy just is feeling bad cause he had to pay the taxi driver too much

It's not bad to speak in another language even if someone who doesn't understand it is standing beside you doesn't understand. There are too many factors to consider.. what if one of the people don't understand English?

Also, if an English speaking man goes to another country does he start speaking that language?? There are certain times when it's bad such as the taxi one... but even then only some people are picky about that... most people don't care.

[nazimcricket]

At this very moment, the chick in the cubicle next to me is talking her head off in German. Damn her eyes!!! lol

[Genghis]

I think if you are in a group (3 or more) and speaking a language that one person doesn't understand, then that can be considered rude. In fact one of my cousins always speaks to me in Urdu, but I have told him specifically that when he is around English speaking friends of mine, he should speak Engligh.

But if I was having a one on one conversation with someone else in Urdu why should it matter to those around me. For example, if I get a call at work from my wife, I don't start speaking to her in English just because my colleagues speak English. Of course I will speak to her in Urdu and I wouldn't think anyone would have a problem with that.

[lawaz]

I say it depends on the context. If I and a desi friend are speaking Urdu/Hindi in my podunk, little southeastern Arizona town to annoy passerbys and eavesdroppers then of course it is rude--no question about it. On the other hand, if communicating in our native tongue without the intent to harass others, then I think it's perfectly OK.

[Poison]

I find it very rude. Particularly when they've been speaking to you in English, and then they suddenly start talking to another person in their own language, while you stand there wondering whether they're talking about you.

[Waq]

Brings me to my father who I still cringe to going shopping with. When I was younger, if we were in a place like PC World to by a computer and the saleman asked us if we were interested then my dad would speak to me in punjabi and ask me yes or no and then reply to the salesman in English. It seemed rather rude but would have been a lot of worse if the saleman understood that my dad also swore at his parents in punjabi for not giving a discount!

[Saj]

Originally Posted by Waq Brings me to my father who I still cringe to going shopping with. When I was younger, if we were in a place like PC World to by a computer and the saleman asked us if we were interested then my dad would speak to me in punjabi and ask me yes or no and then reply to the salesman in English. It seemed rather rude but would have been a lot of worse if the saleman understood that my dad also swore at his parents in punjabi for not giving a discount!

Going back to my point about the taxi driver. I think that scenario is a little different to your every day scenario, as the passenger could feel threatened and unsafe in a car with a stranger who is talking to someone on the radio and the passenger cant understand a word.