Are Americans Sometimes Arrogant or Quick To Judge?

I have learned a bit of about 4 or 5 languages as a result of travels. Speak what you wish besides when it comes to english we have multiple regioal dialects!

Well it could have been as simple as them wanting to maintain a personal conversation, and as they felt a kinship to each other by their common heritage that they just felt it to be appropriate to speak in their native language. I encounter this often as our area is so diverse. Also, as my wife is of Mediterranean decent, whenever she and her family are together, they share the bond of the language. I no longer take it as an insult, as they are usually reliving days gone by. It just gives me an opportunity to tune into Sportscenter or AR.

Midori, great post !!!

I was born and raised in Germany and lived there for 30 years. I speak 99% of the time and I was shocked last week when I had 5 friends from Germany visiting. I was desperately looking for words and phrases and I decided that I have to start speaking more German (3 of my co workers are German) or have to read a German book or something. Speaking different language is more than this it is also thinking in different ways, knowing different cultures, and and and.

Midori,

For the most part I think Americans are tolerant of other languages spoken in our country. We travel to Europe @ least once a year and I always say I'm going to learn another language so I can speak their language instead of them fumbling through English to accommodate me!

the insecure are quick to judge ... paranoid maybe.   I love to hear other languages...wish I was able to understand... but not offended

Yea that was a little over the top. Ann Arbor is a very international community and many languages are spoken. I have come to accept that when I am showing a house, many times they will begin to speak in their native language to each other about the house.

I sure wish at those times I could understand what they are saying. (((sigh)))

America HAS to be one of the few countries in the world where we DONT encourage someone to speak another language.  The intolerance slays me.  My partner speaks spanish, my assistant speaks spanish.  They speak spanish together and it does NOT bother me.  In fact, I like it because I am NOT distracted with another conversation.

Once my partner's husband corrected her and told her to speak only English in front of me.  I just put up my hand and said "PLEASE I am OK."  Ever since they all feel comfortable speaking Spanish to me.  What's funny is I don't understand a lick of Spanish but I understand tone.  I have never felt threatened ONE IOTA because someone was speaking in a foreign language in front of me.

Maybe it is because my grandparents spoke Polish to each other and I have heard foreign tongue ever since I was a baby.

We, as a nation, need to ENCOURAGE people to speak foreign languages if we want to excel in a global market.  I have a feeling that will be too hard for many to grasp.

Midori, I speak Slovenian as do my parents and my husband speaks Hungarian. My mother generally speaks to me only in Slovenian as that is most comfortable. It is interesting that it has been  my father who tells her not to speak Slovenian in front of my husband so that he does not feel left out of the conversation. But my husband has assured her over and over again that it's ok. His Mom spoke English, Hungarian and German so I know what that feels like.

Midori, I'm of the belief that having another language is a great thing.  I wish I could speak another language fluently - I studied Spanish and can by but only basically.  What I love about one of my husband's associates is that he is French and his wife is Polish. They each speak English as well. They also each speak their native langugage to their daughter and she goes back and forth with them.  When she has one of her American playmates over she speaks in English.  I think this is a beautiful thing and something that should be kept alive.  I do agree if you are involved in the conversation a langugage should be spoken that all can understand and be involved in so that no one feels excluded in that conversation.  But if they are talking together, why should we have a problem with that?  ~Anne Marie

I think that all immigrants should be forced to learn English.  I think that we need English only education.  However, I am envious of all who speak more than one. I speak a little 2nd language and wish I spoke more.  A friend of mine couldn't get in to medical school here so he went to mexico for two years to a spanish only medical school.  He didn't speak spanish.  He learned spanish and medicine and transferred back up here.  He is the head physician in the emergency room.  He's an inspiration. 

I'm with you about judging as well.  I do think that for the safety of the future of america we need a universal first language (but I'll digress on that point in another blog), but I do agree that we need a certain tolerance, not judgment when dealing with others who "aren't the same."  I love this post M.  The encounter that happened, shouldn't have happened.  My point was about our educational system.  What 2 people do on the street???  Who cares.  The guy who confronted should be hung up by his toe nails.

And for extra points: did they assume you won't understand them? If they switched languages in order to have privacy they were assuming you couldn't follow along. For instance, I followed a Twitter link back to this post. 90% of what is said in Twitter "e's" I can't understand, but I got this post!

I do not know why that person would care so much as to actually interupt these two people to demand they speak "the ultimate language." I do believe English should be signified as the main and dominent language here in the US, but I do not discourage any other languages to be spoken here as well.

Midori --- I say that whoever told those folks to speak English because they were in America just needs to "get over it".  I bet they only speak English.  I know that I only speak English -- wish that I had learned others, but never did.  I admire those folks who speak multiple languages.

I live in AZ, and hear Spanish a lot. I grew up 30 miles form the border. I've never heard anyone object like that. I think every citizen should be ABLE to speak English, but I don't care what they speak day to day.

Midori ~ As you know I speak spanish, and yes it gets me upset when they tall me they don't like the spanish being talked around them because they can't understand. Well its between me and the person I am talking to. What business is it of anyone else if I am not talking to you. Its one thing if you are in the group and someone started to talk in another language then I wouldn't do it out of respect to the person who doesn't but thats it.

I was always taught that it was a good habit to try and speak or learn a few words in another country's language.  Fortunately for me when I was younger and traveling I could do that but I may have a difficult time of it now, but it would be fun trying.

I think that we should all try and practice that.  what say you?

I'm challenged enough by English...  But what was funny was being at a closing where everyone in the room except me spoke Vietnamese... but they didn't know my seller also spoke Vietnamese.  I didn't either.  Good thing they didn't say anything about him...

At the end of the closing he casually asked about a restaurant in Vietnamese.  They were floored and shocked.

I agree with you....But....I also believe that for your own good....if you are going to stay here...live here and be a part of this country...you had better learn the language. A neighbor's father had been here 40 plus years from Italy and was hospitalized...no one knew what he wanted, what hurt, etc. unless one of his son's was there to translate....sooo speak what you want when you want but know that  "When in Rome....if you don't do what the Romans do....it could actually be life threatening.

Not to worry Midori.

That's probably not the first ignorant thing that person has done that day.

I certainly HEAR your passion about this and UNDERSTAND very well how insulting it is.... FIRST HAND!   

Diane