for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Is it racist/prejudice/unfair/rude/illegal to ask the staff in a workplace to stick to speaking a language that everyone understands? As a student I'm currently working at a fast food 'restaurant' in order to earn enough money to survive, and within this workplace there are people of numerous nationalities, which of course is absolutely no problem in itself. Generally speaking there are 3 or four people of each nationality, although there are larger groups of others, and consequently they all share a mutual language which others do not speak or understand. I have no problem whatsoever with them speaking their own language on their breaks, or even when it is only their fellow countrymen present. However, what I do have a problem with, is them switching between English and another language when I'm working with them. I'm not just talking about the odd word, to help understanding or whatever, they all speak fluent English perfectly well, but I'm talking about someone saying something to me, then turning to their friend and saying something in a different language. They may well be saying something completely innocent but I find it extremely frustrating and frankly rude. This occurs regularly and is very alienating to not only myself but everybody else who does not speak the particular language. Would the Managers be within their rights to request that everybody speaks a mutually understood language, in this case English, whilst they are working together? And do you think this would be an acceptable action? I'm interested to see what others think because I'm sure it must be common in loads of work places but not sure whether people just get on with it or other companies and organisations have policies in place to deal with the 'problem'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 read the first line...and no, it in fact common courtesy if you ask me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 hello its me yusuf from your work, you dont want to know what were say, we only speak foreign when we make joke of you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 read the first line...and no, it in fact common courtesy if you ask me Cheers, yeah that's basically what I think. Tempted to make some kind of complaint/suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 hello its me yusuf from your work, you dont want to know what were say, we only speak foreign when we make joke of you lol well yes, that's probably what is happening. Jokes on them as I'm not going to be flipping burgers for the rest of my life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 You should make the effort to learn their languages, tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 You should make the effort to learn their languages, tbh. Can you teach me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Ponty is fluent in the language of lurve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Can you teach me? Being serious, where I work is full of European engineers. We all converse in English, in the main, but they often speak to each other in their respective languages. These are highly educated people but you have to accept that it's more natural for them to converse in their native tongues. Most of us know a few pleasantries in French, Italian, Spanish, etc. and use them where appropriate. It goes a long way towards making the place friendlier and a nice place to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky-G Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 the company I work for employs many people from many different countries & cultural back grounds,I am led to believe that it is not only a common courtesy to speak english or which ever language of the home nationit is law,this is the stance of the union and management at my company have very strictly adhered to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Also imagine if the boot was on the other foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Also imagine if the boot was on the other foot. it would still be a boot..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 the company I work for employs many people from many different countries & cultural back grounds,I am led to believe that it is not only a common courtesy to speak english or which ever language of the home nationit is law,this is the stance of the union and management at my company have very strictly adhered to Of course it's not law. In fact employment law states that companies must make provision for the needs of workers who DON'T speak English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deppo Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 it would still be a boot..? Yes. But it would be on the other foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Yes. But it would be on the other foot. ahhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadeem Hardison Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Why does it bother you so much? Are you really that insecure? Somebody's first language is a massive part of their identity and just because you travel to another part of the world, doesn't mean that they should be denied the opportunity to use it when that opportunity arises. I am sure if you were living abroad and met fellow English speakers, you would take the opportunity to speak English to them whenever you could. Whenever I meet non-English speakers through work, I take the opportunity to ask them about their language, perhaps even get them to teach me a few words. Rather than closing yourself off to other cultures and alienating yourself further, why not open up to them. An open mind will certainly help you if you don't intend to "be flipping burgers for the rest of your life". Especially if your ambition is to be working on the till. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Give Nick Griffin a call and ask him? Racist? Sounds more pathetic if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I remember is school..(bellemoor) there was a large(ish) sikh and muslim contingent.. the only language allowed to be spoken in lesson was english (unless you were in a language class) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norwaysaint Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I work in a Norwegian school, I sometimes chat with other English teachers in English. It's a more effective way of communicating for us in many situations. Nobody else in hearing distance needs to be/should be interested. If you moved to another country (and it could happen, I never thought I would) and you found that the guy sat at the next desk to you was English too and you became mates, do you really think for a second that you'd spend all day chatting to each other in French, Japanese, Spanish or whatever? I understand your point, but it's not very realistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Why does it bother you so much? Are you really that insecure? Somebody's first language is a massive part of their identity and just because you travel to another part of the world, doesn't mean that they should be denied the opportunity to use it when that opportunity arises. I am sure if you were living abroad and met fellow English speakers, you would take the opportunity to speak English to them whenever you could. Whenever I meet non-English speakers through work, I take the opportunity to ask them about their language, perhaps even get them to teach me a few words. Rather than closing yourself off to other cultures and alienating yourself further, why not open up to them. An open mind will certainly help you if you don't intend to "be flipping burgers for the rest of your life". Especially if your ambition is to be working on the till. I can assure you that it's nothing to do with insecurity, and I try to talk to everyone as much as possible, but to be perfectly honest a lot of the people there aren't interested in making friends, and I scarcely have the opportunity to talk to them about their language or culture. I'm definitely not closing myself off to other cultures, I have made plenty of friends from numerous different cultures at university, and spoken to them about their languages etc. I agree that i would want to speak English to another Englishman if I were in a foreign country, but I would also try to speak the language of the country when around people who didn't understand English where ever possible. Give Nick Griffin a call and ask him? Racist? Sounds more pathetic if you ask me. I'm not sure what this is supposed to be implying? I said I do not have a problem with working with people from other cultures, in fact I love finding out about other backgrounds, customs,traditions etc, which I do regularly at uni. I was just suggesting it would be easier and more comfortable for all if there was one language spoken whilst working. After all it is not just me who finds it difficult, I have heard many people from different nationalities say that it makes working difficult if people speak the other language. I didn't start the thread to determine whether I was racist- I'm positive that I am not. But rather whether it is unfair to ask people to refrain from speaking their language just while working with others to make it easier for all. I'm more than happy to accept that you find that 'pathetic', although an explanation may help me see why and perhaps reassess my own situation, but I'd rather not have my name mentioned in the same sentence as that vile piece of scum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadeem Hardison Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I think what you are suggesting is that it would be more comfortable for YOU if there was one language spoken at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I think what you are suggesting is that it would be more comfortable for YOU if there was one language spoken at work. What about all of the other people who speak English and another language? If there are two people who speak English and French, two who speak English and Spanish, two who speak English and Polish etc then surely it would be easier for all if everyone spoke the language that everyone understands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 To be honest, I would just leave it, it's not worth the hassle and humiliation you will get. While I expect people from other countries living here to learn our language; to expect them to keep this up when they are speaking amongst similar tongued people is ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 To be honest, I would just leave it, it's not worth the hassle and humiliation you will get. While I expect people from other countries living here to learn our language; to expect them to keep this up when they are speaking amongst similar tongued people is ridiculous. Yes in all honesty I'm never really going to do anything about it, just wandered whether other people shared the same opinion as me. Evidently not it seems. It's difficult to explain but I'm talking about like work related stuff- instructions and that, which it may benefit me and others if I could understand- I may be able to help. Ah well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 read the first line...and no, it in fact common courtesy if you ask me Correct on both counts but the practice is very prevalent. The Polish people at the hospital bounce back and forth between languages in mixed company. It's obviously disconcerting for those who may be prone to paranoia and I do wonder what a group of English people would do if they worked abroad in a non English speaking environment. (See my PM) hello its me yusuf from your work, you dont want to know what were say, we only speak foreign when we make joke of you Nice one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 ...I do wonder what a group of English people would do if they worked abroad in a non English speaking environment. Do you really? I'm fairly certain they'd talk English to each other more often than not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Do you really? I'm fairly certain they'd talk English to each other more often than not. Perhaps you are right, and it may be a little arrogant to expect everyone to speak English all the time. Perhaps if some of the individuals were friendlier when they were speaking English I might not have noticed it as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponty Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Perhaps you are right' date=' and it may be a little arrogant to expect everyone to speak English all the time. Perhaps if some of the individuals were friendlier when they were speaking English I might not have noticed it as much.[/quote'] I think your problem boils down to them being miserable f**kers, rather than miserable foreign f**kers, tbh. Just be grateful that it's a job and not a career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 Do you really? I'm fairly certain they'd talk English to each other more often than not. :smt040 You do make I larff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 6 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I think your problem boils down to them being miserable f**kers, rather than miserable foreign f**kers, tbh. Just be grateful that it's a job and not a career. Yes I think that sums it up pretty concisely, cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 6 December, 2009 Share Posted 6 December, 2009 I do know what you mean though, I have experienced it at school and stuff. The foreign kids generally kept to themselves and always spoke in their own language, doesn't really make integregration easy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Here (here is South Africa) there are 11 official languages, and the place is full of European ex-pats, so it really doesn't pay to get hung up on what people might be saying behind your back. English is far and away the most common language. However, I am reasonably fluent in Afrikaans (legacy from spending a couple of years here long ago with my parents when I was a nipper), but most people don't know that. I choose to keep it under my hat, but do listen in when people around me are speaking it. If I didn't know better, I could quite easliy get paranoid about what people could be saying about me. But in reality I've never heard anyone say anything that would embarrass them if they found out I understood. Bi- or multi-lingual people just naturally switch between languages, and I've never found that offensive. We live in a multi-cultural world. p.s. I'm currently trying to learn some Arabic, but not making much progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 I remember is school..(bellemoor) there was a large(ish) sikh and muslim contingent.. the only language allowed to be spoken in lesson was english (unless you were in a language class) Were you there in the time of Mrs Peak - the French teacher? She was a right battleaxe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mao Cap Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Yeah, all the Kurdish boys in the McDonald's I worked in switched all the time. I can't say it bothered me particularly though, because they were friendly and it doesn't sound like these blokes are. Just keep your head down and look at the clock as little as you possibly can... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solentstars Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 To be honest, I would just leave it, it's not worth the hassle and humiliation you will get. While I expect people from other countries living here to learn our language; to expect them to keep this up when they are speaking amongst similar tongued people is ridiculous. i agree when i went to spain ,i would speak english to my friends has it was easier and wished i learnt spanish at schol now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawillwill Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 i agree when i went to spain ,i would speak english to my friends has it was easier and wished i learnt spanish at schol now. One step at a time now. Don't try to walk before you can crawl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Fast food "restaurant"? You'll probably have more trouble understanding the grunts from the regular punters tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 7 December, 2009 Author Share Posted 7 December, 2009 Fast food "restaurant"? You'll probably have more trouble understanding the grunts from the regular punters tbh. Too true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamster Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 i agree when i went to spain ,i would speak english to my friends has it was easier and wished i learnt spanish at schol now. Try tomaster English first, then perhaps consider stretching yourself with a new one. Sava? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.comsaint Posted 7 December, 2009 Share Posted 7 December, 2009 hello its me yusuf from your work, you dont want to know what were say, we only speak foreign when we make joke of you lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Shearer Posted 9 December, 2009 Share Posted 9 December, 2009 I remember is school..(bellemoor) there was a large(ish) sikh and muslim contingent.. the only language allowed to be spoken in lesson was english (unless you were in a language class) I went there - went downhill after 1998. However I taught all my friends all the punajbi swear words I knew, so they knew what to listen out for! Ah you could always start a fight by shouting 'Your mum' at someone guaranteed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 December, 2009 Share Posted 9 December, 2009 I went there - went downhill after 1998. However I taught all my friends all the punajbi swear words I knew, so they knew what to listen out for! Ah you could always start a fight by shouting 'Your mum' at someone guaranteed. I left in 96...I heard it went down hill around then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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