Talking in a foriegn language in front of someone who can't understand is rude?

I agree with you it is very rude. I used to work at a landscape nursery were all I worked with were mexicans. I couldn't stand it because I knew everytime I walked out of the office they were talking about me but I didn't know what they were saying. I feel that if you are going to come and live in our country then you should speak our language all the time. If us americans move to a foriegn country it would be exspected of us to learn and speak their language at all times, so why can't they do that here.

This is a situation I have faced too. At my workplace, there are several people who all speak different languages. And when two people who speak the same language happen to be together, they just start off, ignoring the rest of the people around them! I find it exteremely irritating, and although I'm quite sure that I'm not the topic of their conversations, I just think it is very rude to leave the others out of the conversation. It comes quite natually to talk to fellow members in your native tongue, but it is something I consciously try to avoid when I have a foreigner around me. I think it is so completely rude!

You think you hate it at work? Try living in Miami where almost everyone only speaks Spanish! I find it rude how they want everything in Spanish, and want to change the offical language of America to English and Spanish. This is disgusting. This is America. We only speak english. If you don't know english, then learn it! English is my 3rd language, and I learned to speak it as well as read and write in it. Why can't others? I don't understand it. Anyways, in public I only speak English. I never speak Russian unless I'm with my Russian friends or in my house.

its rude, but I think its understandable. if what they talk doent concern about you, I think its talerable. of coure, people should avoid this kind of situation, because it could easily make misunderstanding. people could easily suspect the talking they cant understand might be talk about themselves. have a good day.

Which language your colleagues are speaking? You are from Canada, is it French? I undestand you may feel yourself a bit uncomfortable but I would suggest you to learn their language, even a little, especially if there are a lot of them. You are thinking, they are showing disrespect to you. They are probably thinking, you are showing disrespect to them, refusing to learn their language. In your case they are majority, and the one who is speaking both languages is always in a better position. The language problem is still a bit painful for me. When my country was occupied by Soviets, a lot of Russians came to Estonia to stay there. They weren't interested at all of learning our language, if we wanted (or had) to communicate with them we had to do it in Russian. I.e. we had to learn a foreign/second language, they hadn't. There were very nice people amongst them who were interested in learning our language but the vast majority of them even didn't try. FE I couldn't use in a shop my native language, because the shop assistant didn't understand me! In fact, it wasn't a problem for me, I'm speaking 5 languages, and have couple of drops of Russian blood in me myself but it was just insulting that someone wants to live in the country where my Estonian ancestors lived thousands of years but does refuse to learn even a bit 'kitchen Estonian'. When our country became independent again, they had to learn it, and suddenly many of them did find, it is against their human rights. But what about our rights? Nobody cared about them. They even didn't think about it, they did find it natural that everybody has to speak their language and to be happy with it. I understand, Estonian is quite difficult to learn for a foreigner. It's a so-called 'synthetic' language, we are changing the words, especially word endings, where the speakers of 'analythic' languages (like English and other Indo-European languages) are using prepositions (that's why I have problems with prepositions LOL) But my grandfather was in White Army, and when the communists won in Russia after the revolution in 1917 he came as a refugee to Estonia (it was 1920) and could speak fluent Estonian in couple of years. So I used to say to everyone who came to me to compain: if my granddad was able to do it, you are too. Your problem is a bit different, neither you not your colleagues have occupied each other countries, which makes it much easier to solve. Try to talk with them about it. I don't believe they are speaking their own language to insult you. Just like you said, it is easier for them to discuss problems in their native tongue. Tell them, you will begin to study their language to understand them better. I believe, they will be very pleasantly surprised, and perhaps they will try to speak more English in your presence from now on. It will be a compromise, isn't it?

i'll admit, it annoys the heck out of me when people do that. On the other hand, they're not whispering, for all they know we could understand. I speak english, but I am novice at another language.I could speak it if I had to, but I'll be honest, if I was around it all the time, and I ran into someone else speaking english, that's what I would talk. There are things that are easier expressed in our native tongue. I cant blame someone for that. My ex spoke fluent spanish as did his family. When they were all together, that's what they spoke. some of the elders spoke very poor english. I did not mind if they talked, as long as someone filled me in periodically on the conversation, which they were always good enough to do. I just try to put myself in someone else's shoes and think how I would feel if it was reversed. I think it is a fairly minor thing as long as they are not talking about you, let them have their own conversation.

I can really relate from the other side. Beeing a foreigner in another country. I was once living in turkey. All I learned was the basics, so when I met a person that spoke swedish or english - I so wanted to talk to them =) Even though I could communicate in turkish it was just so much easier in another language =) I am not offended when my bf speaks in his language with his friends when I am there, first I do understand some, but also because i know that he misses the language, the country and everything else =)

Believe me I know what you mean. In my area of Florida we have a lot of people who speak foriegn languages. Between the Spanish, Greek, Polish, let alone some Chinese you are always having someone talk around you in their native language and not English. Just recently I was talking wth my neighbor and her cousin was there as well. They suddenly start talking Polish right in front of me. My neighbor knows I don't speak Polish. I have no idea what they were saying but I felt really out of place. I have no idea if they are saying anything about me or if it's just family stuff. I felt very uncomfortable. If I hadn't of been waiting for someone else I would have left but I had to stay.

Yes this is not only rudeness but also bad manners.Any peroson who has been given good education and comes from cultured family, will know exactly how to behave in public. Two people talking and ignoring others in the group is so irritating. I also hate people who spit on the road, those who are pricking their nose or cleaning their ears in public, those who make noise while eating or drinking. All these thing seem to be not very important , but believe me these can spoil one's impression. If I see any such people , I prefer to stay away from him or her forever and ever. Good Education and Family background is very important.

But why would you think they're talking about you? I don't immediately assume that someone is talking about me just because they're speaking in another language. I"m not that important. That said, I do understand that it can make people uncomfortable, but a lot of people express themselves better in the first language and tend to use it around people that speak the same language sometimes even without noticing. I try to be careful when I"m around people that don't speak my first language, but sometimes I find myself answering to it in the same way without even noticing it. I understand it can make you feel uncomfortable but I can't help but asking why would you immediately assume people are talking about you? I think it's nice that people make an effort to avoid doing that, but it is not necessarily rude when they do it.

I also dont like to be treated that way. However, I will do that sometimes, but not on purpose. You are right, for those who speak english as a second language, sometimes we are not able to express ourselves as easily and clearly as using our native language. I'm a Chinese and if I'm with some other Chinese, of course, we tend do speak Chinese... It's kinda natrual practice, not because we want to keep others who dont know chinese in dark. So just think in another way, I think they are not on purpose. But of course there're exceptions, for example, you three are all english speakers, i mean english as ur native language. And they two have a second foreign lanuguage,say, French, while you have no idea about it. If they two talk in French in front of you, of course it's very impolite and rude!

I don't think so if they are talking that is agains you. Actually there are people who can express more with their feelings by using their native langauges. But it doesn't mean they are talking about you or whatever it may be. Like here, we have a co-worker from Manila so she only understand tagalog and english. when we had a conversstion in our native language which is Bisayan we are not talking about her or laugh against her. And after speaking with the use of our native langauge we always let her know what we are talking about so that she won't be feel that she's out of the world or being negaitive bout what we are talking about. May be you can suggest to them that if it is ok or it is possible they will translate it into english langauge so that you will know also you will get their point of views. What do you think about this idea. Would this be helpfull for you?

no, not of course, unless you are a part or you join their discussion and then used their language, that I think is rude. because also, many other people are not comfortable using their 2nd language, and you must understand that. like me, I am not comfortable using english, but still, trying hard. hehehe. GOD BLESS

I agree, my brother in law is from Malawi and he speaks to his brother when we are together in his language. I find this incredibly rude as you can't tell if they're talking about you and you can't join in conversation. I don't know how my sister puts up with it.

I understand how you feel. My boyfriend and I were just discussing this the other day. Most of the men he works with are from different backgrounds...and they all talk to each other in thier native tongue. However...now my boyfriend is learning some of the languages so he can understand them...so it doesn't bother him so much...but if you don't understand it can be hard...because you think the worst...

it indeed rude and uncivilised to talk in a foreign language in front of someone who doesn't understand it. even if they are talking all good words, to the third person who can't decipher , it's like critiquing him. no one should do that. i mean, i would never do that and i believe you would not and there are plenty of others who would not. but a few would and it hurts but we can't help, can we? so all we can do is to ignore and let go. let them discuss anything and everything on earth , who cares. be happy with the good things in life, i am sure there are plenty. cheers...

i know how you feel coz its already happened to me before. its uncomfortable when somebody started talking in their native language and you happen to be there. some people excuse themselves, some people i know will translate it to you what they are talking about so at least you got an idea what they are talking about, but some people are rude, they dont care if you cannot understand what they are talking about. i agree with you that it is also a form of rudeness. if that happen again, excuse yourself and walk out on them.

I think it not a rude case because when you go or want to talk with people that don't know our language I think it's ok to them to speek in a foriegn language. So, if you want to go to other country try to learn their language. Don't want them to speek in your language. What do you think if someone speek the foriegn language in your country?? I want the person talk with your language because the man now at your place. So,try to learn other language expecially if you want to talk with Japenese you must learn japenese language because they totally hate English language.

Living in Tennessee, we have alot of this because we have a big amount of Mexican workers in the area. I know a little bit of Spanish, but not enough to follow an entire conversation. But it is enough to know that sometimes they are talking about me, and sometimes they are having regular everyday conversations. I always have fun by saying "Excuse me, my Spanish isn't so good, could you slow down so I can catch all of what you just said." They usually stop and scatter. We have a Mexican friend who is in the country legally, and she feels that it is very important to speak English since it is the language of the United States.

I hate it when I hear others talking in a different language. I don't know if I am the one they're talking to or not. I become conscious on that scenario. It gives me an uneasy feeling. Of course we can't take that away from them but still, its better if they'll talk in a manner that even I can understand so I can do some eavesdropping ha ha joke! If they are really much fluent in their national language, it's okay with me, I'll just don't mind them and listen to music instead of thinking of the words they speak if what's the meaning of this and that.. It'll just give me a headache. XP