Foreign Languages in the Workplace

[Yooper]

Serious question.

Is it appropriate to speak a language other than the 'Native' one at work when in the presence of other co-workers? Especially if you know there is someone else in the room you are specifically excluding from the conversation because you KNOW that someone else does not speak or understand what you are talking about?

For example: If you are in a Country where English is the common language, and your native tongue is Spanish (aka Mexican), is it appropriate to speak in Spanish to another colleague while another colleague is in the same room and you know that colleague doesn't understand?

At the risk of sounding insensitive, I don't believe this is appropriate.

Please discuss. I'm interested in the ethical side of this too.

 

[martin6]

Are you really THAT worried about what they're saying? Do you think there's an anti-YOU conspiracy afoot? I mean this in a totally non-bitchy way.

As if their conversation is important enough for you to worry about. Don't sweat it.

 

[Yooper]

Are you really THAT worried about what they're saying? Do you think there's an anti-YOU conspiracy afoot? I mean this in a totally non-bitchy way.

As if their conversation is important enough for you to worry about. Don't sweat it.

Not worried at all.

Wondering about the Professionalism about it.

Like Management having a conversation in a Native Language with underlings.

Should BUSINESS be conducted in one Language only?

 

[SoulSearcher]

I have my French colleagues speaking to each other in French in the department all the time, it doesn't bother me, its their first language. Personally, since I am from Israel, I like to hear different languages around me, at school, in stores, anywhere I go, it reminds me of the much greater world out there. But I think there is a way to do it, if two people are looking at you with mean eyes and saying things you don't understand, then it could make you uncomfortable. In the least, it might make you want to take up another language, which in my opinion is one of the best things anyone could do to widen one's horizons and recognise the humanity of others that we often forget.

 

[josher]

No, it wouldn't bother me.

 

[Telstra]

Serious question.

Is it appropriate to speak a language other than the 'Native' one at work when in the presence of other co-workers? Especially if you know there is someone else in the room you are specifically excluding from the conversation because you KNOW that someone else does not speak or understand what you are talking about?

For example: If you are in a Country where English is the common language, and your native tongue is Spanish (aka Mexican), is it appropriate to speak in Spanish to another colleague while another colleague is in the same room and you know that colleague doesn't understand?

At the risk of sounding insensitive, I don't believe this is appropriate.

Please discuss. I'm interested in the ethical side of this too.

People can speak what ever language they want. Its a free country.
And yes it is appropriate.

 

[saymyname]

You should visit Montreal. People switch back and forth between English and French at work all the time, especially if customers are involved. It's not a big deal.

 

[fetaby]

I was under the impression that it was illegal to enforce a single language workplace. Supposing the employee was monolingual, and their language was not the dominant language. But in the case of the bilingual, the choice is then on the employees to speak in which ever they prefer. It could be a conflict of interest to do so. It may be perceived as favoritism or foster an environment of gossip mongering. In a strictly professional setting, it is uncouth. In a personal setting, it's fucking annoying.

 

[AstareGod]

I work at a certain, er, *magical place* in Florida, and now I am really used to people speaking other languages with me around. It used to be weird to me at first, but I grew to appreciate it. And Spanish wasn't the only language - we got a lot of international people who work for a few months and then leave, and they've come from a number of places - France, Australia, Thailand, China, to name a few. Some have English as their native language, some do not. Whichever language they choose to speak with one another may be just a matter of which language is easiest for them in order to convey an idea or concept - which is what language is all about anyway.

 

[dpnice]

When I moved here to France I immediately started learning the language.

For me it was a question of politness and respect for my country of adoption. So I tend to disagree with the general opinion. In a public rather than private situation I think you should speak the language native to the country in which you have decided to live.

 

[braex27]

I think the etiquette is, if the language spoken is inclusive of everyone present, then it's okay but if it's deliberately spoken to exclude anyone present then it's inappropriate.

Having said, that, I speak another language and have never felt the urge to use it at work...nor has anyone else I've worked with. It's just easier in English.

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Unless they're civil servants. Then they shold always speak the official language.

 

[3nipples]

It doesn't matter, unless you're deliberately excluding someone.

In my present company we speak our native language only amongst ourselves or if it is known that the foreigner present is able to follow the conversation. Business meetings are always conducted in one of several languages, depending on the mix of people present.

In my previous one I would be in a meeting of 20 or more people all conducted in English, only because I was present, even though they knew I could have easily followed the arguments in their native language.

 

[Lukeee]

Depends on the situation.

If you are working with the customers then you should be speaking in the native language or the language that is used by most of the customers. If they are working in the back alone or with other employees then talking amongst themselves in their own language is fine.

With the taxi service I use most of the drivers don't speak very much English. They can understand where you want to go fine but that is about it. When they are talking on their radios it is normally in whatever language they all speak.

 

[Swellegant]

As others have said, it depends on the context. I mean, personally, I don't care what language people use when they speak to each-other. I frequently wish people at my office would speak in some other language so I don't have to know what they're saying. The things I hear in my lobby!

As an etiquette rule, though, it is considered rude to conduct a conversation of any kind in a room where not all people speak that language. Sometimes it's unavoidable, not everybody speaks the same language; but if there is a common language, etiquette demands you use it...even in a private conversation, if there are other people in the room who are not part of the conversation but can hear it, the common language is most polite.

In the business world, etiquette is very important, especially in a place that encourages or harbors competition and/or paranoia, as it keeps the resentments low. If you're going to have a conversation with someone that can only be expressed in a language not spoken by others in the room, it's wisest to have the conversation in a more private setting. Using the language as a privacy screen is going to make people suspicious, which leads to bad feelings, which leads to further backbiting, which leads to poison in the coffee, etc.

Of course, this is American etiquette of which I speak. What you freaks in other countries do is your own damned problem.

 

[PabloZed]

English is not the common language everywhere in US and spanish is quickly becoming the second unofficial language. The best thing to do is to learn spanish.

 

[unclaimedblessing]

I guess it's all about what you're used to.
I grew up in a polyglot neighborhood of NYC so hearing people converse in their own, more comfortable language never bothered me.

Here in southern Arizona being bilingual is quite common and people switch back and forth between Spanish and English sometimes even within one sentence.

One of my co=workers (from the SE) bitched to me one day about a friend speaking Spanish to his Mom on the phone - something about damn foreigners etc. I corrected her and told her "No, were are the foreigners. His family has lived here since it was part of Mexico".

 

[burst]

Well if the workplace dont have that as a rule then it should not bother anyone. But if you know a certain person gets bothered by hearing other languages around him/her then is best is not to do it for respect.

Or at least make him/her part of the conversation translating what you said... lol like a "Dora the explorer-esque" lol but at least will not feel outside the conversation.

 

[PabloZed]

I guess it's all about what you're used to.
I grew up in a polyglot neighborhood of NYC so hearing people converse in their own, more comfortable language never bothered me.

Here in southern Arizona being bilingual is quite common and people switch back and forth between Spanish and English sometimes even within one sentence.

One of my co=workers (from the SE) bitched to me one day about a friend speaking Spanish to his Mom on the phone - something about damn foreigners etc. I corrected her and told her "No, were are the foreigners. His family has lived here since it was part of Mexico".

Thank you for that anecdote. Many anglo-Americans simply do not know the history of the West. I am not of mexican descent but I truly believe, and history supports, that much of the land was seized from Mexico in a trumped up war. I see it as a lease that is expiring.

 

[MrEleven]

I don't see it as a big deal.

Maybe use it as a way to learn the language they are speaking! Start studying Spanish? haha

My friends and I sometimes speak in French, which sometimes angers my American friends. At work, everyone speaks Korean to each other, but, I'm making an effort to learn the language to join in.

I dunno, not that big of a deal. The world has more than 1 language.