Am I being a Nazi? Language in the workplace.

[cheese]

Am I being a Nazi?

In our workplace we have several different cultures. We have two Russian people (one just joined us) and they have started chatting to each other in Russian with day to day work things. I personally find this very offensive and bad taste. We have two Chinese guys too that make a point of speaking English in front of everyone else and I my boss also finds it very rude that the Russians are speaking local lingo.

Would I be fair is saying

You can speak it if you are on the phone etc to a partner etc

Anything in the work place with work people, English is only acceptable – no if, buts, or maybes.

[outlawtorn]

Am I being a Nazi?

In our workplace we have several different cultures. We have two Russian people (one just joined us) and they have started chatting to each other in Russian with day to day work things. I personally find this very offensive and bad taste. We have two Chinese guys too that make a point of speaking English in front of everyone else and I my boss also finds it very rude that the Russians are speaking local lingo.

Would I be fair is saying

You can speak it if you are on the phone etc to a partner etc

Anything in the work place with work people, English is only acceptable – no if, buts, or maybes.
I agree it's rude, besides the more they speak English the better they learn the language, so it benefits them, unless they are planning the next step of the Goergian invasion, in which case, leave them to it.

[Ixion]

Personally, I would ask them to teach me Russian. Golden opportunity.

[jrandom]

How is speaking Russian to each other rude?

They're not excluding anyone else from necessary communication by doing so. They only use their native language when speaking one-on-one, yes?

I'd say that you are being a Nazi.

I've worked with a number of Chinese and French engineers, and they'd often speak to each other in Chinese and French respectively. It always seemed natural to me. I cannot fathom why anyone would be bothered by it.

[avgas]

its a personal choice really.
If they choose to do it - than it shows their personality really.
Fire them.

[mstriumph]

it's easier for them, and they probably don't realise how offensive it is to others ..............

try pointing it out to them, using the chinese guys as an example ............

if they KEEP doing it after that, get back to us and we'll plan the next step in the campaign :shifty: :2guns:

[outlawtorn]

In hindsight it actually depends on what they are talking about, if it is work related then it should be in English, but if it IS the next step of the Georgian invasion then no worries really.....

[jrandom]

they probably don't realise how offensive it is to others ...

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:

[yod]

If speaking it on the phone doesn't bug you why does speaking it to another person in the same room?

I'll wager it's a lot quicker, easier and more efficient for them to use their native tongue to impart and discuss concepts to one another than in english.

In short, why do you care? It doesn't affect you, does it?

[Dargor]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:

Its because there saying rude things about you.

And why not talk the language of the land, that way everyone can join in the conversation.

[Gubb]

If it wasn't for my multi-cultural workmates, I woundn't have the raft of foreign swearwords that I have today.

[FJRider]

They're probably talking about you...ok maybe not. WHO CARES... If you are offended, speak to them about it ...tried that yet... ???
We do have freedom of speech in this country...dont we ??? English isn't compulsory in NZ.

[Gubb]

Start speaking in Esperanto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto).

[FJRider]

If it wasn't for my multi-cultural workmates, I woundn't have the raft of foreign swearwords that I have today.

Which proves that increasing your vocabulary, does NOT increase your intelligence....:whistle:

[mstriumph]

.......... They only use their native language when speaking one-on-one, yes?


c'MON fella - of course 'yes' ..... what would be the point of them speaking Russian to anyone ELSE there?


I'd say that you are being a Nazi.

disagree
part of supervision 101 is keeping the workplace harmonious - he's merely seeing a potential problem and moving to stop it spreading

if he doesn't act next you know his two chinese guys will start talking together in cantonese or whatever

next you get factionalism developing - 'us and them'

next thing they are passing each other notes written in secret ink and THEN they start throwing spitballs at each other

from there it's a short step to rolling out the nukes

ANARCHY!!!!!

sooooooo ANYTHING that gets in the way of wider workplace communication SHOULD BE HEADED OFF AT THE PASS methinks


......... I cannot fathom why anyone would be bothered by it.
ok
imagine the workplace as a dinner table and you are the hostess - your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to not to allow the couple having a private hissyfit at one end of the table stop others from remaining serene enough to stay focused on your pavlova ----you do the math

--hell, it's friday, who cares :cool:

[nodrog]

i wish the other 2 people in my office would talk to each other in Russian. that way i wouldnt be offended by them talking about having wrinkly old man sex with their dial-a-brides, or how surprisingly nice a prostate exam feels.

[jrandom]

... how surprisingly nice a prostate exam feels.

You working that buttplug in like I told you to?

[nodrog]

You working that buttplug in like I told you to?

yes, but i'm not russian it

[mstriumph]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused: erm - as long as cheese and his boss find it so and his two chinese workmates find it preferable to avoid it then the hows, whys and wherefores [although interesting] aren't the most important factor in the situation?

[Naki Rat]

Am I being a Nazi?

In our workplace we have several different cultures. We have two Russian people (one just joined us) and they have started chatting to each other in Russian with day to day work things. I personally find this very offensive and bad taste. We have two Chinese guys too that make a point of speaking English in front of everyone else and I my boss also finds it very rude that the Russians are speaking local lingo.

Would I be fair is saying

You can speak it if you are on the phone etc to a partner etc

Anything in the work place with work people, English is only acceptable – no if, buts, or maybes.

Having been in a reverse situation where I was one of only two people in a workplace who spoke English as our first language I know how frustrating it can be to attempt to discuss/explain complex work procedures in broken other languages. This is not to mention the isolation one suffers through not being able to speak fluently in a day-to-day conversation manner.

New Zealand's isolation has resulted in very few of us being able to speak a second language which is unusual by international standards. This probably contributes to xenophobic attitudes which are aggravated by the suspicion that those dodgy imports are talking about you without you knowing about it. Depending on their command of English they may well be thinking the same of you; And by the sounds of your post they'd be right.

[Lias]

I'm the token xenophobe and all, but anyone talking any langauge other than English/Kiwi (before someone jumps on the wagon about "our" english vs the queens english) pisses me off. If you live in NZ, speak English (or maori or sign langauge).

[awayatc]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:


In Russian?........

[Mikkel]

Is drinking on the job allowed?

Speaking russian can only be poor taste if you don't have a decent sized glass of vodka at hand.

As for being a Nazi... dunno, you like marches, ribbons and highly polished leather boots?

[cheese]

MAny intersting comments.

The thing is that the guy that instigates it talks alot of shit and give misinformed information. No one really beleives alot of what he says and by speaking in Russian he is safeguarding himslef form someone butting in and saying hang on - no mate.

I find it rude because we are in NZ. English is our language. Everyone else make the effort. Its also the fact that I have no idea what he is saying, it sometimes feels like he is slagging me off. or maybe just talking shit. He can speak english ok, so why doesn't he. Its only going to improove his english. I feel that he should make an effort.

I have no problem with him talking it to his wife or what ever, but when its in teh workplace and with work peope it is Lazy and rude.

[NighthawkNZ]

ANARCHY!!!!!




Anarchy rules... :whistle:

[FJRider]

MAny intersting comments.

The thing is that the guy that instigates it talks alot of shit and give misinformed information. No one really beleives alot of what he says and by speaking in Russian he is safeguarding himslef form someone butting in and saying hang on - no mate.

I find it rude because we are in NZ. English is our language. Everyone else make the effort.

Its also the fact that I have no idea what he is saying, it sometimes feels like he is slagging me off.

or maybe just talking shit. He can speak english ok, so why doesn't he. Its only going to improove his english. I feel that he should make an effort.


English is only ONE of this countrys language's. Your anxiety complex is playing up... there are pills for that.
Your English needs improvement too... but we didn't like to say...:whocares:

[FJRider]

Anarchy rules... :whistle:

Anarchy has rules...??? :argh:

[cheese]

lol sorry I was typing fast.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Get used to it. We have a couple of Russians at work too. I don't know if it's thier culture or what, but they treat everyone around the work place like idiots, but they are by far the biggest retards in our shop.

They also speak in russian at work which fucks me off no end. This is a english speaking country. One of my main issues is although thses guys have been in NZ for +10 years, thier english SUCKS. That's what gets me wound up the most. That is because at home they speak russian, and at work most the time they speak russian.

Good luck getting them to speak english at the work place. And yes it is rude!

[FJRider]

lol sorry I was typing fast.

SLOW DOWN... talk to the guy's about it...get THEIR point of veiw about... learn a few swear words... enjoy you work... have a nice day...:sunny:

[mstriumph]

English is only ONE of this countrys language's. Your anxiety complex is playing up... there are pills for that.
Your English needs improvement too... but we didn't like to say...:whocares: at least he DIDN'T perform the hanging offence [under mr hitcher's rules and according to the rules of his grandma - sorry, 'grammer'] of 'apostrophe abuse' :rolleyes:

[Colapop]

Would you find it as offensive if they were speaking Maori or Samoan? There are plenty of people in NZ and although English is the predominant language it's not the only one in use. Is it better that the persons speaking to each other in a language they can communicate well in, or communicate in a language that they may find difficult and potentially miscommunicate what they want to say?

[Badjelly]

I agree that people who move to a new country should do their best to learn the local language. (Though obviously this doesn't apply to my ancestors learning Maori. :jerry:) However I think it's a bit unreasonable to expect them never to talk in the language they feel most comfortable with. There are a lot of Europeans at my work place: French and German, mostly. Most of them speak good English (much better than my French or German) and are quite able to communicate with the rest of their work mates. However, especially when they're new, they tend to hang out with other French/German speakers and talk their native language. They're just more comfortable that way. I know from my own experience with tourist-phrasebook Italian and Spanish that using a foreign language all the time is very stressful.

[ManDownUnder]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:

Exclusivity and a possible "they're talking about me and keeping secrets" I guess although it would be apparent if they were talking about me by body language.

I'm personally not worried by it - sat through whole meetings is other lands with people talking about me and my products - stopping every 10 mins to give me a precise - then carrying on. It might take some getting used to though -especially for the paranoid among us (yes - you know who you are).

[jrandom]

Exclusivity and a possible "they're talking about me and keeping secrets"...

Mmyes. I would be inclined to tell anyone worried about that to harden the fuck up.


sat through whole meetings is other lands with people talking about me and my products - stopping every 10 mins to give me a precise - then carrying on.

Been there!

:crazy:

(Except in my case, they're usually talking about all the ways in which the product that that glib sales bastard fobbed off on them doesn't work, and all the things I'm going to have to do to fix it...)

[vindy500]

so you wanna listen in to other peoples conversations huh.


I lived in denmark for a year and while i can speak danish alright it was still very relaxing to be able to speak in english

[Forest]

If I go down to the local markets here in Melbourne, I can hear 30 different languages in the first ten minutes.

What kind of office do you work in? Which industry?

[bull]

Let them talk to their friends in whatever language they choose, in no way should they be required to speak english jsut to keep the others happy.

Different story when its directly to someone else at work whom doesnt speak the language tho.

I reckon youre being a Nazi Cheese, get over it, least if its Russian you wont know that they are talking about you, whereas if they started slagging you off in english then youd look red faced.

[BuellBunny]

I think if they have trouble speaking English then why shouldnt they speak their native tongue to a fellow Russian? As long as they dont do it all the time and they can still get across in English adequately I dont see the problem

Its a different story when in company in a social gathering though I think... of only a few people....

[Reckless]

Firstly your boss needs a good rogering for creating the situation by employing two at once. Its natural they revert to there own and don't integrate. Rude, factional, even disrespectful to others depending on how they are carrying on in the work environment, but natural.
The group language should be the group language whether it be Russian, Polish, German, English or what ever. Otherwise the working group will not work together as well, team up as well, have a tendency to factionalize, not be as functional, united, common goal driven etc etc. The two Chinese staff sense this and naturally/politely comply.

On the other side of the coin its really hard now in these politically correct times we have, to put it right, even if its screwing up the work environment and penalising the company!
Your boss created it, he now has to step up and fix it! He could use the theory above, a number of others, or just tell them to get their act together, His choice!

My opinion only and I don't gave a shit if you all disagree!!! :2guns::Punk:

[cheese]

let's just make clear that I don't mind them speaking Russian. but anything work related I think that they can make the bloody effort and speak English. its laziness just to revert. Outside the workplace or personal phone calls I don't give a shit. The boss is behind me 100% on this one though. Its just a matter of enforcing it.

I think that we have to make it inside the 4 walls for work, English only, outside don't care. otherwise if you say general chit chat is ok, then how do you know what is general chit chat. yes I do want to know what is being said because the guy out of the pair is a liar. he talks shit non stop and bullshits his way around things. He doesn't know anything and has no credibility. We don't know if what he is saying is bullshit and need to know. He has already been spoken to about it twice now.

[yod]

why would this 'liar' bother saying anything work-related in russian? no-one else can understand him so it would be a bit of a waste of time wouldnt it?

[Grahameeboy]

How is speaking Russian to each other rude?

They're not excluding anyone else from necessary communication by doing so. They only use their native language when speaking one-on-one, yes?

I'd say that you are being a Nazi.

I've worked with a number of Chinese and French engineers, and they'd often speak to each other in Chinese and French respectively. It always seemed natural to me. I cannot fathom why anyone would be bothered by it.

I agree.....no different to 2 people having a private conversation....when we go abroad we speak in English in a non-English speaking Country...what's the difference...

[bull]

exactly Yod, youre onto it,

- so hes talking shit to another whom speaks Russian, surely unless the whole job speaks Russian then hes pissing in the wind and only the two of them will be chuckling away about it.

Just because you find someone else to back you 100% doesnt mean you are in the right. I think youll find itll be a discrimination or breach of human rights to force them to speak a certain language only within the confines of work.

As i said before if they are talking to each other in Russian then its fine, if they are talking to someone whom doesnt understand Russian then by all means english should be the goer.

[awayatc]

Did not meet all Russians off course, but sailed once with a couple who said they jumped ship in Lyttelton.

Am sure however they did get booted off, with good reason to....

Those 2 were downright rude, no matter which language used.....

Nastrovja...

[SixPackBack]

Cheese you're a racist coont. Give it up before a JP reams your ass.

[Firefight]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:



yes good question Dan I was wondering the same thing !



F/F

[Reckless]

Because in a group environment its bloody rude to talk when others can't understand. Its like talking behind someones back
Similar to talking in low tones so others can't understand but they know the talk is on their subject (in this case work or their counterparts).
Its simply bloody arrogant , inconsiderate and rude!!
And totally unproductive to a team environment.
Obviously from Cheeses description others are being affected and its not simply clarifying instructions in the language they understand on an odd occasion.
And if people take exception to that and it gets to a repetitive point and becomes offensive then it is.
Pretty simple, negative behavior, negative reaction!

[Flatcap]

Cheese you're a racist coont. Give it up before a JP reams your ass.

Bloody JPs can LEAVE THAT DONKEY ALONE!

[Skyryder]

There are some well established conventions not only in the workplace but in societiety as a whole. One is that you do not speak in a language that is not understood by those that are in your surroundings. It falls into much the same catorgory as you do not point your finger at someone, nor do you deliberatley whisper so that others are unable to hear you. If you can speak English and choose not to do so then it is not unreasonable to believe that there is something that is being said that may because offence by those the vicinity.


Skyryder

[oldrider]

Am I being a Nazi?

In our workplace we have several different cultures. We have two Russian people (one just joined us) and they have started chatting to each other in Russian with day to day work things. I personally find this very offensive and bad taste. We have two Chinese guys too that make a point of speaking English in front of everyone else and I my boss also finds it very rude that the Russians are speaking local lingo.

Would I be fair is saying

You can speak it if you are on the phone etc to a partner etc

Anything in the work place with work people, English is only acceptable – no if, buts, or maybes.

This is not a new situation and it has been raised and tested many times.

Official languages in New Zealand: English, Maori and sign.

They only are required to speak English, Maori, or Sign, about work related matters, provided that the recipient is required to be able to understand them.

I think it is you who has the problem because you can't understand or speak Russian and the conversations are not being directed toward you anyway.

If it was, they would be required to speak English so that you could comprehend what they were saying.

There is no law that says they cannot speak to each other in any language they choose.

Engage with them, learn Russian and teach English, problem solved. :yes: John.

PS: How well do you think you would fare in Russia, roles reversed!

[Brian d marge]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_QFGSAwdw

sorry cheese , not directed at you , but remind me again why I don't live in NZ

apart from

Taxes
Student loan
Crime
New Labour
New National
The cost of living
Low wages
70 dollars for an Xray
The Women
The beer
Rugby
cricket
The humor
The cost of bikes ( mind you they are going up in price here , bloody Russians have money all of a sudden , damn reds )


Stephen

[JimO]

i cant be arsed reading all the posts but if you were working in russia and there was another kiwi in the same office would you converse in english or russian

[CookMySock]

If you are offended, speak to them about itThats not what I have learned. If you are offended by it, suck your guts in and get your head around it. Sorry, life isn't like that - when you think the problem is with someone else - THAT is the problem.

Steve

[McJim]

Cherski cherski cuzzy broski.

See - it's easy if you try.

Seriouslythough I used to work in Hotels in London and it was like the league of nations believe me. There were quite a lot of conversations going on in Italian and French as the staff were a mix of French, Italian and North African.

Only caught them talking about me a couple of times....yeah - I forgot to tell 'em I speak Italian and French didn't I?

[Grahameeboy]

Cherski cherski cuzzyski broski.

See - it's easy if you try.

Seriouslythough I used to work in Hotels in London and it was like the league of nations believe me. There were quite a lot of conversations going on in Italian and French as the staff were a mix of French, Italian and North African.

Only caught them talking about me a couple of times....yeah - I forgot to tell 'em I speak Italian and French didn't I?

Where does it end...sometimes people can't understand my accent..was at a party years ago in NZ and my Glaswegian friend was chatting..could any of the Kiwi's understand him..no...but he was speaking English..and by the way

Ya ne gava ryu pa ruski, no mi smozhem ab shchatsya cherez pere vodchikaYa ne gavaryu pa ruski, no mi smozhem ab shchatsya cherez pere vodchika

[McJim]

Where does it end...sometimes people can't understand my accent..was at a party years ago in NZ and my Glaswegian friend was chatting..could any of the Kiwi's understand him..no...but he was speaking English..
I dunno, I'd the the first to admit that true Glaswegian doesn't really pass muster as English :rofl:

[Grahameeboy]

I dunno, I'd the the first to admit that true Glaswegian doesn't really pass muster as English :rofl:

Plus the F word was prevalent....

[Grahameeboy]

Only in a very loose sense though Graham :rofl:

Yes the alcohol loosened his tongue

[fLaThEaD FreD]

The new receptionist has been teaching us all to swear in Yugoslav....and she's hot. No hairy top lip on this girl!!!!:blip:

[SixPackBack]

I work in a company with 60 people and over 20 different nationalities........its fooken awsome, yeah-real interesting:2thumbsup

[McJim]

Plus the F word was prevalent....

FFS! No it f*cken wisnae right?

[awayatc]

that Russian..?

sounds rude...

[CookMySock]

it sometimes feels like he is slagging me off. or maybe just talking shit.Be mindful of your thoughts, young jedi - they betray you.

DB

[Jez]

well obviously someone in the workplace has a bad habit of listening in on other peoples conversations ... personally i reckon thats pretty rude and if it were in my power i would communicate in a foreign tongue so as the offending big ears would be null and void :whistle:

[tzrmike]

Why don't you learn some Russian? One phrase springs to mind:

"What did you fu#@ing say, c*+t?" :Pokey:

[Slyer]

Say you invited two foreign people over for dinner and they started having a conversation with each other in their own language at the table.
Would that not be rude as hell? You and whoever else is there would be completely excluded from the conversation, unable to speak without talking over them, sitting in silence waiting for them to finish. They are intentionally excluding everyone else from what they are talking about.

I would be all for it if they were having a private conversation on their own, but if others are present or they are talking about work they should always speak in the language that most number of people can understand.
There are exceptions... but this should be a general rule.

[Jez]

Say you invited two foreign people over for dinner and they started having a conversation with each other in their own language at the table.
Would that not be rude as hell? You and whoever else is there would be completely excluded from the conversation, unable to speak without talking over them, sitting in silence waiting for them to finish. They are intentionally excluding everyone else from what they are talking about.

I would be all for it if they were having a private conversation on their own, but if others are present or they are talking about work they should always speak in the language that most number of people can understand.
There are exceptions... but this should be a general rule.

the dinner example makes absolutely NO SENSE :gob:

why would you invite people over for dinner if they had a habit of excluding others from their conversations ... if you know them well enough to invite them for dinner then you know them well enough to know their mannerisms ...

my wife is japanese and she often invites friends over and talk japanese in front of me, unfortunately for me i cant understand a word of it unless it Biru (beer) and chin chin namedan (blowjob) so should i be offended? NFW!

If they are speaking russian between each other in the workplace then they obviously find it easier to communicate that way therefore getting the job done faster rather than wasting time fumbling around the minefield that is the english language. Why should anyone have to understand them if they are getting the job done without any issues?

Again ill restate my previous post ... someones got big ears :P

[YellowDog]

Will someone please explain to me how it is offensive?

:confused:
It is usual and polite to excuse yourself when you wish to communicate in a language that excludes the majority of the audiance. It is polite to communicate in a common language that all can understand. owever personal one-to-one convesrations are perfectly acceptable in a foreign language.

Anyway let me translate for you. "These bloody third world Kiwis! They live in uninhabitable damp and mould infested homes they all believe are worth $500k. No heating, no insulation and they fight over who owns the damn fire wood in the street. They all say that it doesn't get cold enough to need heating, yet they take more time of sick with chronic asthma and influenza than anywhere else in the world - As soon as I save up enough for the airfare - I'm back to Moscow".

And then they usually move on to "In my country comparisoms"

Glad to be of service :-)

[captain_andrey]

Am I being a Nazi?
...


Well you have to decide if casual conversation is acceptable in your workplace if you are the boss. If it is, I think asking people to speak the language you understand is rude. I speak 2 languages fluently: Russian and English. We also had another Russian at work and sometimes we randomly switch languages. If my boss asked me to speak English I would tell him to stop listening to our conversations.

[Slyer]

the dinner example makes absolutely NO SENSE :gob:

It's just a classic "You wouldn't do...." example. ;)

[Sanx]

I dunno, I'd the the first to admit that true Glaswegian doesn't really pass muster as English

Doesn't pass muster as human, most of the time...

[Headbanger]

my wife is japanese and she often invites friends over and talk japanese in front of me, unfortunately for me i cant understand a word of it unless it Biru (beer) and chin chin namedan (blowjob) so should i be offended? NFW!



How often does chin chin namedan come up when your wife is talking to diner guests?

[Jez]

How often does chin chin namedan come up when your wife is talking to diner guests?

depends whos over for dinner and whats on the menu :drool:

[Slyer]

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=chin+chin+namedan&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

I am fairly sure that you sir are full of shit. ;)
I speak a little japanese...

[alanzs]

Anyway let me translate for you. "These bloody third world Kiwis! They live in uninhabitable damp and mould infested homes they all believe are worth $500k. No heating, no insulation and they fight over who owns the damn fire wood in the street. They all say that it doesn't get cold enough to need heating, yet they take more time of sick with chronic asthma and influenza than anywhere else in the world - As soon as I save up enough for the airfare - I'm back to Moscow".

Absolutely classic. Maybe that's what he's afraid they are saying. Just because you are paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't talking about you.:woohoo:

[YellowDog]

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=chin+chin+namedan&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

I am fairly sure that you sir are full of shit. ;)
I speak a little japanese...
Would anyone NOT full of the brown stuff please close their KB membership.

I thought it was a mandatory requirement!

[1 Free Man]

And why not talk the language of the land, that way everyone can join in the conversation.
That could be interesting to hear. Maori spoken with a russian accent. Fark the mind boggles:laugh:

[1 Free Man]

Am I being a Nazi?

In our workplace we have several different cultures. We have two Russian people (one just joined us) and they have started chatting to each other in Russian with day to day work things. I personally find this very offensive and bad taste. We have two Chinese guys too that make a point of speaking English in front of everyone else and I my boss also finds it very rude that the Russians are speaking local lingo.

Would I be fair is saying

You can speak it if you are on the phone etc to a partner etc

Anything in the work place with work people, English is only acceptable – no if, buts, or maybes.

May I ask the question-"How would you feel if they were deaf-mutes and were comunicating via signing." Would you be offended then???

[awayatc]

How many fingers....?

[Joni]

It is usual and polite to excuse yourself when you wish to communicate in a language that excludes the majority of the audience. But you are not the audience; they are talking to each other???

I have been on the other side of the fence... working for a company with 60 odd people, about 35% max were kiwi's... we had lots of Asian people, Samoans, Russians, and of course the odd Saffa too! :yes:

Now English is my first language, but one of my work mates Afrikaans was his... so he spoke to me in his first language because he knew I spoke it as well.

He spoke to me in Afrikaans, when we were chatting and if it was work related, but it was one on one... not a group thing. Same as the Asian guys, and the 2 Russian guy, they spoke to each other in their home languages as well.

Until one day the "ruling came" through... only English... pffft ok we thought, but we all had a good laugh about it (except Len)... We never excluded someone, if someone else was involved we spoken English 100%, Len was always considerate and respectful about that. So we realised it was a control thing, people just did not like not knowing... they don’t care if they are involved in the conversation or not, they just want to know what is being spoken about! It’s the “what about me” factor I see so much of in NZ, or that is what we (as in the 65% non kiwi’s) decided it was all about…

Oh and the "dinner" or "social event" analogies don’t work either... you go to one of these events to socialise with a group of people... slightly different to having a quick one on one chat at work.

Len felt comfortable speaking with me in his home language, he felt like a little bit of home was being brought to his work life, and it made him more relaxed and content in a way, that he could be himself at work in Auckland so far away from Pretoria where he came from. The “ruling” hurt him… made him feel like what he was a person was not good enough even though he never excluded anyone and made sure he was respectful. He resigned a few weeks later. HUGE loss to the company, very few coders of that skill around…. And all he wanted was to be able to say hi, how was your day, oh btw Joanne the software eta has been brought forward by a week or what ever… in Afrikaans. I got where he was coming from.

[YellowDog]

Well yes I kind of agree with you however there are things you cannot say at work in English and you are now saying that it is OK to say them in a language that the people in authority cannot understand.

It is not what you say, it is how you say it! Personally I quite like to hear foreign dialogues and I enjoy trying to match up the body language with the words to see if I can work out what they are saying. I wouldn't be doing this if they were speaking English. I would probably just ignore them (unless it was really juicy).

[cheese]

Well I have 100% back up from my boss and so I guess we are going to push it.

The thing is if he could keep it to personal conversations that would be fine. but with workplace ones, he needs to keep it in english so we are all in the loop. The other ting is that he is not a trustworthy person. its as bad as emailing people behind your back. I'm not trying to be a Kiwi Hitler, I'm just trying run a constructive workplace, and to be honest he isn't being constructive.

Thanks for your input everyone, its been interesting to read you opinions.

[kevfromcoro]

Recently i was a way on a job..and ended up staying in backpackers..full of Germans....the girls made a bit of effort to talk english,,,but the guys sat in the lounge talking german..totally oblivious to me being there..
was trying to watch the news on TV.but these 4 guys just took over the conversation.in german
found it extremaly rude

[YellowDog]

Recently i was a way on a job..and ended up staying in backpackers..full of Germans....the girls made a bit of effort to talk english,,,but the guys sat in the lounge talking german..totally oblivious to me being there..
was trying to watch the news on TV.but these 4 guys just took over the conversation.in german
found it extremaly rude
English is Germanic so is it quite easy to understand. "Vot ist your name" = "What is your name"

[captain_andrey]

Recently i was a way on a job..and ended up staying in backpackers..full of Germans....the girls made a bit of effort to talk english,,,but the guys sat in the lounge talking german..totally oblivious to me being there..
was trying to watch the news on TV.but these 4 guys just took over the conversation.in german
found it extremaly rude

So if you went to travel to Germany and met lots of English speaking people in backpackers would you speak English or try to speak German?
If you wanted to talk to them so badly, you could always pick up a few starter phrases. German isnt that hard.

[pritch]

How is speaking Russian to each other rude?


It depends on the circumstances. If they are working and conversing just the two of them, it would be entirely acceptable.

If they were sitting at a smoko table with others and started talking Russian that'd definitely be less than good manners.

When I was in the army and someone at the table wished to speak Maori they would always announce that they were going to do that and ask to be excused. That would be a polite way to do it.

An extreme example is described by P J ORourke. He walked into a bar on the high veldt, everyone in the establishment was speaking Afrikaans. He walked up to the bar and spoke in English, every conversation in the place switched instantly to English. Extremely polite. Polite but almost spooky :-)

[captain_andrey]

English is Germanic so is it quite easy to understand. "Vot ist your name" = "What is your name"

Haha.... Wie heißt du?

[Jez]

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=chin+chin+namedan&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

I am fairly sure that you sir are full of shit. ;)
I speak a little japanese...

my spelling was a little out originally

but seeing as you speak a little of the language good sir, then you might know that chin chin nametei is a loose translation to the saying we have which is blowjobs.

Chin chin is japanese for Penis
nametei is japanese for suck
kudasai is japanese for please

so the direct translation is penis suck please, due to the structure of japanese sentences it can be restructured in english to suck penis please or what i quickly refer to as 'blowjobs' so i dont have to type so damned much :P

[YellowDog]

Haha.... Wie heißt du?
Almost got away with it :-)

Dad's Army and Only Fools & Horses can't be wrong!

[awayatc]

Wie heisst du?......nah, better try
wie heiss bist du?...

[avgas]

May I ask the question-"How would you feel if they were deaf-mutes and were comunicating via signing." Would you be offended then???
Never mind that - how would a deaf mute receptionist answer the phone?

[avgas]

Recently i was a way on a job..and ended up staying in backpackers..full of Germans....the girls made a bit of effort to talk english,,,but the guys sat in the lounge talking german..totally oblivious to me being there..
was trying to watch the news on TV.but these 4 guys just took over the conversation.in german
found it extremaly rude
Fart in their beer - its the ultimate revenge as they wont stop drinking it

[avgas]

Wie heisst du?......nah, better try
wie heiss bist du?...
Du hast fraulein lebshien? :drool: