Am I being a Nazi? Language in the workplace.

[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...

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'

[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. ) 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?

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!



(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!!!

[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...