Why does what I do makes some CRINGE & others SMILE?

[Ken y Leidys 20]

What is it that I do? Speak in a loud conversational tone with my wife in Spanish when in public places. You would think what I am doing is illegal! #######! Sure, we get ugly looks from people - some scoot out of our way to avoid the barrage of nouns and verbs while others smile and nod their heads? Please someone help explain what the majority of people are thinking?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

What is it that I do? Speak in a loud conversational tone with my wife in Spanish when in public places. You would think what I am doing is illegal! #######! Sure, we get ugly looks from people - some scoot out of our way to avoid the barrage of nouns and verbs while others smile and nod their heads? Please someone help explain what the majority of people are thinking?

majority are thinking, 'shut up and learn/speak English.'

While perfectly fine, most people consider it rude to speak another language in public.

I know plenty of employers who have outright banned any language except for English for instance because of it. "Diversity training" in these cases means speaking English and being respectful to the surrounding environment.

Nothing is more annoying to me than someone talking on their phone in line at the grocery store loudly. Take that and multiply is x5 if they are speaking another language.

[TyandAllie 17]

Maybe it's the loud part and not the Spanish part

[Ban Hammer 14,297]

What is it that I do? Speak in a loud conversational tone with my wife in Spanish when in public places. You would think what I am doing is illegal! #######! Sure, we get ugly looks from people - some scoot out of our way to avoid the barrage of nouns and verbs while others smile and nod their heads? Please someone help explain what the majority of people are thinking?

maybe you're not pronouncing the words right.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It doesn't bother me when people speak other languages in public. It does bother me when they speak loudly in any language -foreign or English - as that feels intrusive on my personal space, especially if I am somewhere that I can't avoid them or get out of the way . That may be why you are getting some of the scowls, at any rate.

[evli1966 88]

It doesn't bother me when people speak other languages in public. It does bother me when they speak loudly in any language -foreign or English - as that feels intrusive on my personal space, especially if I am somewhere that I can't avoid them or get out of the way . That may be why you are getting some of the scowls, at any rate.

I agree

If you are loud because you are argueing then you should know that needs to be private; no matter what language everyone feels the negative vibe of an arguement.

If your bragging about your 2nd language skills no one cares

Most people in a specific society learn to tune out voices of the common language but if you introduce a foreign langauage it takes more effort to tune out if they can so you in a sense are drawing attention to yourselves.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Why do you care what other people are thinking? ** 'em.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Why do you care what other people are thinking? ** 'em.

dirty looks are hard to avoid. much deserved dirty looks mind you if being intrusive and loud.

[^_^ 5,021]

Like the other person said - it's probably the loud thing. You're probably coming off as obnoxious because of your volume. Tone it down.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Ken lives in Riverside A.K.A. Vally of The Dirt....... things happen there that defy logic.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Like the other person said - it's probably the loud thing. You're probably coming off as obnoxious because of your volume. Tone it down.

do as i say and not as i do?

[^_^ 5,021]

do as i say and not as i do?

?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

?

just messin' with ya.

[^_^ 5,021]

just messin' with ya.

Oh. I thought maybe you moved in next door and didn't tell me!

[ryna 132]

Since all of our in-person, public conversations have been in Colombia, I'm sure the people there were thinking "Where in the world did this guy learn to speak Spanish?" And, I know that I've had some strange looks down there when I'm talking over the phone in English to family or friends back in the U.S. I think it's probably normal to have your attention drawn to that which is out of the ordinary (to you).

Now, here in the US, I have no idea (nor do I care) what people may think when I speak to her over the phone in Spanish. It probably ranges from shock - "Whoa! That guy can speak Spanish?" (among the Spanish speakers) to anger - "This is the US! Speak English! (among those who want English only). And for phone conversations, it's a really big assumption that the person on the other end of the line is even in the U.S. Whatever you may think should be spoken in public here, it doesn't really apply to someone who has never even set foot in the U.S.