How do YOU feel when you hear people yacking away in Chinese or Spanish in America?

[Ron/Sharon 0]

When English or French people speak loudly for no obvious reason, I do get annoyed with them.

When people of other cultures speak loudly I tend to be more forgiving, not knowing if it is necessary or not for them to do as they are doing, but if I get a feeling that it is unnecessary I get anoyed with them also.

Regardless of background when the volume becomes annoying I will look at the people talking hoping that they take the hint and if not then if they look at me and seem annoyed I will look at them, place my hands in front of me palms up and shrug my shoulders, that usually solves the problem. I would not be well thought of but the problem is usually solved.

[Teacher 0]

Sometimes I wonder if it just seems louder because you're not used to hearing it.

You notice it more.

Although, I definitely have heard really loud people. Could some of them have a hearing problem??!?!?!

Also, I've been overseas and noticed other Americans (a lot of foreigners just assume someone is American if they're speaking English) I've noticed the Americans seemed loud. Sometimes they were and sometimes they weren't. Sometimes it was just due to the fact that the people around them had stopped talking and were listening to the conversation so it just seemed louder.

From my personal point of view people from Northern states are a lot louder than southerners. :-)

My husband def. talks louder in his native language than in English.

Not bothered by any language; in fact some are very plesant to hear, but sometime the volume is rather irritating and distracting to the point that I just stare at them until they walk away or lower their voices. Is it possible that the louder the voice the higher the insecurity is since I find that new immigrants of certain areas tend to over do it more than others.

that would bother me even if they were speaking English

[Mononoke28 137]

We have a lot of people from India here at work and I've noticed that they speak in very low voices when they are together, especially at lunch. I'm not sure if this is cultural thing but I can't help but feel bad for them because they shouldn't feel like they can't speak their language here in America.

I've lived here since I was a child and I never feel bad when I speak Spanish with my family out in public. It's the US, it's normal to hear different languages being spoken all over the place.

[zabor 0]

Well we are living in a Globalization ere ...But even so people refuse to accept or change…..there is nothing better than understand everybody. I came from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and always have people from other nations speaking their own languages...never bothered...it depends on your mind...isn't is challenging enough? It reminds me that there is a whole new world of opportunities out there waiting to be explored.....instead to get upset because I don't understand, I prefer to take the challenge to try to communicate and learn something new !! Actually this is the mentality in Brazil....never herd that someone got upset just because other people were chating in their native languages....usually they will approach the people and we will try to communicate in anyway possible and learn from each other...maybe this is why people always say good things about Brazil....we don't have any prejudice in mind...actually we take the chance to learn from others...and There are so many things to learn...Instead to get upset, I chose to take the challenge. We are ignorant til the point we choose to be. We all have the ability to lern something new. Maybe that's why I speak 2 languages so far (Portuguese and English)...learning a 3rd one (Spanish, very similar to Portuguese) and understand Italian and French very well. I chose to grow....do not give excuses to myself and complain about someone who knows something different. It sounds weird to me…. those who pretend that all the world should speak their language, while they are comfortable enough speaking only one…..no change…no growth.

[isleta521 5]

Well we are living in a Globalization ere ...But even so people refuse to accept or change…..there is nothing better than understand everybody. I came from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and always have people from other nations speaking their own languages...never bothered...it depends on your mind...isn't is challenging enough? It reminds me that there is a whole new world of opportunities out there waiting to be explored.....instead to get upset because I don't understand, I prefer to take the challenge to try to communicate and learn something new !! Actually this is the mentality in Brazil....never herd that someone got upset just because other people were chating in their native languages....usually they will approach the people and we will try to communicate in anyway possible and learn from each other...maybe this is why people always say good things about Brazil....we don't have any prejudice in mind...actually we take the chance to learn from others...and There are so many things to learn...Instead to get upset, I chose to take the challenge. We are ignorant til the point we choose to be. We all have the ability to lern something new. Maybe that's why I speak 2 languages so far (Portuguese and English)...learning a 3rd one (Spanish, very similar to Portuguese) and understand Italian and French very well. I chose to grow....do not give excuses to myself and complain about someone who knows something different. It sounds weird to me…. those who pretend that all the world should speak their language, while they are comfortable enough speaking only one…..no change…no growth.

[Krikit 1,166]

I find other cultures and languages fascinating. I have a friend who can speak 7 languages.... my sister can speak four. I think it's wonderful. I am constantly amazed by people who move to another country and are able to communicate in a non-native tongue. And I love laughing with them when they mix up their words and something funny comes out. The world is a wonderful place.

[pnrmbr975 1]

When their talking gets too loud, I imitate them but LOUDER.

[zabor 0]

In some cultures speak loud is not something bad....is commom.... It's interesting to see the difference. Doesn;t mean that they are ill mannered. In Brazil in many places it's commom...in others it's considered bad....everything depends on where we are and with who.... Here in the USA I've seen a lot of Indians who usually whisper their words...and some Africans that try to speak low...but when they re with people from Africa, Nigeria specifically they all spek so loud....The same with me here and my hubby and me with my family and friends.... I don't mean to bother anybody...just happen according to the exitement and the passion of the conversation...we tend to be more natural and do not control the volume....

[jundp 191]

I find other cultures and languages fascinating. I have a friend who can speak 7 languages.... my sister can speak four. I think it's wonderful. I am constantly amazed by people who move to another country and are able to communicate in a non-native tongue. And I love laughing with them when they mix up their words and something funny comes out. The world is a wonderful place.

ITA, but isn't it a shame not everyone feels that way? Even here on VJ there are people who don't seem to respect the cultures of others, which I find amazing.

[Queen Jenn 0]

I think it's just fine if people speak in their own language to each other. I don't even mind if they do it loudly (I'm used to loud conversations because my dad has lost part of his hearing and ALWAYS talks loud because he can't hear how loud he is).

Whenever I travel, I do my best to at least learn a few necessary phrases in the language of the country I am going to. I don't expect them to learn English to talk to me in their own country and I expect them to do the same. If they come here and want to talk to me, SPEAK ENGLISH.

[kisschick1976 0]

It's none of my business anyway so I would have no reason to mind. Living here in South Texas most of my life I am surrounded by Spanish speakers. As long as they weren't talking about me I couldn't care less.

What I DO hate is, when people look at me and assume I speak Spanish. Then when I politely say, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish." They say in perfect English, "WHAT? Well what kind of a Mexican are you?"

Depending on my mood I either politely respond with, "Well I'm not a Mexican at all." or I use the opportunity to use my favorite insult phrases in Romanian

[nivesito 0]

It's none of my business anyway so I would have no reason to mind. Living here in South Texas most of my life I am surrounded by Spanish speakers. As long as they weren't talking about me I couldn't care less.

What I DO hate is, when people look at me and assume I speak Spanish. Then when I politely say, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish." They say in perfect English, "WHAT? Well what kind of a Mexican are you?"

Depending on my mood I either politely respond with, "Well I'm not a Mexican at all." or I use the opportunity to use my favorite insult phrases in Romanian

This is really interesting topic. I’m waiting for my K1 visa to be approved.

I’m from Croatia but last 3 years I’ve spend in Germany doing my Master. During my study I had to take French or Spanish. I chosen Spanish, which I’m glad now considering that in my opinion Spanish is widely spoken in US, almost as a second official language. Everything is on English and Spanish. When I was there I met people that where in the US for almost 5 years and they didn’t spoke a word of English because they didn’t have to and they even had jobs (ok nothing big but hello!).

When I came to Germany there was no way you could do things here without knowing the language. If you are living in Germany you are expected to speak German. There are a lot of people in Germany from different countries speaking different languages but they can also speak German. Expecting from somebody to speak Spanish is as in Germany expecting from somebody to speak Turkish (there is a lot of Turkish people here).

In my opinion everybody should be able and have freedom to speak their languages which is great. I’m never going to speak English or German with my sister just because we are in US or Germany but if you live in some country you should be able to speak the language of the country you live in.

[Mononoke28 137]

... in my opinion Spanish is widely spoken in US, almost as a second official language.

Try not to get caught saying this in public.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

I spend much of my day yakking away in Spanish.

We get a lot of looks because I'm white...it just must be very different to people. I've seen Latinos giggle and clap.

In some places, white people tend to start to look very unforfortable. The twitchier they get, the louder I get...sometimes I like to throw in some meaningful smiles.

I'll do whatever I can to make these xenophobes uncomfortable!!

[nivesito 0]

... in my opinion Spanish is widely spoken in US, almost as a second official language.

Try not to get caught saying this in public.

Why?

I meant nothing wrong; it was just an observation from somebody that was for a first time in the States.

I love Spanish, it’s my favorite language and hopefully I’ll get to learn it better, especially because my fiancée mom is Dominican