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

[JoeMama 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!!

I agree with you! Being that I am quite tanned (Filipino, by the way), my brother and I, return conversations to those who automatically approach us thinking we speak Spanish. I respond in Russian, and my brother, in German. It's hilarious to watching the response on the faces of those who think we're from south of the border!

[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.

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

Well nothing wrong with speaking Spanish, I also speak it fluently. But I've seen some people get offended when they hear that Spanish is almost like an official second language. Trust me, it' can open a huge can of worms.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Mononoke28

[disbelief 0]

I don't have a problem with it, I don't care... I do however find a way to annoy people... Especially if I'm at work where Spanish is spoken around me alot by some of the people in my department and at the nail shop... I'll just butt in and ask, "were you just talking about me???" and they get a very blank look on their face if they were... LOL!!! You'd be surprised! Try it, it's funny!

[Scott & Lai 12]

Sometimes it has the same effect as whispering so that others in the immediate area can't hear what you are saying, which is rather rude. If you don't want me to know what you are saying, don't have a conversation in front of me.

Edited August 17, 2007 by Scott & Lai

[William33 110]

I have not read the entire thread, only a few posts and the title.

Does not matter, because I maintain the following opinion:

If you are legal here, you can speak any language you please. However, one must speak English, in most business relationships.

If someone approached me in the business environment, with anything other than English, they will be dismissed immediately as incompetent.

Cruel treatment? No. Because English is required here. Period.

As an aside, in my world, several native Spanish speakers are on board, yet they speak English. No issues there.