Is Speaking Spanish Rude?

Question

I'm interested in a certificate in Workplace Spanish so I googled that phrase. I found this discussion and loved the irony - check out the Google Ads above and below this first post.

The discussion involved a bunch of people whining when co-workers or any nearby people speak in a language the whiners don't understand. Apparently it's rude to deprive people of the chance to eavesdrop.

Answer 1

I was in an elevator in Holland with a colleague. Both of us were speaking English. A very tall lady (and I mean tall) got in. Thinking that she was Dutch, I switched to Spanish and said to my colleague " para darle un beso necesitaria una escalera" (to kiss her you would need a ladder). We carried on talking between us in Spanish. A minute later the elevator stopped and as the lady walked out, she said in Spanish: "Por qué una escalera? Podríamos colocar en el piso para besar." (Why would you need a ladder? We could lay on the floor and kiss).

• Busted! Did you take her up on her offer? - jrey0474 Nov 6, 2009
• Thats hilarious! rofl - cheeseisyumm Nov 6, 2009
• I am in love with her just for saying that! - jaysprout Nov 6, 2009
• Now that's a funny story! - Izanoni1 Nov 6, 2009
• ¡Qué graciosa! (la mujer). - samdie Nov 6, 2009
View 1 more commments >>

Answer 2

Hmm, I would say that it depends on context. My mother used to tell me that whispering in front of others was rude. I suppose speaking in another language could be construed as rude if it were an attempt to isolate or ignore certain coworkers. I imagine there are elements of the group dynamic that we're not seeing here. Maybe these people wouldn't get along even if they were speaking the same language.

• I agree context is important. - cheeseisyumm Nov 6, 2009

Answer 3

Where I live most people speak english or french....so when someone speaks french....and someone else doesn't...we switch....to english...its more polite and we want the other person to be part of the discussion...not being excluded....so I think any other languages should be the same...if possible.....

Answer 4

It depends.

I used to work with a girl from Malasia who spoke Chinese. One time she invited me to her place for dinner. Some of her other friends were there too. Several times they launched into a fast paced discussion in Chinese. And of course, I couldn't understand a word! So I asked them to please speak English.

I didn't think of it as being rude. It just seemed like they forgot I was there. But I guess it could be considered rude if you speak so that your invited guests don't understand you.

Now, if you're just trying to eavesdrop, that's a different story!

Answer 5

I didn't mean to actually start a discussion about the level or lack of rudeness - I just thought it rather wonderful that these people are complaining about Spanish speakers and having their posts surrounded by advertisements offering ways to learn Spanish.

Yes, of course the ads are resulting from the content of the posts - just like some KKK discussion somewhere is deluged with requests for contributions to the NAACP which ... just the thought of that makes me smile as well.

• That is pretty funny! - Alicia-53 Nov 6, 2009
• And I thought irony was only really appreciated in the UK :-) - Jespa Nov 6, 2009
• Now that, Jespa, is rude (or bespeaks an insular attitude/experience). - samdie Nov 6, 2009

Answer 6

I would consider it to be rude especially if the spanish (sic) speakers were also capable of speaking and comprehending english (sic),they should wait till they are alone to have thier (sic) discussion if they dont (sic) want the english (sic) speakers to be privy to the conversation

Should they then also refrain form talking about sports (yesterday's baseball/football/basketball) game, as well, because there may be someone within earshot who is not interested is sports? Should women not discuss fashion because some passing (straight) male would feel excluded from the conversation? To what extent are we obligated to tailor our conversations so as to include (and be of interest to) everyone who may be within earshot? Does the mere fact of you're being able to hear the conversation make you a participant?

Answer 7

Jay, this is an interesting discussion. I totally agree that people might get a little miffed at others for speaking in another language. I, myself, don't really care and have come to understand that if your native tongue is different than mine I should latch onto you and try to learn it. Yes, I think the differences (not only in language) should be valued. Especially if the people above were on a break or a difficult concept needed a little more attention, why not use the person's native tongue? Just a small thought for you. Thanks for the post. By the way, I love the use of the word whiners, we have a lot of them at the school I teach!!

• Also "whingers" - popular in the UK - Jespa Nov 6, 2009

Answer 8

I would consider it to be rude especially if the spanish speakers were also capable of speaking and comprehending english,they should wait till they are alone to have thier discussion if they dont want the english speakers to be privy to the conversation

• That assumes that the only reason the employees were speaking Spanish was to keep the non-Spanish speakers in the dark. Sometimes it's just easier to fully express yourself in your native language - jrey0474 Nov 6, 2009

Answer 9

There is a time and place for everything. I agree with the sentiments expressed here about context.

This reminded, though, me of a teacher I had in High School who was prone to shout: "You're in America! Speak English!" I personally find that way of thinking sad.

I was recently at a party where I was able to hear conversations around me in four different languages at once. It was beautiful. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I was watching a dozen artists collaborate on an painting that would take your breath away.

• Sad indeed. Why not Navajo, Souix, French, or Spanish, all of which have as much (or more) historical claim. - BobK Nov 6, 2009
• True, that! :-) - chaparrito Nov 6, 2009

Answer 10

It is probably because the post is about Spanish that the ads are as well.

Answer 11

Often times these are the same people that refuse to learn any other language then English, too. XD

Answer 12

think of it like this: if someone came from a foreign country to America and you talked to them 4 a little while and then your English-speaking friends came along and said hello and got into a fast-paced conversation.... How would the foreign student feel? it's ok... everyone mingles with their own kind- i guess it's cause they think that they can connect with their own people. It's a similar feeling you get when you meet someone that shares something in common with you like a language or a hometown, etc. So it's ok, don't feel offended they don't realize it.. they just get wrapped up in the conversation like us. Hope it helps from another perspective.

Answer 13

I don't think of it as rude. That just doesn't make any since to me at all. Is me speaking in English right now rude?

Answer 14

I agree with jrey0474 - I think it's a matter of comfort, not being rude. I think those who are bothered by others talking in a different language are paranoid and narcissistic.

Answer 15

i dont think its rude, i mean i guess it depends por ejemplo if i were talking to you but other people were there(speaking in spanish), and we starting laughing i guess others would think we are talking about them, but overall its not rude. If the whiners were all speaking english and we didnt speak english it would be easily as rude, so no lo entiendo.