Should people try to speak the language of the land when visiting?

by JH 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  JH

  As most of you know, I live in Quebec (90% french) and I was at the convenience store a moment ago.

  There was a lady from Ontario in her 50's who stopped at the conveniece store to ask the clerc for directions in english. The girl at the cash tried her best to speak english and give her the right directions. Then a client came in the convenience store and saw the lady talking in english.

  As the lady left, this client said out loud, "why couldn't she speak french"? Then he said, "If we were visiting Ontario, we would have to force ourselves to speak english if we wanted to be served".

  It's small examples like these that spark hatred in the french community here.

  Often I helped english tourists get around and find their way IN ENGLISH. I'm bilingual so it's no problem for me. And it's an occasion to practise my english even further.

  In some countries it's the religion that sparks hatred, here in Quebec it's the language...
• 

  VM44

  If I visited Quebec and tried to speak french, they would say, "Mon Dieu! Stop! Stop! Go back to speaking english!" --VM44
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  JH

  This makes me think of when God confused the language , didn't he know the result this would give?
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  jgnat

  I play tourist wherever I go. I am actively interested in the culture and ask tons of questions. I figure a bumbled attempt is better than no try at all.

  By asking tons of questions I got a personal demonstration of how the unmanned transit trains in Vancouver are operated, plus a couple of touristy pins.

  By being actively curious, I learned to spot the high-rise developments in Manhattan, the result of Roosevelt's New Deal, only blocks away from the most expensive real estate in New York, Upper East Side. Why is it so expensive? It looks out on Central Park and they get the best sunset views in the city.

  Of course, both the transit officer and the cab driver spoke english.
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  JH

  I think that people should be nice and try to help the person (tourist) who can't speak the local language. That person brings money to the region, staying at hotels and eating at resturants.

  But on the other hand, I understand both sides to this....
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  GoingGoingGone

  When I was in my early 20's, a friend and I travelled thru Europe... we hit almost every country in Western Europe. We both speak English, I spoke Spanish, my friend spoke French and German, so we felt pretty good...

  One day she was in a bank in Germany, and I was sitting on a bench waiting for her. A German man sat down next to me and began speaking in German. I said that I didn't speak German, and he said in a very nasty voice, 'You come to Germany, and do not speak German!?' I was so taken aback that I didn't even mention that we were only there for 3 days...!!!

  I'm all for learning the language if you're going to be somewhere for any length of time. I did live in another country for a while, and learned the language fluently.

  GGG
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  Scully

  Then he said, "If we were visiting Ontario, we would have to force ourselves to speak english if we wanted to be served".

  Actually, in Ontario, official tourist-catering businesses usually require their employees to speak both English and French. Major corporations in Ontario expect bilingualism. Hospitals are supposed to offer services in English and French. If there are French-speaking patients on my ward, I am expected to provide care in French.

  Private businesses are another story. Mr Scully's business is a one-person operation, and although he has been asked to do work for French-speaking customers, he usually declines to prevent misunderstandings of the technical language involved in his skill-set.

  The Francophone-Anglophone issue between Quebec and the English speaking world is so different from everywhere else it seems. Most people who travel to foreign countries enjoy the prospect of trying to learn key words and phrases for their vacations - they even buy tapes or CDs and language dictionaries to help them when they travel.

  Canada's Official Bilingualism policy has gotten in the way of this. It makes it plain to Canadians that they are entitled to be served in their language of preference between English and French. It doesn't give them any incentive to learn the other language, because they can insist on being served in English if they speak English, ou en français si on parle français. That is a sad flaw of the policy... imo.
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  doofdaddy

  I can only speak of my travels in Asia and I find at local people appreciate my attempts at custom rather than language.

  When I was in Thailand years ago, I was in a village with no farangs (foreigners) and went to a restaurant where many local old men were eating and talking. I ordered (local) coffee.

  When it was delivered, there was no jasmine tea which is supposed to be served and refilled free. The old men were watching.

  I called the woman back and made sign language to get my tea. The old men gave me a nod and brief smiles, then they went back to their conversation.

  Kinda nice
• 

  misspeaches

  I guess it all boils down to each persons perspective.

  If I was to go to a country for a couple of days only I think I would be less inclined to learn anything beyond the basics, hello, goodbye, yes, no, please, thankyou.

  On the other hand we have some people immigrating to Australia who have lived her for decades and still not learnt to speak English. I find that frustrating. I admit this is a minority group however.
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  mariposa

  I learned spanish to witness to people and for work. There are so many spansh speaking people here in Atlanta now. My husband is from Guatemala and he speaks mostly spanish, but he does speak english too. However, his family members that are here kill me!

  They've been here for like 6 years now, don't know a lick of english and don't even seem to want to learn. I am constantly translating stuff for them and truthfully it's getting old. The kids speak english, but it's sad cause the little girl is having all sorts of problems in school cause she can't read english well and mom and dad can't help. They are surrounded by english stuff but go to only spanish stores, listen to spanish staions, watch spanish tv, etc... But when they need help speaking to their boss, they call me.

  If I was visiting another country, I'd at least try to speak the language, but if I was moving there I would definately learn it!! I mean come on....

  I don't mind helping people who need it and most the time it's cool translating. It's so funny cause I'm about as white and red haired as you can get...no one expects me to be speaking anything but english