On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:40:39 -0700, Arri London >
replied:
> Rhonda Anderson wrote:
> > "Nancy Young" > wrote in :
> > > While I agree, that was a pretty funny story (they
> > > all are, actually), the fact remains that speaking in
> > > a 'foreign' language to hide what you are saying in
> > > front of other people is just plain RUDE.
> > >
> > > I don't really think much of people who pull that stunt.
> > > Says something about them and it's not something nice.
> > >
> > I used to work in a section where my supervisor and another
> > couple of employees were of Chinese background. They would
> > speak to each other in Chinese (don't know if it was Mandarin
> > or Cantonese) quite a lot, and I always felt very uncomfortable.
> > This would not be shut away in her office, either - just in the
> > general area, even standing right in front of my desk. I had
> > no idea if they were talking about me or not - you start to
> > wonder, though <g>
> >
> Used to work with a lot of Filipinas. They all spoke Tagalog with
> each other, mixed in with a little English and Spanish. It didn't
> bother me, but I did spend a lot of time *listening* closely. One
> shift they started talking (in Tagalog) about my new SO who'd
> given me a ride to work. There was a shocked silence when
> asked (by me) if they liked SO's new car...

I don't have your ability to pick up languages so naturally but
have always actively worked with tutors to make sure I would be
able to communicate with the majority. It's not like I make it out
to be a state secret, either, since I'm always asking for help
with pronunciations. But there always seems to be a subset that's
completely tuned out to Real Life® and when you join in their
conversations, the palpable silence that follows is always worth a
second helping. Done nonchalantly is even better.

The Ranger