Foreign language ettiquite?

[Joe]

Well, now that I know a decent ammount of Spanish, I've been starting to use it a bit at work, because to be honest it's easier to understand some foreigners in Spanish than it is in English with their accents. I was wondering, would you consider it rude for to attempt to use an accent, even if you're not too good at it (for example, me speaking Spanish), or to even speak Spanish at all to them as we're in an English-based job?

[CrAz3D]

If you know they speak spanish...whatev


Some stupid girl @ wendy's started talking to a hispanic lookin dude (customer) & he replied "I dont speak spanish" ... I laughed in my head

[Newby]

x86] link=topic=8248.msg103988#msg103988 date=1166949185]
Well, now that I know a decent ammount of Spanish, I've been starting to use it a bit at work, because to be honest it's easier to understand some foreigners in Spanish than it is in English with their accents. I was wondering, would you consider it rude for to attempt to use an accent, even if you're not too good at it (for example, me speaking Spanish), or to even speak Spanish at all to them as we're in an English-based job?

I spoke English to my coworkers. They didn't spick a lick of English.

I am in AP Spanish (my 5th year of Spanish) and I still don't feel confident enough to talk in Spanish.

[rabbit]

Don't try to speak with an accent.  Just speak Spanish, and eventually you'll develop one.  If you try you might anger them.

[warz]

man, if they get mad cause youre speaking with an accent then tell them to fuck off.. this is america.. dey turk oerr jeerrbbbs. speak with a damn accept, guys, maybe theyll think you sound funny and then realize thats how they sound, so they must sound funny to us also. man i took 1 year of spanish and i talk spanish every day, and sometimes i throw in different accents while speaking in spanish. tu comprende?

[trust]

Don't speak in Spanish, we're in America and you're not even close to Mexico. You just look/sound dumb.

[Newby]

Don't speak in Spanish, we're in America and you're not even close to Mexico. You just look/sound dumb.

Those were my exact thoughts. :)

[warz]

tu eres muy estupido. it doesnt hurt to be well rounded, and knowledgable of other languages dude. speaking spanish doesn't make you look or sound dumb at all. the only thing that really makes you look dumb is when you try to defend your reasoning for why spanish shouldn't be spoken just because we're in the US. On a side note though, im in TX, closer to Mexico than any of you noobs.

[CrAz3D]

tu eres muy estupido. it doesnt hurt to be well rounded, and knowledgable of other languages dude. speaking spanish doesn't make you look or sound dumb at all. the only thing that really makes you look dumb is when you try to defend your reasoning for why spanish shouldn't be spoken just because we're in the US. On a side note though, im in TX, closer to Mexico than any of you noobs.

where in texas are you?

Where I live is pretty much mexico.

But yeah.  Dont speak spanish when you dont know it (unless the fool doesnt know english), and in businesses in the US you should be speaking english.

[warz]

What does it matter if you know it or not? If the situation arrises, and you know that you know enough words to make a point in Spanish, then by all means, say the damn words in Spanish. I work at my friend's dad's car cargo van rental place, in downtown Dallas - you want to know how many Mexicans I see in one business day? A lot. I don't know Spanish, but I know basic words and phrases. If I feel that saying one Spanish word will help the Mexican dude realize his Ace cash card is not accepted for renting a van, and his debit card has no money on it, and he has no insurance, then I'm going to say the damn word in Spanish.

I live in Dallas, and go to school in Lubbock.

[Towelie]

Don't speak in Spanish, we're in America and you're not even close to Mexico. You just look/sound dumb.

Those were my exact thoughts. :)

WHO GIVES  A FUCK HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO MEXICO?
;)
I recommend you speak English to them no matter what, even if you are in a place like... San Diego

[Joe]

man, if they get mad cause youre speaking with an accent then tell them to fuck off.. this is america.. dey turk oerr jeerrbbbs. speak with a damn accept, guys, maybe theyll think you sound funny and then realize thats how they sound, so they must sound funny to us also. man i took 1 year of spanish and i talk spanish every day, and sometimes i throw in different accents while speaking in spanish. tu comprende?

Sí, yo comprendo.

Don't speak in Spanish, we're in America and you're not even close to Mexico. You just look/sound dumb.

Ellos de Argentina, no de Estados Unitodos. Ellos no habla bueno ingles, y es más facil comprendar en español.

EDIT -
Uh.. what's the right form of "comprendo" in this sentence?

[CrAz3D]

What does it matter if you know it or not? If the situation arrises, and you know that you know enough words to make a point in Spanish, then by all means, say the damn words in Spanish. I work at my friend's dad's car cargo van rental place, in downtown Dallas - you want to know how many Mexicans I see in one business day? A lot. I don't know Spanish, but I know basic words and phrases. If I feel that saying one Spanish word will help the Mexican dude realize his Ace cash card is not accepted for renting a van, and his debit card has no money on it, and he has no insurance, then I'm going to say the damn word in Spanish.

I live in Dallas, and go to school in Lubbock.

Las Cruces, NM.  I'm even closer than you, "noob."

I'd say more than 10% of the damned people here don't know friggin word of english...and they dont even really try to learn.  My friend's grandma has been here for 50+ years, can say hi & a few other things.

Spanish can be nice to help someone genuinely in need of help, but when they dont bother I'm not gonna bother either.  They can run outta gas & call the police if they really need help, but they'll just end up getting sent back anyhow.

[Ergot]

Joe you're Spanish is terrible, but if they don't speak English at all... your attempts at Spanish will pass.  Trust me, it's like people speaking broken English, you'll still understand them.  Don't stress yourself over the conjugations and grammar too much when speaking... they won't mind too much (since you're attempting to speak).

[Towelie]

Joe you're Spanish is terrible, but if they don't speak English at all... your attempts at Spanish will pass.  Trust me, it's like people speaking broken English, you'll still understand them.  Don't stress yourself over the conjugations and grammar too much when speaking... they won't mind too much (since you're attempting to speak).

Exactly. If someone said "Where am you?" you know what they are asking