MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - To speak or not to speak the local language when visiting other countries?

HarryT · 06-20-2009, 04:04 AM

I think personally that it's very bad manners not to at least learn the "courtesy words" in the language of the country that one is visiting - "hello", "goodbye", "please" and "thank you".

Perhaps one could turn it round and ask what you would think of a visitor who made not the slightest effort to speak English when visiting your country.

One of the most embarrasing experiences I've ever had was when I was on a coach tour of Germany with a coach party who were mainly Americans (this is relevant to the story, as you'll see). We stopped for morning coffee in a small town, and were served by a teenage boy who spoke a little English. One of the women in the group started ordering the type of amazingly "complex" types of coffee that you can get in American coffee places, but which are a mystery to anyone else - you know, the kind of "I want half skimmed milk and half semi-skimmed milk with 37% decaffeinated coffee in a ...." etc etc. This poor kid didn't have a clue what she wanted. After a couple of minutes, she turned around and said in a very loud voice "if they want our money, they should learn to speak our language". I was so embarrassed that I wished the floor would open up and swallow me. I think that THAT really is the epitome of the "rude tourist". My philosophy, when travelling, is always to think that I am a guest in someone else's country, and that I shouldn't expect things to be the same as they are at home.

06-20-2009, 04:04 AM	#19
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I think personally that it's very bad manners not to at least learn the "courtesy words" in the language of the country that one is visiting - "hello", "goodbye", "please" and "thank you". Perhaps one could turn it round and ask what you would think of a visitor who made not the slightest effort to speak English when visiting your country. One of the most embarrasing experiences I've ever had was when I was on a coach tour of Germany with a coach party who were mainly Americans (this is relevant to the story, as you'll see). We stopped for morning coffee in a small town, and were served by a teenage boy who spoke a little English. One of the women in the group started ordering the type of amazingly "complex" types of coffee that you can get in American coffee places, but which are a mystery to anyone else - you know, the kind of "I want half skimmed milk and half semi-skimmed milk with 37% decaffeinated coffee in a ...." etc etc. This poor kid didn't have a clue what she wanted. After a couple of minutes, she turned around and said in a very loud voice "if they want our money, they should learn to speak our language". I was so embarrassed that I wished the floor would open up and swallow me. I think that THAT really is the epitome of the "rude tourist". My philosophy, when travelling, is always to think that I am a guest in someone else's country, and that I shouldn't expect things to be the same as they are at home. Last edited by HarryT; 06-20-2009 at 04:10 AM.