Feelings on bilingual coworkers - easily annoyed?

vegasX5 · #1 07-13-2007, 05:34 PM

I'm a project acountant for a real estate development firm and work with about 8 other people in my department. We're in cubicle city right now as we're building a new office that isn't ready and keeps getting delayed, so our quarters are close and there is no sound protection.

Six of the people I work with speak other languages - two speak Chinese, two speak Thai, and two speak Farsi (sp?). They all converse with each other VERY loudly to each other over the walls in the different languages and rarely use English except when they are speaking with me or the other single language woman in my office.

Here's my question - is it wrong for me to annoyed that they converse so much in their foreign tongues? I don't even know if it's the fact they're speaking so loudly over the walls that bothers me or if it's that I can't understand what they're saying

. Sometimes I think each pair treats everyone else like they're dumb for not knowing their language, and I definitely dislike that attitude. It also seems like they elevate their volume when not speaking in English compared to when they are. Have any of you felt the same way, or I am just being over sensitive??

When I was very young, I remember complaining to my mom in the car that my sister was annoying me. She turned to me and said, "son you're easily annoyed" and did nothing

. So sometimes I think I may be way off... Opinions or similar situations??

Sponsored Links

rayxi · #2 07-13-2007, 05:47 PM

Yep, I know what you mean.

It's very annoying to me but only when I see/hear a group of people speaking loudly in Chinese in public. But unlike you I think I'm over sensitive because I DO understand what they are saying.

It happens at my daughter's school where a group of Chinese mom's always gather in the hallway and yak loudly. I always walk by and pretent I don't see or hear them. I guess I'm put off because it sends the message that people shouldn't even say "Good Morning" to them unless it's in Chinese. That and the fact that they're so LOUD.

bjo · #3 07-13-2007, 05:50 PM

Bilingual co-workers don't annoy me unless they speak loud and often.

Quicksilver · #4 07-13-2007, 05:58 PM

Seems to me that speaking so loudly over the walls could be view as an intrusion to other workers. If they speak at a respectful volumn perhaps then no one would know what language they are speaking.

China Man · #5 07-13-2007, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayxi

That and the fact that they're so LOUD.

Unfortunately that comes with being chinese

I, like Ray, am annoyed by the fact that they are speaking so loud, AND I understand it. It seems to me the "Chinese" population in NY, especially the ladies (sorry, L!), seem to yak loud no matter where they are, and especially if they are speaking chinese. It's annoying, to say the least

, and quite embarassing ...

blondboinsd · #6 07-13-2007, 06:25 PM

I totally understand, I do feel if your in the country you should make an effort to speak their language but additionally when I'm in foreign countries I still default to what makes me feel most comfortable so I convey respect to those people the same way I take it

rayxi · #7 07-13-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Man

It seems to me the "Chinese" population in NY, especially the ladies (sorry, L!), seem to yak loud no matter where they are

Nope, not restricted to NY. It's the same everywhere. I think it's a recessive abnormality in the Chinese X chromosome.

Quicksilver · #8 07-14-2007, 12:13 AM

I asked some of my chinese Friends about this and as i understand it ( and i may need some correction) it's a cultural thing based on the region where the language is spoken. The volumn is important in order to give emphisis to the meaning of the words and the point being made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayxi

Nope, not restricted to NY. It's the same everywhere. I think it's a recessive abnormality in the Chinese X chromosome.

rayxi · #9 07-14-2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I asked some of my chinese Friends about this and as i understand it ( and i may need some correction) it's a cultural thing based on the region where the language is spoken. The volumn is important in order to give emphisis to the meaning of the words and the point being made.

Yes, the cultural aspect does account for part of it but I always found it curious why it affected women much more than men. Perhaps in a culture with a fairly wide gender gap the women feel they need to crank up the volume to compete with the men. I know my Mom is usually 10dB louder than my Dad during normal conversations. Same goes for all their friends and relatives.

China Man · #10 07-15-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayxi

Yes, the cultural aspect does account for part of it but I always found it curious why it affected women much more than men. Perhaps in a culture with a fairly wide gender gap the women feel they need to crank up the volume to compete with the men. I know my Mom is usually 10dB louder than my Dad during normal conversations. Same goes for all their friends and relatives.

I think you hit it on the nose, Ray. Although it is what it is, it's still annoying, especially in public

Sponsored Links