by Omar Little on April 9th, 2011

Question

Help answer this question below.

Have you noticed that people whose second language is English pretend they can't speak it very well when it's convenient for them?

Yes, yes, racist this, racist that. Now that's out the way, could you perhaps answer the question?

I ask this because I work with a few foreigners who tend to speak English pretty well, but as soon as it's convenient, they all-of-a-sudden lose the ability to speak English properly, usually when caught on a wrongdoing.

Have you experienced this?

Another quick question, would English speakers use the same tactic if they worked in a non-English speaking country?

Like
Report

Share:: Facebook; Twitter; Other

Answers. 13 helpful answers below.

by courtneyxx8 on April 9th, 2011

Asker's Pick

Selected by the asker, Omar Little. (What's this?)

Asker's Pick

On Answerbag, the member who originally submits a question can identify the answers that he or she finds most valuable. "Asker's Pick" answers show you which answers best addressed the question on the original submitter's mind.
I suppose it's instinctive, and I have noticed it. I think if it were me and I were in Mongolia or something, I would do the same thing. At least until I worked out a good excuse.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Gratefully Me on April 9th, 2011
Oh yes...here in Texas, it happens constantly.
Comments
- I know. I can never understand them Texans.
  
  Report
  
  by N'anderthal on April 9th, 2011
- LOL! ;-)
  
  Report
  
  by Gratefully Me on April 9th, 2011
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
2 comments | Post one | Permalink
by N'anderthal on April 9th, 2011
Ek verstaan nie.
Comments
- maak 2 van ons
  
  Report
  
  by Ryder on April 9th, 2011
- Net tree stom en hulle sal laat ons alleen
  
  Report
  
  by N'anderthal on April 9th, 2011
- Goeie idee.
  
  Report
  
  by RefreshPerspective on April 9th, 2011
- haha ja nee klunk na n goeie plan
  
  Report
  
  by Ryder on April 9th, 2011
- En tiedä mitään, ystävät
  
  Report
  
  by keylock000 on April 10th, 2011
- My Afrikaans must be getting rusty.
  
  Report
  
  by RefreshPerspective on April 10th, 2011
- En edes puhu suomea
  
  Report
  
  by N'anderthal on April 10th, 2011
- hyvää paskaa mies... but I am really British born and raised and I dont really speak Suomi lol....=0)
  
  Report
  
  by keylock000 on April 10th, 2011
- haha its nice to see some people that can speak afrikaans on ab
  
  Report
  
  by Ryder on April 10th, 2011
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
9 comments | Post one | Permalink
by RefreshPerspective on April 9th, 2011
Those cunning foreigners.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Neodarwinian49 on April 9th, 2011
I expect that this is human behavior that would apply across the board in a distributed manner.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by J and B on April 10th, 2011
Yup. Especially when when you're trying to get them to sign a traffic citation. When all else fails the pen in one hand, handcuffs in the other and, voila, the language barrier has been bridged.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Shunyata on April 10th, 2011
instead of assisting people who use English as a second language you seem to prefer critizing people?
which languages do you speak besides English. I speak 5. Tell me.
Comments
- I said nothing about not assisting anyone, and I am not criticising anyone either.
  Answer the bloody question or don't say anything.
  
  Report
  
  by Omar Little on April 10th, 2011
- you are choosing to be rude.
  this is a criticizing question toward those who speak English as a second language.
  "Have you noticed that people whose second language is English pretend they can't speak it very well when it's convenient for them?
  
  and: you can't even spell critisizing. I bet you don't even speak an other language.
  
  Report
  
  by Shunyata on April 10th, 2011
- "Criticising" is spelled perfectly well, thank you, I'm British, so my spelling of it is without fault, just as your spelling is correct, if I'm correct in assuming you're American.
  
  Now, I am not being rude, I am simply asking if others have noticed something I have noticed.
  
  Me speaking other languages is irrelevant, this is not a boast-fest, I have no reason to bore people about how many languages I can speak.
  
  I see you still haven't answered the question, and the only reason you did comment, was to insinuate that I am somehow racist towards non-English speakers, and to bore everyone about how many languages you can speak, although to be honest, saying and doing are two completely different things.
  
  Report
  
  by Omar Little on April 10th, 2011
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
3 comments | Post one | Permalink
by Marky Mark on April 10th, 2011
Sorry. No hablee Inglees.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Arctico-The-Wolf Supports Leonard Peltier on December 20th, 2011
Usually doesn't work, they start wanting to talk when they realize that I'm fluent in Spanish as well. I lived in Puerto Rico for half my childhood!

Well, I don't use that tact because most countries I've been to speak Spanish or my other language, French... :)
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by -O-uknow on April 10th, 2011
I notice they do much of everything that is convenient for them remaining consistent.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Mark "The Beard" on April 9th, 2011
This is just smart. Playing the dumb card when you're in trouble works wonders. It doesn't say much about us as people, but it works! I do it all the time when I get pulled over.

"Oh the speed limit isn't 80?"
"Good lord, you must think I was driving like a maniac, I'm sorry officer!"

I've never gotten a ticket.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by keylock000 on April 10th, 2011
have done it in Poland when caught speeding (75km in a 50km zone) "me no speakey Polish"(well not good amount of Polish anyways)...."Huh....Huh cash ....No, just plastic sir"..... he said "okay go..go"...........naughty huh!
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by N'anderthal on April 9th, 2011
I think if you pulled that stuff in a foreign country, they would cut off your hand.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink

Question

Have you noticed that people whose second language is English pretend they can't speak it very well when it's convenient for them?

Answers. 13 helpful answers below.

Asker's Pick

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Why are some people whose first language is not English better at English than some whose first language IS English?

How many people speak English as a first language?

Did anyone realize that other language people trying to speak English don't work??? I'm so fed up with this on telephone trying to talk to a company with NON-English speaking PEOPLE trying to pretend English, they STILL have an accent!. ..Your opinions?

How is that some people whose second language is English can live in an English speaking country for a decade or more yet their English never improves?

Educated Britons speak the Queen's English. Whose English do educated people of the U.S. speak?

Professionally Researched

How many people speak English as a first language?

How many people in the world speak English as a first language?

How many people speak English as a first language?

What are the four most important languages in the history of the English language?

How many people in the U.S. do not speak English?

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Answerbag.com
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!

Question

Have you noticed that people whose second language is English pretend they can't speak it very well when it's convenient for them?

Answers. 13 helpful answers below.

Asker's Pick

Asker's Pick

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Answerbag.com Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!

Answerbag.com
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!