Rudeness and foreign language

English is the best languague ever.....But it would be a great gift to speak in many tongues..

Has anyone ever been to a Welsh speaking area of Wales? if Welsh speakers know that you don't understand the Welsh language, they just love using the Welsh language to speak about non-welsh speakers.
I think that speaking in a language that even one person in a group does not understand is the hight of bad manners and ignorance.
I can accept that there are some cases where people who do not have a good grasp of English to use their "Native" language to explain something to each other that they may not understand or cannot pronounce in English.
But lets face it, there are almost no "Natives" in Wales who cannot speak or understand English (except by choice) so WHY? do they need to speak in Welsh when in the company of Non- Welsh speakers? In this case it is just PIG ignorance as far as I am concerned.

that was probably some eastern european language not "dialect". I am just wondering if you any less rude then they are, or you just an ignorant... You know eastern europeans having their own LANGUAGES not like you dialects only... enough to switch on television, pure spoken english... hehehe. and for your information they are entitled to speak whatever language they want despite you around or not. any doubt? check in citizen advise bureau. I did. It my be a bit rude to other people around not understanding this particular language I agree, but compering to personal culture (farting, burping, disrespecting forein people) I am faceing every single day at work that is just nothing. Anyway they probably were speaking about some more complicated things then fish and chips or weather, so I don't think you could be interested in... Best regards

What about the English peoples that don't even bother asking if the person they talk to in a foreign country speaks English before starting talking straight in English. That's rude to and it doesn't shows a lot of social skills. At least try to speak one or two sentence in the language of the country you visit, even if it's just to say hello and ask if they speak english...

Adapt to the culture hosting you. When in China my host beams with pride when I belch at the table. Back home, my wife is less amused.
It's simple common sense. If you can speak the common language of the culture you're in, and choose to speak a foreign tongue, in the presence of those not able to understand you, it is rude and disrespectful. Offenders don't have to agree with the etiquette of the culture they visit, but they really ought to abide by and respect it.

Chris - yes, Britain is only 40 km away but we're talking about the sea, not just a short trip by road. I think the reason we don't have French, Dutch or German TV here is because it's rubbish. The BBC, on the other hand, produces some excellent programmes.

Brits in Wales watch Sianel4Cymru in Welsh and Brits in Scotland watch BBC Alba in Gaelic.

Which Brits struggling to speak anything but English are you talking about? The ones in England perhaps?

Why is there no free to view foreign channels in Britain?

Britain is only 40km from the coast of Europe but yet you can't even find one French, Dutch, German, Italian or Spanish television on freeview. What's up with that? I'm sure if you go to Europe you can always find BBC, CNN or at least one English channel yet Britain doesn't bother having any free foreign channels.That might also explain why Brits struggle speaking anything but English.

"The Welsh do switch back to Welsh from English when they know that someone from England is listening and I've encountered it several times in shops and pubs in North Wales. Other nationalities certainly do the same but sadly, in my own experience the Welsh manage to make a point of being rude to the English."

Am be goblyn ti'n siarad? Tydi'r Cymry BYTH yn newid o'r Saesneg i'r Gymraeg pan fo rhywun o Loegr yn gwrando. BYTH!

I hope to speak english fluintly someday in my life

The Welsh do switch back to Welsh from English when they know that someone from England is listening and I've encountered it several times in shops and pubs in North Wales. Other nationalities certainly do the same but sadly, in my own experience the Welsh manage to make a point of being rude to the English.

I agree with the person who made these comments, I am from Kashmir,English is my 2nd Language, But I always speak in English in presence of others who don't understand my language,I think its rude and arrogant not to respect other peoples in same work place or same room,