Samira wrote:
Quote:
If I spoke conversational German and was in Berlin with a like educated person, I'd still speak to my companion in English. I'm not going to slog through a conversation in German just so the native next to me can eavesdrop on when we want to visit the Reichstag.
Bolded a lil section right back at ya.
I don't quite understand what you're trying to point out to me. Would you mind being a dear and making it a little more clear?
If it is a misunderstanding from my post then perhaps I should make myself clear:
Quote:
However, if they can speak English at least fairly well and are in my company, I consider it the height of ignorance for them to communicate between each other in a non-english language. As such, I would not visit germany, being able to speak fairly good german, and purposfully speak English just so Natives could not understand me.
From the bolded section in the quotation, I would be led to believe I meant that for being in the company of Natives I would attempt to speak to them in their native language. I would also expect the same courtesy returned to me if it was not to inconvenient.
For example: I am in Japan on business, and have a non-fluent but advanced grasp of japanese. I would attempt to communicate with my japanese-speaking companions in Japanese at every opportunity. This, in my eyes, is good manners.
Again, if the Japanese representative visited my company in an English speaking country, and they had a grasp of the English language, I would consider it only good manners for them to act the same way.
Of course this is only my personal opinion, and you are free to disagree with this. But I fail to see why this sparked multiple flames/rate-downs. Of course the anonymity [sp] of the internet contributed slightly but it would be much appreciated if any of you could explain what you meant when you disagreed with my view, particularly the ones who did so in a rude manner. I have no want of a flame war so if that is the only response you have to this post, I am afraid I will not respond to you and I bid you adeiu.