Thaths, Fair enough on your issue that this did happen in the us, an english speaking country. I also agree with you and have myself, on occasion, provided a quick translation to help others understand whatever I spoke about in Hindi. (brought-up in Karnataka, and having family ties in West Bengal, I have had to translate between these languages to Hindi and vice-versa too)
However, I take issue with the many people who "demand". I also take issue with Hindi speakers who will not translate even when asked to do so. Personally, at home, it is a very common scene where my uncles/aunts/cousins chatter in english, and I have to remind them to speak in Hindi/Marwari for the benefit of my dear grandparents sitting in the same room. I believe "demanding" it for the sake of my grandparents is different from demanding it for the sake of social company (short-sighted? And me?) --- Bottom-line, there are times when I just want to speak in Hindi ... Irrespective of the company ... Might be that's why there is only a single "mother tongue" and various other second-languages in a person's life. Having lived and studied in the nyc area ... There have been many times when I am in the company of greek/arabic/spanish-speaking friends who are having conversations in their own languages. I don't feel offended (unless they look at me and laugh at the end of a sentence! Heh!) and I don't demand a translation. Might be knowing more than one language has this sort of automatic calming effect on me. I don't know. Here's something to cheer you up ... --- Q. Whats a person who knows many languages called? A. Multi-lingual. --- Q. Whats a person who knows two languages called? A. Bi-lingual. --- Q. Whats a person who knows only one language called? A. American ;-) ______________________ Vinit Bhansali www.logic2go.com www.bhansalimail.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -----Original Message----- > From: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] et] On Behalf Of Thaths > Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 7:32 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [silk] Indian history spat hits US > > On 1/25/06, Vinit Bhansali <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Those dumb idiots should have realized that it is every > > english-only-speaking person's RIGHT to demand flexibility > from people who > > know more than one language. > > I am sorry, Vinit. I disagree with you (your smily is duly noted) on > this one. This happened, I think, in the US. I think it is rude for > some indian colleagues to chatter among themselves in Hindi when they > clearly know that their colleague with whom they are travelling does > not understand the language. I have been in similar situations and I > always try and provide a quick translation of what is being discussed > to the non-Hindi speaker so that they don't feel left out of the > conversation. > > Thaths > -- > "Bart! With $10,000 we'd be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of > useful things... like love." -- Homer J. Simpson >
