Indian handbook

[london1967]

This memo was sent to the Indian staff travelling to the the UK, following reports of some "incidents".

1. The UK office is less hierarchical than in India and every member of staff is expected to be treated politely & equally.

2. The UK culture encourages people to question politely when you don't understand. People from the UK will get frustrated

Comments

[gorkabear]

#6 is just offensive.
In my year there in the UK we had that discussion with some English colleagues. One of my answers was that we would discuss in english in front of them when they would use a simpler english for our less-fluent colleagues and didn't use english as an arm to ridiculize us.
Phew

[lvmybehrs]

we would discuss in english in front of them when they would use a simpler english for our less-fluent colleagues and didn't use english as an arm to ridiculize us.

That's sad if that is the case. I know I speak english to my co-workers who are less fluent. If they don't understand I try to explain differently but i am by all means not doing it to ridicule them. If all else fails I speak Spanish.

[gorkabear]

Well, in the end it's an attittude some monolingual speakers have against people with different (and usually "considered inferior" languages).

English speakers are very arrogant. Likewise French and Spanish speakers.

[lvmybehrs]

I know this of the French. I certainly would hope the Spanish bears wouldn't criticize me and my non-Castilian Spanish. ;-)

[gorkabear]

Oh, they will probably speak louder to you and blame that you don't speak "the world's second most important language"

[lvmybehrs]

LOL. I do not doubt that would happen. I'll just smile and look clueless. It may work.

[london1967]

Let's all learn Esperanto! LOL!

[lvmybehrs]

Mi ne komprenas vin. Bone.

;-)

[london1967]

LOL!!

[london1967]

I think it all depends on the context.
I believe it's OK if you use your native language to clarify something with a colleague, but it's a different matter if you carry on a parallel conversation (bearing in mind that our Indian colleagues are fluent in English).

I'm sorry you had such bad experiences in the UK: no wonder you hate us! LOL!

[gorkabear]

Their complaint was even when we translated a phrase an English colleague did.
I kind of believe it was a major case of arsehol-ism in the company I used to work in but we always had the perception that they used English against us and not as a communication tool.

As a speaker of a minority language, I have the same feeling. I told one of my Madrid colleagues "well, you know how catalans feel when you do the same to us"