Converstions using your first language at work 17

[l3city]

Hi fellas, well here is a "situation" at work. All this is real. Recently engineer A and engineer B were assigned a project by the principal engineer which doesn't speak a second language. He said: "You guys take care of it, just come by if you have some questions". Engineers A & B speak english but as a 2nd language, fluently. One day engineer A and B where working and discussing on this project together and progressing on it, however at that moment they where speaking in their first language. Principal engineer was far away at his "open" office hearing the conversation (which he was not invited to begin with).

This seemed to kind a make the principal engineer not too happy about it(which told them to take care of the project...he was not involved in this project even though he is the boss). He said: "Keep your conversations in English." Question...is this ok to do? As we all know, English is the official language in the U.S.

Engineer A and B were progressing and working towards completion. From both sides, does this violates any rights or ethics? Are engineer A and B obligated to speak English?only at work? Is this is a company "rule/policie", is it ok?
My understanding of the situation is that the boss wants to micromanage or "control" everything. What's your opinion fellas..??

 

[TheBlacksmith]

English is required where I work, but we're a defense contractor, so ensuring no one is giving away secrets trumps individual rights.

 

[SomptingGuy]

As we all know, English is the official language in the U.S.

I understood that there was no "official" language in the U.S. Possibly some states have one but not where I used to live (IL) or the U.S. as a whole.

 

[TheTick]

All conversations are private, whether they are overheard or not. If it's not for you, what does it matter.

Boss is paranoid. He should just be glad the work is getting done.

 

[JStephen]

This can work both ways.

The purpose of language is communication. If two people are talking about anything of any importance they should use whatever language(s) allow them to communicate best.

I think it's rude to intentionally use language to keep people from knowing what you say. But it's also rude to expect people to carry on conversations in your language just so you can listen in on a conversation that doesn't concern you.

 

[Ashereng]

I also understood that the US does not have an "official" language. In Texas, many courts conduct business in spanish due to the large number of spanish speakers, but I suspect this is just an efficiency issue.

With regards to talking in a language other than the one you understand, I think it comes down to common courtesy. If I am in your company, I will speak a language that you, and everyone else in the discussion, understands. This is just good manners.

If I am talking to my colleague, and someone else passing by doesn't understand what I am saying, I am less inclined to worry about it since they are eavedropping.

If my boss asks me to speak in English, and I can, I guess I would. Again, common courtesy.

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[l3city]

SomptingGuy and Ashereng : You see!! thanks for clarifying, English is not even the "official lang (honestly, I thouhgt it was) Of course, I don't speak or understand lets say Japanese, I will like for some other coworker to speak to me in a language I can understand specially if related with a project. Still, I also agree with TheTick and JStephen..even if is a project, if not of your concern...we shall not be nosy or a control freak!!
regards

 

[l3city]

To all:
Adding to my previous comment..does the boss' behaviour violates any rights or ethics..?? What's your opinon?
Regards

 

[JStephen]

Doesn't violate any rights, ethics, or laws so far as I know- just being nitpicky about things that don't matter.

 

[GTstartup]

I don't think his boss was being "nitpicky" at all.

The post should have been more aptly titled

"Conversations using a foreign language at work"

Communication in work is not always direct. Things can be "overheard" and people can join in, in work you shouldn't need an invite to participate, although you can be asked to butt out.

Talking in work in a foreign language is exclusive and counter productive in my opinion.

Let's say, for example, you are in a meeting and two of the particpants start up a conversation in another language. Are they contributing, complaining, or just inviting each other for dinner? who's to know?

 

[Blackcountryman]

I work for a company that is multi-national, but has a french background. We usually have people from all over Europe in the building. The working Language is the Language is English or the local language.
However it is not unusual to hear conversations in many languages.
It is common for people to speak in the language they are most at ease with if all the group speak that but they will change to english if someone else joins the group.
What is considered bad manners if people are speaking English then change to their own language when someone else enters the room.
I agree with GTstartup that a lot of communication, particulary on a project, is not direct.
Just as a matter of interest this week we have had people with the following languages in the office English, French, Germany, Greek, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, Welsh, Chinese (Manderin I think) Oh and American.
One point we have to be careful of is that we can have meetings where there may be only one or two who speak English as a first language. Then you have to be careful, we end up using a more limited volcabulary to ensure communication.

 

[PatBethea]

Maybe off topic, but when I was a graduate student there was a College (of Engineering) policy that English must be spoken at all times (on campus) by the grad students. When I asked about it, my advisor told me that the main reason was to get the foreigners used to speaking in English so that when they addressed a class or gave a presentation they'd have had more practice with the language.

Like I said, off topic, but it show that the prohibitions aren't limited to the 'working world'.

 

[BJC]

PatBetha
You may not remember this but it happened at Long Beach State in Ca. Some of the professors in the engineering could hardley be understood.
There was an anthropology professor who started giving all his lectures in Italian. People complained and he stated that if the people in the engineering department didn't have to instruct in english neither did he.

 

[TheTick]

Let's say, for example, you are in a meeting and two of the particpants start up a conversation in another language.

This is different. Also, this is not the case.

If you are uncomfortable with two people carrying on a private conversation in another language, the problem is with you and not with them.

 

[sms]

I also work in a multinational company, and it is not at all unusual for people to have side bar conversations in their own language during meetings. Annoying but common.

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[JStephen]

"Talking in work in a foreign language is exclusive and counter productive in my opinion.

"Let's say, for example, you are in a meeting and two of the particpants start up a conversation in another language. Are they contributing, complaining, or just inviting each other for dinner? who's to know?"

I don't think that example proves that point at all.

If they are contributing or complaining, they should do so in a language that everyone in the meeting understands. But in the original question, that's what was being done- there were just two people in the "meeting".

If they are inviting each other for dinner, how would the situation be improved if it was in English? It wouldn't. The point then is not the language, but what is said.

 

[BJC]

maby this shouldn't be under "Ethics" but common courtsey.

 

[GTstartup]

Exactly BJC,

The problem is that if people are speaking in a foreign language it's not known if it is private or not. It's not known if it's even business related or not. Maybe I've worked in the field too long, but the success of our projects live or die by communication. We can’t have guys breaking into conversations in all the different languages we have available, it would be chaos.

If you are within earshot of a colleague, whether he was "invited" or not, you should speak the language of the company.

Common courtesy. Lots of people speak a second language, just not necessarily yours.

 

[stevenal]

From the sound of the question, the principal engineer had no compelling reason to insist the two in question speak English to each other, other than to just throw his weight around. And since using English may actually have the negative effect of unnecessarily delaying the project, I do believe their is an ethical question here. From the NSPE Code; "Engineers shall act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees."

 

[JStephen]

Change the wording up a bit in some of these quotes. Is this the same thing, or different?

"Recently engineer A and engineer B were assigned a project by the principal engineer. He said: "You guys take care of it, just come by if you have some questions". One day engineer A and B where working and discussing on this project together and progressing on it, however at that moment they where speaking quietly. Principal engineer was far away at his "open" office barely hearing the conversation (which he was not invited to begin with).

"This seemed to kind a make the principal engineer not too happy about it(which told them to take care of the project...he was not involved in this project even though he is the boss). He said: "Keep your conversations Loud." Question...is this ok to do? As we all know, Loud is the official language in the U.S."


"Talking quietly an work is exclusive and counter productive in my opinion.

"Let's say, for example, you are in a meeting and two of the particpants start up a conversation quietly. Are they contributing, complaining, or just inviting each other for dinner? who's to know?"

Personally, whereever I am, I just naturally feel like everyone ought to speak my language, regardless of whether it's at work or a bus station. I think that is human nature, particularly if you're not around other languages much; it just doesn't seem right that anyone would use any language besides your own. But I think it's a mistake to try to write a prejudice into policy without some pretty good reason. And I know for sure that if I was in China having a private conversation with another American, that conversation is going to be in English.