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..??

 

[ewh]

I think that mechgunner has a valid point. If the conversation is indeed personal, language should not be an issue. If they are in an open office situation (cubes count) discussing a work problem, then the PE should be able to eavesdrop, just to keep tabs on the project. I have also been guilty of interjecting my thoughts or objections regarding work issues when I had not been a part of the original converstation, usually to increase my own understanding of the problem at hand or to give the benefit of my experience with similar problems. Work conversation should be a free exchange of ideas between anyone within listening distance.
It does not bother me to hear others speaking to one another in their native language in other situations. Walk into any store in San Antonio, and chances are that the majority of languages being spoken are not english. The same in the break room at work. It only starts to bother me when they start to point at me and laugh

 

[whyun]

It bothers me even when they don't point at me, especially inside the elevator.

 

[transmissiontowers]

My wife grew up speaking Spanish as her first language but learned English in school in small town south Texas. Conversations at home were totally in Spanish (actually Tex-Mex). She moved to the big city and got a job and had to use English at work but was chastised for speaking Spanish to her co-workers. The perception was that they were talking about the other workers right in front of them and they were told not to speak Spanish at work.

The boss may not always be right but he is always the boss and can dictate how the employees act at work.

_____________________________________
I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.

 

[bkal]

English is my second langaugage (I work in England). I do not have much chance to use my mother tongue in the office. If there are people from my country and if there are other people present, I tend to use English. In case I find it easier to explain something in my mother tongue, I apologise to my english colleagues and have a brief chat in my mother tongue - but I keep it as short as possible and explain in English what was it about.

On a slightly different note, I do feel slighty uncomfortable speaking in English with my compatriots in front of Egnglish friends - basically, I imagine english people thinking: 'What are these two people doing to (butchering) the English language'.

 

[josephv]

Hi IRstuff,

"Let's say that ALL your subcontractor's notes, measurementa, interim calculations, analyses, etc., were written in Aztec, although his final report was in English."

Technically speaking Aztec is not a language. N'ahuatl was the language of the Aztecs and is still spoken in many regions of Mexico. Just like nobody speaks United Statian, in the United States one speaks English.

cheers,

 

[ewh]

... but the United Statian version of English.

 

[bacon4life]

"Let's say that ALL your subcontractor's notes, measurements, interim calculations, analyses, etc., were written in English, although his final report was in" N'ahuatl."

How do small countries/languages handle this? In the USA it seems like we have the market power to require everything in English but I can't imagine the Aztecs could buy much if they forced everyone to speak N'ahuatl.

 

[epoisses]

I understand that small countries means every other country except the US...
Well small coutries don't make a problem of it and don't consider it rude to speak different languages.

 

[MedicineEng]

epoisses just hit the jackpot!!!

 

[l3city]

Hi epoisses
You're correct. For example, although Hindi is the main language in India, they have hundreds of languages and dialects, but weird thing, nobody makes a big deal out of it.
Regards

 

[HgTX]

The same Americans who freak out when someone around them speaks Spanish would think nothing themselves of being in, say, Spain, and speaking English with each other.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[BigH]

I have worked overseas for a number of years - in Chinese, Laos, India and Indonesian. Conversations in the native languages there (in front of me or other expats) is common. I have no problems there, or back in Canada, if two colleagues speak their native languages to each other at the office - even work issues unless I am to be involved. Then it is difficult. I understand (India the exception) that not too many local engineers are fluent in English. In official meetings where the language of the contract is in English, I think that this is rude to speak in the foreign language unless it is acknowledged as such - Hey, BigH, can we discuss this first - then we'll advise you. No problem. Where I once saw a problem was in Canada. Two engineers of Hungarian lineage were working on a project - basically the two of them. Then they both quit before the project ended. While I would have no problem with their discussing the project in Hungarian if between themselves, all their design notes, memos, etc. were written in Hungarian for the project files. THAT caused problems.

 

[HgTX]

I guess the principal engineer is also a technical advisor to the project, I recently overheard two engineers making a decision that would have led to incorrect component fit, I was not part of this conversation, never the less I explained their error and they changed their plans.

The point is, they spoke my language, if the conversation had taken place in another language, one that I could not understand, I would have missed this, costing the company and the customer a great deal.

By that logic, there should be a certain decibel minimum, to encourage the possibility of overhearing. I mean, if they'd been speaking more quietly, you also wouldn't have overheard them. "If I can see you talking, I should be able to understand you, regardless of whether you intend me to be part of the conversation," seems to be the philosophy here. So why limit it to lack of understanding due to linguistic differences? Let's add volume to the list. Should make for a better workplace for all.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[RDK]

I am currently working overseas in a multi lingual environment. While everyone is required to have some fluency in English, conversations in many languages are common.

What is the big deal? As long as the work is getting done why worry about irrelevancies?



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com