Private discussions during a meeting 1

[MintJulep]

During the course of a meeting it is sometimes necessary for one side or the other to have a private discussion. It is perfectly acceptable to ask to leave the room to have that discussion.

However, in today's international world of business one side may simply change languages, assuming that the other side can't understand what is being discussed.

If you understand the language of the "private" conversation do you:

Say nothing, and evesdrop.

Say nothing, but try not to pay attention.

Let them know that you understand, and that if they need to have a private discussion perhaps they should leave the room.

Let them know by commenting on what they said in "private" once the full meeting resumes.

 

[BigH]

I have worked for the last 11 years overseas. The first was in China - all meetings were held in Chinese and we, as lowei, had Chinese/English interpreters - who actually worked for our client. Had no problems - sure, we couldn't believe everything we were "told" but, okay. Did I understand Chinese - no (my daughter did though - but that's another story). In Laos, we had Chinese and Vietnamese contractors. The client and our staff engineers were Laotians - none of the farang could speak any of the three. Meetings were held in English - but invariably, there would be discussions as the contractor's interpeter waited for the boss to make his point in Chinese. Cumbersome but understandable. In India, where the meetings were to be held in English - always broke down into Hindi and since I was the only one who didn't speak it - well, it was rude. I walked out of several meetings - but, to be honest, it is natural for people to talk in their own language. Overall, you learn to cope with it and not fret too much. My crowning glory was to catch an interpreter, on my first meeting with Chinese in Laos, add an extra week onto his bosses time estimate - I said something and it made them quite nervous - but within a week they knew I only knew the numbers!
In the end - any discussions in any language in an open meeting regardless are open even if they were meant to be "private". It there are private comments - either don't say them or write them down and pass as note or ask to be excused. If you understand their language - more power to you.