number one language

[afansi]

A few months ago I overheard the following conversation in a bar on Gate Two Street. Two young women behind the bar were talking to each other in Japanese when a customer interjected. (The following conversation was entirely in English).

Customer#1: Hey, why dont you speak English?

Bartender: Because we're Japanese.

Customer#2: When we were in the Philippines they spoke English. What's wrong with you?

Bartender: We're Japanese.

Customer #1: Don't you know English is the number one language in the world?

Bartender: I think every language is the number one language in the world.

[P_chan]

Well the problem is.....you went to gate 2 street. You're probably not going to see the best example of a american and/or servicemen there. Of course, I'm sure you'll base all your future generalizations about americans on this one example.:thumbdown:

[socalheart]

Was that customer drunk? Afterall, you were in a bar. Also, some people are not very educated, in spite of graduating high school. Those people usually ask stupid questions.

[I Am Luna]

What is the point of this post?
Everyone knows English is #1 language.
Anyone else want a corona?

[BleuEneG]

All I know is I have a job where there are a lot of parents paying mucho dinero for me to teach their kiddies basic English. And the smart ones stay with their kids in the class so they can pick up on it. I am amazed at how much many of them know.

[Odie]

I'm curious as to the reason for your post Afansi. Is it because you are truly curious as to what people consider the number one language or are you trying to show the forum members how ethnocentric some Americans can be? I'm guessing American although the customer in your scenario could have easily been from various countries.

Now if you want to examine which would be the "number one" language from a business or most influential perspective then it would be English. I already knew this was the case but just to make sure I looked it up. However on a personal level I think that most people probably think their native language is most important, at least to them. On a purely business level though if you work in an area or business field that caters to tourists it's probably better for your business to speak at least some of the language that the largest bulk of your clientele speak.

I also want to address what seems to be the other underlying point in your post. I know I've said this before, but jerks come in all races, cultures, sexes and nationalities. When I went to Spain I saw eastern Europeans who spoke no Spanish be very rude to a shop owner. When I went to France and was on a tour a Japanese business man refused to even try to speak any French, did not say hello to the tour guide. The tour guide tried to speak to the gentleman in English in hopes that they could find some language to communicate in but the Japanese man snorted and brusquely handed him his papers and ticket. Also while in France I met some Canadian ladies that while very nice to me had the bad habit of addressing people instead of with a "hello" or an "excuse me" they would do so by saying "English?" In the states I've seen people who only speak Spanish get annoyed when there is no translator available for them.

So I can honestly say that in my experience the conversation you overheard is not unique nor does it speak about Americans in general being ethnocentric. It just sounds like you over heard a guy who had probably already had too much to drink being a jerk.

[DoctorP]

Sounds more like a Misc section post instead of the language section. Not really sure what the point of the post was either.

[DougP]

My answer to that question would have been: I'm learning. Reason being I believe one should always strive to learn as much as they can about the world around them to include the languages spoken throughout. Its even more important to learn the languages spoken around the community/place you live. Why don't I speak French, because I just started learning it. Why is it I cannot read and write Japanese well? Because I'm still learning and I'm only at a grade 1 level right now.:)

The reason why you cannot speak another language should not be because you're American or because you're Japanese. Your nationality is not an excuse for being unable to learn the languages and cultures of other countries.

[GODH8SU]

Sounds more like a Misc section post instead of the language section. Not really sure what the point of the post was either.

I know what the point was. Just another example of someone trying to get everyone pissed off just like he always does. I will not respond directly to him about anything. If I wanted a conversation on that level, I'd talk to a pile of dog shit on the sidewalk.

[BleuEneG]

I know what the point was. Just another example of someone trying to get everyone pissed off just like he always does. .

The nerve of him...after all getting everyone pissed off if your job.:star:

[OkinawaStud]

If I wanted a conversation on that level, I'd talk to a pile of dog shit on the sidewalk.

How exactly would that conversation start?

[DougP]

How exactly would that conversation start?

"Oops sorry, didn't see you there..."

[silviasichigo]

I think more along the lines of "aww shit!"

[Muku]

This OP here reminds me of a conversation I had will some people from where my wife works....

A bunch of us were out at a bar together, 4 or 5 Japanese and 3 or 4 Americans.

Anyway the Japanese women were speaking Japanese to each other when this one AMerican woman gets all pissed off and starts complaining that the Japanese women were talking about her behind her back. She cant understand a lick of Japanese but gets really pissed and starts making a huge scence complaining that because she cant understand that "they just have to be talking about me". When in fact they were just making small talk.

She hasnt even had her first drink of the night yet but acting like a serious bitch. The Japanese women were really embarrassed because this woman is making such a big scene about this. She said "I cant believe that you would have the nerve to speak a language in front of me that I can not understand"

She went on and on.....long story short, she starts speaking Spanish to one of her friends and thinks nothing of it. Her friend then prceeds to get pissed off at her for her arrogance, right after bitching out the women for speaking a language she cant understand and assuming, wrongly, that they were talking about her, she goes and does the same thing. These two were getting into to it too.

This first woman justifies herself by saying at the end before thankfully walking out the door....

"But they're just Japanese, it doesnt matter":thumbdown:

Never was I so happy to see someone leave that night.

[P_chan]

This OP here reminds me of a conversation I had will some people from where my wife works....

A bunch of us were out at a bar together, 4 or 5 Japanese and 3 or 4 Americans.

Anyway the Japanese women were speaking Japanese to each other when this one AMerican woman gets all pissed off and starts complaining that the Japanese women were talking about her behind her back. She cant understand a lick of Japanese but gets really pissed and starts making a huge scence complaining that because she cant understand that "they just have to be talking about me". When in fact they were just making small talk.

She hasnt even had her first drink of the night yet but acting like a serious bitch. The Japanese women were really embarrassed because this woman is making such a big scene about this. She said "I cant believe that you would have the nerve to speak a language in front of me that I can not understand"

She went on and on.....long story short, she starts speaking Spanish to one of her friends and thinks nothing of it. Her friend then prceeds to get pissed off at her for her arrogance, right after bitching out the women for speaking a language she cant understand and assuming, wrongly, that they were talking about her, she goes and does the same thing. These two were getting into to it too.

This first woman justifies herself by saying at the end before thankfully walking out the door....

"But they're just Japanese, it doesnt matter":thumbdown:

Never was I so happy to see someone leave that night.

Bitch needed to be slapped! (http://www.aeonity.com/ab/games/simulation/slap-that-ho.php)

http://slap-a-hoe-tribe.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/slapped-by-glenn-ford-640.jpg.w300h242.jpg

[socalheart]

Bitch needed to be slapped! (http://www.aeonity.com/ab/games/simulation/slap-that-ho.php)

Ohmigawd, that's so wrong, it's funny. I got "SUPERPIMP" at 243 mph. I rawk! :D LOL I must play again...

[I Am Luna]

This OP here reminds me of a conversation I had will some people from where my wife works....

A bunch of us were out at a bar together, 4 or 5 Japanese and 3 or 4 Americans.

Anyway the Japanese women were speaking Japanese to each other when this one AMerican woman gets all pissed off and starts complaining that the Japanese women were talking about her behind her back. She cant understand a lick of Japanese but gets really pissed and starts making a huge scence complaining that because she cant understand that "they just have to be talking about me". When in fact they were just making small talk.

She hasnt even had her first drink of the night yet but acting like a serious bitch. The Japanese women were really embarrassed because this woman is making such a big scene about this. She said "I cant believe that you would have the nerve to speak a language in front of me that I can not understand"

She went on and on.....long story short, she starts speaking Spanish to one of her friends and thinks nothing of it. Her friend then prceeds to get pissed off at her for her arrogance, right after bitching out the women for speaking a language she cant understand and assuming, wrongly, that they were talking about her, she goes and does the same thing. These two were getting into to it too.

This first woman justifies herself by saying at the end before thankfully walking out the door....

"But they're just Japanese, it doesnt matter":thumbdown:

Never was I so happy to see someone leave that night.
Women are so smart.

[DougP]

Ohmigawd, that's so wrong, it's funny. I got "SUPERPIMP" at 243 mph. I rawk! :D LOL I must play again...

376:first::thumbup: We need to add this to the arcade:thumbup:

[Muku]

:first::first: 343.....wish I had this that night :w00t:

[P_chan]

416 is the best I could get :first: