People talking about you in another language

Anyone had this happen to them? These two Chinese girls were talking about me right in front of me today in Mandarin...not knowing I can speak it too.

It was really nice to know they thought I had a stupid sounding accent (I'm from New Zealand but don't live there), and also that it wasn't fair that there were only the options of a long train trip or hiring a car for them to get to the remote beach township they wanted to visit for Easter....hmmm not my fault that it's not a major tourist hub with plenty of ways to get there?!

Anyone else had someone think it's OK to talk about them in another language, not realising they understand? People should never assume things I reckon. And if they have something nasty to say - why can't they say it for everyone to hear?

 

Mmmm probably actually. When I'd have dinner at my dads parents' place they'd bicker in Italian throughout the entire meal, unless telling my siblings and I off for trying to watch the television, saying that it wasn't polite. It's their own fault for keeping it on while we were eating.

 

Yes! I'm white, but I speak Spanish. People can be very rude when they think you can't understand them.

 

Hell... People talk about me in English. What's the difference?

 

i used to sit through family dinners with my inlaws while they conversed in italian....all of a sudden they would burst into laughter and look right at me.....occasionally someone would translate some phrase and then i would be asked to say it in italian and give them all another laugh while my father in law gave that ''you moron'' look of disappointment at his daughter for bringing home a mangecake

 

I can only speak very little Spanish, so I can't say I've ever noticed if anyone was talking about me in a different language. The best thing to do, in situations like this, is start chatting them up in their language. I bet it'd mortify them.

 

My grandma and her siblings used to talk about us in Polish all the time. We only knew a few words (dupay ush (sp?) means jack ass), but they didn't hide when they were talking about you at all. That didn't bother me much -- but I'm sure it would all depend on the situation.

 

This is my favourite part of English Canadian/American tourists who visit Montreal.

"Ooh! That guy's so tall!"
"Shh, he might speak English!"
"No one speaks it here, silly! Montreal is a French city!"


Bahaha.

 

When I took this girl out on our first date we went back to her place to hang out with some of her friends. Pretty sure they were talking about me in french. It was really annoying.

 

Smile sweetly at them and reply (in English) that the trip to the beach township is part of the adventure and after turning, stop and add that most people you know love your accent. See what shade of crimson they turn.

It reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where Elaine is sure the Korean Cosmetologists were talking about her and brought along Frank Costanza to translate what they were saying.

 

Countless times.

I've been on the perpetrating part of this too, while walking down the street in Cartagena my buddy says, and not very loudly "Isn't that a perfect ass." and I verbally agree, saying world class or something. She turns around and glares, so not only did she speak English, she had great hearing.

We looked at each other, slightly embarrassed.

That story makes me sound a bit boorish, but I'm a nice guy.

 

hahah^ people shouldnt take things so serously, the one time I thought I was being talked about in a foreign language I just smiled at them and nodded, like i did understand who cares lol

 

All the time I'm sure.

 

I've had people talk about me in Spanish plenty of times. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. I understand Spanish but I'm not as good at speaking it.

 

My gf used to try it in Japanese, but by now my Japanese is good enough that I can pick up what she's talking about. Thais have spoken about me in Thai numerous times, and I always make it a point to let them know that I understand what they're saying (they usually blush by then) and make a smart comment if I've got the words for it.

I don't really mind. People talk about other people all the time. Not much of a diff between them doin it in front of you in another language, or behind your back in your own.

 

I used to host parties every Friday while I was in the army

Team spades always played an important part in these festivities. Me and my boy Childers took on all comers. We won often. Two mexicans always beat us though and they'd speak Spanish across the table those cheaters, but i could never call them out on it. I had my Dominican friend sit in for Childers one night though and amidst a back and forth game they started speaking in Spanish and he cooly looked up and said something that shut them up fast

Still lost the game though

 

asian people can be pretty rude in that aspect. I've had plenty of japanese people fucking talk about me, standing right next to me. are you shitting me? you think we live in different worlds? I understand everything you say, to boot.

 

Annoying as fuck.

 

good for them, as long as i don't have to understand what they're saying, i don't have to concern myself about it. i prefer the lyrics in songs to be in languages i don't understand too. because if i actually did, i probably wouldn't like them. not doing so, they are just a part of the music, and i like the way many languages i don't know sound.

 

Totally! Don't know about Japanese, but my boyfriend is Korean, and he tells me Korean women do it ALL THE TIME. Pathetic. Little wonder he wants to abandon the culture.