49
votes
Polite way to ask how to pronounce name with sounds outside local language?
I'm not sure I will be able to pronounce that correctly, but I would like to try my best. Would you be willing to help me try to get it right?
I've encountered this problem often, and I've never had ...
- 2,851
47
votes
Accepted
How do I correct my daughter's teacher's grammar?
Don't.
It is a minor thing, and one that our (American) culture is used to. Forty years ago everyone said "Mary and me went to the store", and faux-erudite people jumped on that bandwagon so hard ...
38
votes
Accepted
Asking someone to use their native language without being rude
Here's what I would say:
You speak [whatever language]? How lucky I am! I love learning new languages. Do you mind if we try speaking in [whatever language]? Would be great for me if I could ...
- 14.3k
34
votes
How to get roommates to speak same language
I was in your situation when I was in Erasmus in France. I used to hang out with this large group of Spanish people. They were all very nice, easy-going, open, and almost all of them spoke an ...
- 9,753
29
votes
Accepted
How do I respond to children slightly younger than me laughing at my accent?
Just be proud of the fact you're putting in the effort to try and improve your accent. If anything it'll be a great way for you to know when you've successfully gotten rid of your accent.
Having been ...
- 413
29
votes
How can I explain to others that I'm not comfortable with the word 'queer'?
Asking people not to use the word "queer" to describe you personally is a completely reasonable thing to do, but I would caution you about asking people not to use it when describing themselves.
I ...
- 54.8k
28
votes
How do I correct my daughter's teacher's grammar?
There's no reason to correct the teacher, unless it is something you see often repeated.
Everybody makes miskates. And in case you wish to correct this, do so as an aside to something else, subtly.
I ...
- 10.2k
26
votes
Accepted
How can I explain to others that I'm not comfortable with the word 'queer'?
Yeah, and, by the way, not sure why but I don't really like the term "queer". Probably it's just me, or maybe I personally disagree to a certain extent, anyway... mind if you skip that word?
The "...
- 3,381
22
votes
Accepted
How to deal with people whose English is not good enough to be understandable
Let me start this by stating that I'm Dutch, fairly straight-forward and very disagreeable, in the sense of the Big 5 personality test.
I think it is respectful to reply to them with a request for ...
- 723
21
votes
How do I respond to children slightly younger than me laughing at my accent?
I just want to raise a perspective that wasn't necessarily brought up by Edlothiad.
For many of these kids, hearing someone with an accent in their language is very different. They may be looking at ...
- 954
19
votes
How do I correct my daughter's teacher's grammar?
I don't believe there is a way to correct him without a serious risk of causing embarrassment and/or offense.
Grammatical and spelling errors are unfortunately quite common, particularly in email, ...
- 6,381
19
votes
How can I switch a conversation from a language to another?
This answer is more a frame challenge, since I focus more on talking German instead of get them to talk in English. While this is not what you ask, it will result in two things you want: your German ...
- 1,400
18
votes
How to share a flat with people who don't speak any language I know?
If you're willing to, show interest in their culture.
I faced this a few times. At 1st lunch/dinner time opportunity, I usually "share and compare": I show a vegetable, and say the word in my ...
- 22k
17
votes
How do I communicate what I want to say in the language that the conversation is taking place in when I don't know the word?
There is always just saying the word in the language you know, and coupling it with other cues such as gesturing. But don't make the thread of the conversation pause for too long.
There will be the ...
John♦
- 4,229
16
votes
How do I decline conversation in my native language?
I'm not sure but, based on what you've said, I might recommend slightly different phrasing.
I talk in a slight dialect (Norddeutsch), speak very fast and often kind of unclear. Even other Germans ...
- 258
16
votes
How to avoid semantic noise during a regular conversation?
I'll challenge the phrase "semantic noise" a little bit. It makes me think of fluffy language, extra words thrown in that add little (if any) additional information (somewhat related note: ...
- 16.3k
15
votes
Accepted
How do I communicate what I want to say in the language that the conversation is taking place in when I don't know the word?
Gesturing and paraphrasing, as suggested here, are good approaches. (In your case you probably know the words for "up", "down", and "move", which should help you get your point across.)
Another ...
- 17.2k
14
votes
Accepted
Ways to deal with someone who uses expletives?
This is a tricky question, and one I deal with every day. Cussing is in every second sentence with most of the people I work with currently, and for the rest, it's in every sentence. Here are ...
- 2,821
14
votes
Accepted
How can I call attention to a casual acquaintance's mispronunciation?
One way may be to make your calling attention to the correction a little subtle, and not directed at them.
You can take note of which word you want to correct, and then use it yourself correctly in a ...
John♦
- 4,229
12
votes
How do I respond to children slightly younger than me laughing at my accent?
Kids laugh at almost anything they find unusual.
Your accent is just that. Unusual. Perhaps like the others said, it'll be an indication for you that you've improved your accent when they stop ...
- 10.2k
12
votes
Polite way to ask how to pronounce name with sounds outside local language?
When I worked with patients in a hospital I encountered this situation nearly every day. My scripted lead-in to this became:
Hello, [Mr./Ms.]… I'm sorry, I'm sure I'm going to get this wrong, [best ...
- 16.3k
11
votes
Accepted
How to tell foreigners they don't need to speak English when near me?
From your OP I understand it, that there is no interaction in between that group and you, nor there is anymore than assumptions of why they decide to speak that language.
Given that, I'd rather ...
- 2,542
10
votes
How to get roommates to speak same language
I have been in that exact situation years ago. 38 different nationalities at the same time, at least 30 different languages. Rooms of 2 or 4. Shared dining-room and break room. English was the ...
- 22k
10
votes
What are the practical ways to minimize dead-naming of someone behind their back?
I have several friends who have changed name and/or gender while I've known them. I know one who has changed her last name (but not her first name or gender) 5 times in the decades I've known her. I ...
- 44.4k
9
votes
How to share a flat with people who don't speak any language I know?
Great question WatermelonLemon, especially considering the cultural difference present in this question. I am a ethnic Chinese who grew up in the USA. Let me help you shed some light on this.
I make ...
- 674
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible