So Flipping Annoying!

Posted By: Moe
Posted on: May. 5, 2008 at 8:00 AM

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_{OK now you can call me all the names you want... just start now because you are most likely not going to enjoy what I have to say...}

_{I must admit I have had this on my mind for a long time now and being in a "call center" setting only makes it worse.}

Here it is:

I can not stand trying to decipher peoples "broken" English... if that is what it is called.

Seriously, I think I know the English language pretty well, I do not need subtitles for English speaking movies nor do I need an interpreter for the local radio broadcasts. I was born and raised in America, a Colorado native. I have been speaking English all my life.

But, I can not understand people with "heavy" accents. Enunciation is not a concern to people whose 2nd language is English. I feel like a total jerk when I repeat my plea for understanding a fourth time. "What did you just say?" "Please sir can you say that one more time" And I am at a total loss once they have repeated themselves a 5th time... at this point my only option is to ‘Thank’ them and ‘Have a nice Day’.

Could it be my lack of patience that is blocking my ears from deciphering the exotic syllables and vowels that have now been added to the English language?

I should blame it on my schooling... where were my Ebonics classes?? I wasn’t born this way society made me this way, I have been neglected by my government and turned aside when I needed more language classes.... BETTER language classes, NEWER and more improved. To help me help those who can not speak English well or pronounce the letter "R" or say any word that has a "V" in it without making the "V" sound a "B" sound.

Let the stone throwing commence.

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June

May. 5, 2008 at 10:02:26 AM

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Moe, I have the same problem but have found rather than launching into the "What did you say?" tailchase, I simply say, "I don't understand what you've said, please help me - try again". As you point out, albeit backhandedly, it really is your problem - and you, as well as the speaker, are in the same boat.

Don't know where you ever got the impression communications was sposta be easy?

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quadaces

May. 5, 2008 at 10:43:25 AM

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I agree with you Moe.
I too have had these same concerns. Don't worry you are not alone and no one should call you names for speaking the truth.

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Pinb@ll Wiz@rd

May. 5, 2008 at 10:50:03 AM

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You propers english spakins folk has tommented me pepoles long enouf.

I calls for repairashuns!!!!!!

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CLB

May. 5, 2008 at 03:47:30 PM

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Learning the English language does not mean you can learn an American dialect!

Moe, can you speak a second language?

If you think about what it takes to learn a language, part of it is the pronounication and depending on how you learn it, the language will be affected.

Immigrant Italians who learned English in New York City have "New York" accents and they can be as hard for the Germans who learned it in Pennsylvania to understand as it is for me to understand the Hindus who move to Arizona from India.

And speaking of India, I would appreciate it if credit cards who outsource their customer centers to Asia taught their custoemr service reps to speak better English too!

Globalisation is the root of it-- get used to it.

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Pinb@ll Wiz@rd

May. 5, 2008 at 05:08:34 PM

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I guess you're right CLB, maybe people who can't learn American dialect should just carry around a notepad and pen. It's pretty hard to mess up a letter.... actually no.. they would probably have bad handwriting. They should carry around a typewriter.... actually no they would probably type like Crum.

Sign language? Amputees... f*** this is hard.

I'll just stick to avoiding them the best I can.

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Average American

May. 5, 2008 at 06:01:42 PM

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[This is a reply to comment by CLB on May. 5, 2008 at 03:47:30 PM]

CLB
May. 5, 2008 at 03:47:30 PM

Learning the English language does not mean you can learn an American dialect!
Moe, can you speak a second language?
If you think about what it takes to learn a language, part of it is the pronounication and depending on how you learn it, the language...

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And here in black and white we enter the great chasm of our American Dream. In days of old people would come to this country with the dream of becoming Americans in all the ways of citizenship. Today, instead of assimilating into the culture American, they insist that their heritage be not kept by them, but instead by the entire American community thus changing distinctly that culture already in place.

CLB defends this lack of desire on the part of immigrants by claiming Globalization and insisting you do your part to prepare for it, instead of requiring those who which to live in America to do their part to prepare. Classic Liberalism, blaming the Citizen for his or her lack of understanding. Why it is you American who has made it so hard for the poor immigrant to meld into this country by requiring much too much of him. Yet when we go overseas, south of the border or beyond our shores in any direction who is required to learn, speak, and generally communicate in the native tongue of those lands.

Yes Cynthia, it is globalization, but not at the detriment of the individual society. As with China Towns and Little Italy sections around this nation, you can keep your culture within the confines of those communities you built together, those sections of cities where there exists an appreciation for that culture and as such supply a place for others to come and experience such. But in the day to day activity of America as a whole a common undrestandable language simply must reign supreme. In this country that is English.

Get used to it, it called America.

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June

May. 6, 2008 at 07:08:45 AM

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[This is a reply to comment by Average American on May. 5, 2008 at 06:01:42 PM]

Average American
May. 5, 2008 at 06:01:42 PM

And here in black and white we enter the great chasm of our American Dream. In days of old people would come to this country with the dream of becoming Americans in all the ways of citizenship. Today, instead of assimilating into the culture American,...

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Quaint obfuscation, BAA! Looks like Cynthia set you up and you went for the bait! When CLB told you to 'get used to it', she must have known how that would grate on your 'my way or the highway' sensibilities.

Point, set, game for Cynthia!

For sure, Liberals understand that it takes two willing and cooperative participants if the objective is to communicate. On the other hand, complacent, hidebound NeoCons, ever resistant to social dynamics, are threatened by their own limitations. Undrestand?

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Average American

May. 6, 2008 at 07:51:10 AM

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You theory would hold water if I wasn't bi lingual...

Sorry to disappoint. Outside of English I also speak Liberal.

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The Antichrist

May. 6, 2008 at 08:18:24 AM

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i rather enjoy hearing thick accents. sometimes i even ask where they are from.

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June

May. 6, 2008 at 09:50:13 AM

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[This is a reply to comment by Average American on May. 6, 2008 at 07:51:10 AM]

Average American
May. 6, 2008 at 07:51:10 AM

You theory would hold water if I wasn't bi lingual...
Sorry to disappoint. Outside of English I also speak...

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BAA Boy, your comment brings us full circle back to Moe's point - you speak may Liberal, but when you do, no one can understand you!

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So Flipping Annoying!

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