Have you ever experienced hatred from others for speaking English ?

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OinkBoink

Adept
I grew up in a fairly urban environment speaking a variety of languages with people around me.

When I was 16, I left home to live in a hostel which consisted mostly of children from rural areas and small towns. I remember I was casually conversing with a guy and this other guy who was sitting in front of me turned to me, completely unprovoked, and told me " Angrezi baath karna hai tho dhoor ja kar baath kar" ("If you want to speak English, go far away and do so"). He later threatened me with physical violence. I felt shocked as I had never heard such a ludicrous thing in my life before. But I experienced similar attitudes from a lot of these people.

Now, I know some people look down upon others for not being well versed in English, which I obviously do not like and disagree with. A person's native/inherent intelligence has nothing to do with the language that he/she speaks. Language is an environmental factor.

That being said, there is quite a bit of opposition to the English language from many people in India.

What are your thoughts ?
 
Never experienced anything like this. But then, i like to converse in Hindi a lot too.

I would let such people oink and ask them to try n boink other people's mind.
 
Spacescreamer said:
Never experienced anything like this. But then, i like to converse in Hindi a lot too.

I would let such people oink and ask them to try n boink other people's mind.
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Haha. Okay. But there are other subtle things too. People thinking you're trying to show off by speaking English or saying stuff like 'Kya angrezi jhaad raha hai saala'.

Perhaps, you've never interacted with these people (maybe because you've been exposed mostly to urban environments and urbane people) but they're out there and they're plentiful.
 
Although I never faced this issue myself but I can empathize with you.

Because in my college, guys speaking in English were made a laughing stock by an otherwise Hindi speaking crowd.
These English speakers were called names like Angrezi Babu, Executive Class and stuff.
But that was all in good humor and never escalated into anything serious.

I never quite understood the reason behind the same.
I guess people thought that these angrezi babus were trying to show off :p
 
Same experience here. Grew up in an upper class family where gentleman's etiquette was very important. Strange childhood, mine was. Although mom repeatedly insisted that it was necessary to behave like a gentleman in public, my behavior made me more unpopular than the other way around. And it got worse when my voice cracked. It was only when i joined college did i realize that the people who frown on such harmless behavior are insecure. Don't forget that college life in India is a lot different than that during school.

I have never regretted my upbringing. In fact i'm proud of it. :)

If you're over 18 and still facing the same issue, then its because you're hanging around the wrong crowd.
 
OinkBoink said:
Haha. Okay. But there are other subtle things too. People thinking you're trying to show off by speaking English or saying stuff like 'Kya angrezi jhaad raha hai saala'.
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It happens.
People who dont have a good knowledge or cudnt get the required english medium education, they go ballistic when they hear something which exposes their weakness. And as the culture we have here, they go all out violent to remove the cause of their embarrassment.

In such a situation, i find sympathizing with them and putting the words across to them with a smile as the best option. Cuz that doesnt flares up their already on a high temper and you project yourself as an understanding individual. You may not be one, but with time you ought to see that as the next logical step too.
 
Spacescreamer said:
It happens.
People who dont have a good knowledge or cudnt get the required english medium education, they go ballistic when they hear something which exposes their weakness. And as the culture we have here, they go all out violent to remove the cause of their embarrassment.
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Yes, this insecurity is one major reason behind such hostility.


#OinkBoink

I was just curious that instead of a Introduction thread you started off here with serious discussions and that too in General Talk.
Have you been a lurker here or just came across the site?
 
I haven't faced opposition or threats like you did, but I was getting alienated when I spoke English. I took a conscious decision then (in college) to not talk in English when not in class. It did have an impact on my vocabulary later on, but things are better now :D
 
When I read the topic title, all I could think was "WTF!!!"
If there are such people, they feel insecure or inferior, hence the hatred.
I, personally, have never experienced anything like this.
In fact, in my college, some of my friends were convinced that I was from English medium even though I am not. :) (Let's not drift into education in English vs. mother-tongue, okay?)
 
I find it is necessary to use whatever language you want, as long as you do not garner hatred towards those who don't speak your language.

My mother tongue is Marathi and I am also fluent in Hindi and English. Contrary to everything at 16 I was far more fluent and well versed in Hindi and English and when I found myself in college, it was quite the task to communicate efficiently in Marathi with the guys. But then, as expected my vocab in Hindi suffered a lot.

Well the most amusing bit is when I deliberately use Marathi in the High Streets of Pune, it is quite a shock to the other person used to converse in English.

But all this hatred on the basis of language spoken is baseless, there are far worse things to hate.
 
flash23 said:
I find it is necessary to use whatever language you want, as long as you do not garner hatred towards those who don't speak your language.
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Yep. That's the main thing.

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Mr.J said:
When I read the topic title, all I could think was "WTF!!!"
If there are such people, they feel insecure or inferior, hence the hatred.
I, personally, have never experienced anything like this.
In fact, in my college, some of my friends were convinced that I was from English medium even though I am not. :) (Let's not drift into education in English vs. mother-tongue, okay?)
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May I ask which medium of instruction you studied in and how you picked up English ?
 
Mr.J said:
When I read the topic title, all I could think was "WTF!!!"
If there are such people, they feel insecure or inferior, hence the hatred.
I, personally, have never experienced anything like this.
In fact, in my college, some of my friends were convinced that I was from English medium even though I am not. :) (Let's not drift into education in English vs. mother-tongue, okay?)
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Sarath_ said:
One word: Insecurity
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I don't think Insecurity is the only reason as I've seen highly proficient English speakers also making fun of others.

I've also faced contempt and hostility while speaking Hindi in places like Chennai and sometimes Kolkata.
 
kestrel5915 said:
I don't think Insecurity is the only reason as I've seen highly proficient English speakers also making fun of others.
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When people tease others for being able to do something it's insecurity. When people tease others for not being able to do something it's arrogance/ego etc.

Though I think, the whole teasing thing is also done playfully in some cases. It becomes a problem when it's not done playfully.
 
+1 to Insecurity, low self esteem; there are also people who would use Hinglish to simply show off or capture attention. ^ haven't come across Hindi speakers abusers in Kolkata though
 
OinkBoink said:
May I ask which medium of instruction you studied in and how you picked up English ?
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From Marathi medium. English was introduced in 5th standard but I had studied it before on my own. Also movies and books helped to improve my English.

ayanavish said:
+1 to Insecurity, low self esteem; there are also people who would use Hinglish to simply show off or capture attention. ^ haven't come across Hindi speakers abusers in Kolkata though
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I absolutely hate Hinglish (or any other *lish) speaking people. Can't you guys speak one language properly?
 
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