Fricking Language Barriers

I have two regular customers who come to my work and unfortunately I always seem to be the one they come to. The problem is, I can't understand a DAMNED word either of them say. They are hispanic and have the heaviest accents I've ever heard in my LIFE. It makes me really irritated to talk to them, because they don't make sense and I can never figure out what it is they're asking me. I always have to say, "can you please repeat that?" I feel like saying, "oh, you need eighteen gallons of extra creamy UV activated bird feed and an electric seahorse? Yeah we don't sell that here. Have a good day, buh bye". I'm sorry to sound evil, but you know what, make an effort to lose the heavy accent if you've gone to the trouble to move here. It's ridiculous. How should I deal with them? I can't understand ANYTHING they're saying! And I'm usually good with understanding accents.

I feel the same take the tube up london some time all you hear is % $ *&!@#)(^& $ # $ % ^&*( $ ##@&*% $ @^ $ #@% &

My, how arrogant!

If it's really that difficult for you to say 'please repeat that', think of how hard it must be for them to try and communicate. Maybe if you actually listened, instead of immediately adopting an impatient attitude, it wouldn't be such an ordeal.

That's such an american perspective, that everyone has to talk and act like you. Try travelling a bit - I'm sure it will broaden your interpretation of the situation and possibly improve that narrow-minded aspect of your personality that seems to take over quite a bit.

Oh, and James, those people on the tube - they aren't actually talking to you. *cough* racist *cough*

Arrogant, not at all. I fail to see how my inability to decipher english through an extremely thick accent makes me arrogant. If I can't understand you, I can't understand you. I don't care what nationality you are, in fact good for you that you came here. But it makes it kind of difficult to conduct business or even help you find what you need if I can't figure out what you're saying. And by the way, they can't understand me, either. So they must be "arrogant" too. (?) I suppose Cortica that you can understand everything anyone says to you, that you know all languages, and that you've traveled to every country on the planet and conduct business with people from every corner of the world. Well, in the event that you have, and that's true....who cares? The chip on your shoulder about anyone being racist, biased, or American can be very annoying.

Also, I don't immediately adopt an impatient attitude. I can fake being patient quite well actually. And I can tell the difference between someone who is trying to enunciate and speak the language of the country they're in clearly, and people who expect you to bend to them. Sorry, but if I went to a different country where they spoke a different language, I would try my best to speak their language, not expect the people who live there to be linguistic experts and figure out what I'm trying to say.

You are right cortica they are not talking to me. They are not talking about bathing either. They smell worse than the french. What they are talking about is picking someone's pocket . Me a racist? This is an english speaking country. We don't care where you are from. We welcome you here. English is our language and like the country you left behind, we also have a culture. Learn it or go back to the country and the living conditions you were fleeing. Let me say to the people who have decided to move into english speaking countrys this. Everyone come to us ( england, The U.S.A., canada, you know who we are new zealand, and australia. They cry for freedom and justics. but we do not want to pay a price for it. this is what they do not have a right to. a new auto, big screen telly, wealth with out work. You do not have the right to not be offended. The countrys who make up the english speaking people are based on freedom for everyone not just you. DON'T GET E STARTED I WORK TO FEED MYSELF AND HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE TUBE.

p.s. I do have friends who or indian and Pak and black and gay.

Lots of good points James.

This discussion has nothing to do with someone's nationality, race, skin color, or anything even remotely like the aforementioned. It's a simple matter of enunciation.

And I also have friends who are black, bi-racial, Portuguese, holy christ the list goes on. Playing the race card only really worked for Johnny Cochran.

cortica not everyone who can't understand accents are arrogant! I cannot for my life understand anyone with an accent. Talking to my relatives from England on the phone I can barely understand a word they say and that is even the same language. I've mistaken a french accent for a russian one it is so bad for me. i just can never seem to grasp people even with the slightest accent. so pheonix-i'm just like you and I hate having to ask someone to repeat themselves because it makes me feel like i'm making the other person feel like they cant speak English properly when it is really my own disability. But, getting rid of an accent is very very difficult-just talk to someone who has lived here for forty years and you can still hear their accent.