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Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:27 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 30, 2006 02:27 PM
Three Beers
We were having lunch at a very western
touristy restaurant the other day and there was the following
exchange:
Waitress: What would you like to drink?
Customer: Ba bia (three beers).
Waitress: OK, three beers.
Customer: Yes, ba bia (three beers).
Waitress: Umm, yes, three beers.
Customer (more forcefully): Ba bia (three beers), thanks.
Waitress (with a "duh, wasn't that what I said in the first place?" expression on her face: Uh, okay.
What struck me as funny was the determination of the customer to display her "extensive" (I know numbers, mum!) Vietnamese, to such an extent that it made life even more difficult for both her and the waitress. I totally agree that it is respectful and downright reasonable to speak Vietnamese when possible, necessary, or appropriate. But this person was in a tourist restaurant. Pretty much everyone there was a tourist. The waitress clearly spoke English really well and expected to deal in English. She probably got the job because of her great English!
It reminds me of students saying that Hanoi is a great place to practice my Vietnamese. Well, uh, yeh... I wouldn't bother otherwise since the only place to speak VN is here! And yes, in a whole load of situations, it's a lot easier to just deal in VN. But we also get SO many people who see the westerner and are really keen and excited to practice their English. I figure "hey, I'm happy to fumble my way in Vietnamese if you want, but if you want to speak in English then I am hardly going to complain." It's a win-win situation.
I suppose my point is: Speak as spoken to. If you are spoken to in Vietnamese, then speak back in VN. If spoken to in English, consider that the sign that the other person expects a response in English. Why be difficult?
Oh, and if anyone catches me doing that - whack me!
Waitress: What would you like to drink?
Customer: Ba bia (three beers).
Waitress: OK, three beers.
Customer: Yes, ba bia (three beers).
Waitress: Umm, yes, three beers.
Customer (more forcefully): Ba bia (three beers), thanks.
Waitress (with a "duh, wasn't that what I said in the first place?" expression on her face: Uh, okay.
What struck me as funny was the determination of the customer to display her "extensive" (I know numbers, mum!) Vietnamese, to such an extent that it made life even more difficult for both her and the waitress. I totally agree that it is respectful and downright reasonable to speak Vietnamese when possible, necessary, or appropriate. But this person was in a tourist restaurant. Pretty much everyone there was a tourist. The waitress clearly spoke English really well and expected to deal in English. She probably got the job because of her great English!
It reminds me of students saying that Hanoi is a great place to practice my Vietnamese. Well, uh, yeh... I wouldn't bother otherwise since the only place to speak VN is here! And yes, in a whole load of situations, it's a lot easier to just deal in VN. But we also get SO many people who see the westerner and are really keen and excited to practice their English. I figure "hey, I'm happy to fumble my way in Vietnamese if you want, but if you want to speak in English then I am hardly going to complain." It's a win-win situation.
I suppose my point is: Speak as spoken to. If you are spoken to in Vietnamese, then speak back in VN. If spoken to in English, consider that the sign that the other person expects a response in English. Why be difficult?
Oh, and if anyone catches me doing that - whack me!
Posted: Fri - December 9, 2005 at 04:54 PM