Would you find this comment offensive? Irish

[erpali]

Started a new job. At the team meeting I was asked to introduce myself and tell the team about my story on how I got here.

I grew up in the far west of Ireland. We spoke Irish Gaelic at home and I went to a Gaelic school. Moved to the UK for university, which was the first time I'd actually studied through the medium of English.

I mentioned that I grew up in a bilingual household in Ireland.

My boss comments in front of the team that "I'm sure your language skills will be very useful to us when dealing with our clients in Latin America". Clearly an attempt at a joke, and others in the meeting guffawed.

Obviously it's not going to be useful to be bilingual in Irish if clients speak Spanish. But I've got to admit that it gave off the typical looking down your nose sort of attitude that I have heard about. It's like he was saying my culture was pointless.

Oh my God I would feel like absolute shit if that happened me! Totally belittling!

Not offensive but it’s definitely very rude!! I’d be wary of him going forward!

It was definitely rude of your boss and unkind as well.

Ugh, what a prick. I would have been interested to know more about you speaking Gaelic but that's because I'm a language graduate and I think being bilingual in any language is brilliant.

I bet the clueless twat has no idea that there are Welsh and German-speaking villages in South America. Also I'd imagine that being Not British would give you a head start in Argentina.

I'm not Irish, I'm English. I can't imagine anyone being anything other than impressed and interested by your language background. Obviously I wasn't in your meeting and don't know your boss, but I would think this was just an attempt at humour, even in a self-deprecating way like to acknowledge "I'm sorry your impressive language skills are going to go to waste here". Or... (and again, I've no idea as I wasn't there), mayyybe you went on about it a bit too much, and the joke was in reaction to a perceived odd emphasis or boastfulness. Probably not, as that would be strange for a new boss, but just a possibility.

Very rude. I’d mention it at a 1 2 1 to be honest - I work for a large organisation and this would not fly.

You're new and one of the first things he does is put you down in front the group to make himself look 'funny' and 'clever'? I'd be very wary, sounds like you're working for a complete arsehole.

Yeah yanbu that's a shitty comment to make

The trouble is that he knows I couldn't say something because I need his approval to pass probation.

Among several languages I speak is Welsh. The comments I've had about that have been bigoted, rude, generally unwarranted and judgmental.

It's my favourite language. My favourite place (Wales, that is). And each time I've learnt another language it has increased my knowledge of the country of origin, its culture, and it expands my braincells, making me more receptive to new things......

Your boss is an unthinking twat who should have used his brain before joking about your very interesting and cool heritage and skills.

Very rude of your boss.

NB - I'd love to speak Irish gaelic or Scottish gaelic - I've mastered the brythionic celtic languages but Irish and Scottish look intimidating to me (I'd have to visit both to get an idea of the patterns and pronounciations)

Agreed, prick. I’m sorry this happened OP

He was a bit rude but I wouldn't let it bother me that much. Sounds like he was trying (badly) to make sort of a joke, but it was tactless.

Bill sh--

This is anti Irish from the boss
Been in your shoes op got it a fair bit in London

Ignorant idiots

I grew up speaking welsh as my first language and have a very welsh first name- I have had many arseholes make comments like this throughout my lifetime. I pity them, it must be horrible to be so small-minded and ignorant.

I’d find this offensive and belittling, your boss is an idiot!

What an arse. You should have sworn at him in Gaelic with a big smile on your face.

Very shitty comment OP, I don’t blame you for being pissed off about it. Hopefully he doesn’t turn out to be a total knob in the long term.

He just sounds like a dickhead to be honest and trying to be funny but a big fail.
I would have just smiled and said sure. Do not let him see that it got to you at all. I can read Irish and only speak a little because did not grow up in a house that spoke it but the way it is taught in schools is wrong as focuses too much on grammer and should have just let us all speak it. Do love it though and hear it so much where I live. Should have told him to Pog mo thoin. Sorry don't know how to put the fada in. Good luck in job and keep your chin up.
I just think he's a knob head to be honest and am Irish.

He’s done you a huge favour - you now know he’s a dick on day one not waiting to have to find out about it further down the line.

proper prick.

póg mo thóin boss

I was going to say ‘called him a wanker’ with a sweet smile on your face !

I'm sorry this sounds awful, it was immature, rude and unacceptable. I would think that others may have thought the same, but couldn't say anything. His comments reveal a lot about him. I hope that you are not subjected to anymore of this behaviour and that your job works out well.

He's a belittling git.

I'm learning Irish at the moment ☘️