To think saying “please speak English” is no longer acceptable

[BooFuckingHoo2]

I used to say this a lot to my friends if they were mumbling or using slang I didn’t understand. (I would never use it to someone who’s first language wasn’t English!). My parents also used to say it to me when I was saying like all the time or slang terms.

I feel like actually maybe I could be being offensive accidentally (I have ASD so it’s hard for me to gauge) but I wouldn’t want to offend someone by mistake. I’m aware that whilst I wouldn’t say it to a non native speaker I could be overheard and someone might take it personally

This isn’t meant to be goady or racist at all so please delete if anyone feels it is.

Should I stop using this phrase?

YABU - no keep using it
YANBU - stop using it

@BooFuckingHoo2
My daughter has explained to me that so long as you are well intentioned and not wishing to cause upset, or even incite hatred, then it’s okay to speak freely and ask questions and actually admit that you don’t know what other people’s perspectives are, it’s okay to still speak about your feelings or instincts.

I haven’t heard it used since I was at school. I’d be gobsmacked if I heard an adult say it to another adult.

I was also going to say I haven't heard anyone actually say that since maybe a teacher in 1976.. ......do people really talk like that to each other?
Nothing to with being 'racist' more just twatty tbh

Not sure why you wouldn’t just say ‘talk properly’?

It’s particularly common in American movies. The hero/heroine barking ‘Do you SPEAK English?’ at the Hispanic or Indian driver is sadly too common. It’s supposed to be funny fir some reason.

I wouldn’t do it, even to those with English as their mother tongue.

There are times when it will be unacceptable and times when it may be necessary. I recall a time when two French people and one English, all bilingual to some extent, were conversing in French and were joined by another English speaker with very limited French. It was no problem asking if we could "please speak English" in this instance.

@jcyclops. ..that is quite irrelevant. Op was talking about that patronising thing that a certain type of teacher would say to mumbling children.

Not RTFT

I have only heard this phrase maybe once in my life

It's definitely not a common thing to say

I think it sounds awful. Who do you say it to?

For reference I'm in late 40s and grew up in London

I speak quietly and if someone said 'Speak English' I would be really confused because I am speaking in English. When someone can't hear what I am saying they usually say 'I can't hear you' and I know to project my voice a bit more.

If you punch up and not down, all good.

Maybe it depends on where you live.

People round here don't say it.

If I couldn't catch what a work colleague was saying I'd say, sorry I didn't catch that or something.

Quite a lot of people are shy/ have trouble speaking up in meetings etc or just have a quiet voice. Even if they're your mates. Seems not right to joke about it?

Although I do say, can I have a translation to the techy types.

It’s a rude comment anyway regardless and vague to boot (which is partly what makes it rude!).

Be specific, then it’s clearer what the other person needs to adjust to get the message across. Are they too fast, slow, or not articulating enough (in which case I’d just ask them to repeat or say I don’t understand, could you say it again / repeat it please).

@Youcunnyfunt
But how would you ‘ be specific ‘ or all of the rest of what you said, in
Gudjurati?
How would you say ‘ could you say it again ?’ and so on ...
How rude.

@Youcunnyfunt
Or in BSL
?

@Cuparfull while I agree that making an effort is important for accessibility, not everyone is actually capable of enunciating clearly (e.g. verbal dyspraxia, some cerebral palsy). Sadly with disability things are not so clear cut as all that.
OP I usually say "what's that when it's at home?!" for jargony people, haven't offended anyone yet!

I feel for you struggling with this. I have poor hearing and am not neurotypical and some friends used to be mean to me when I was younger as I constantly was missing bits of conversation and asking them to repeat it. I think adapting what you say to “in plain English” would be better as that’s a well known phrase. I think ‘in english’ sounds a little bit like it’s missing the point, especially if they are speaking English but need to be more clear. If they are speaking another language,I’d be more direct and say guys would you mind speaking English I’d love to know what you are talking about.

For technical jargon, I say 'could you explain that in layman's terms?'

If it's mumbling, I say 'sorry, I didn't catch that' or similar.

'Can you say that in English' is simply rude (unless the person was actually speaking in another language and you want them to translate).

talk properly’?
I would this incredibly rude. So would many others. "In English please 😂" is a jest ffs. Between friends absolutely fine. And honestly, between close friends often fine even if the person is not native English speaker.

I think a good rule to follow might be if you are unsure if an expression you are using is inappropriate or rude, then say something different. As this thread shows, some people would find "speak English" funny, some people would find it rude. You can't always tell which group someone falls into in advance, so just say something else that you know is inoffensive.

@sonjadog the problem is that there is no inoffensive option.
Any option named here can be offensive to someone. Even if innocent.

I think the best advice is to go with what works in that friendship group. What OP says is fine there, so why stop it. In another group this wouldn't be fine and something else would be used. Which would cause someone in yet another group to be offended so something else would be used. And so on.

There is no universal well taken thing which works on everyone. People really shouldn't stress over this. It's fine.

Reminding someone (who you are sufficiently close to obviously) who isn’t speaking English to do so because you’re in the presence of English speakers that don’t speak their language is perfectly fine (done in an appropriate manner obviously).

Asking someone who is speaking English poorly to speak English is completely fine unless they have a lisp/other condition they can’t help or you are in Britain and they are speaking some kind of local variant.

Also, this came to mind

If you all say that "speak english" shouldn't be used because of racists, I hope you never tell anyone to go home😂

If the fear of offending someone by using the phrase worries you so much, maybe it’s best you avoid it and say something else - as a PP suggested “could you say that in layman’s terms please?” would be fine.

If someone said “speak English” or “in English please!” when I already was speaking English, I’d be confused and feel like they were mocking me. I mean, it’s basically saying, “I know you are speaking English, but your communication is so poor I’m pretending I don’t recognise it”. But then I don’t understand ‘banter’, which seems like just saying mean things to people and then claiming it’s a joke.

Ah yes 'banter'....the art of being a cunt and blaming the other person for being offended...

"In English please 😂" is a jest ffs. Between friends absolutely fine. And honestly, between close friends often fine even if the person is not native English speaker.

^This, it's a common turn of phrase for when someone's talking way too technically or just way too convoluted. It's the equivalent of 'you what mate?' Or 'can't understand you mate'.

Also to whichever pp said it's never ok to say it at all - for every context that it's inappropriate in there's one that it's perfectly acceptable in. For my dad, english is his second language. Over the years I've picked up a little of his native language but by no means understand it all. Someone, I guess out of habit, he just slips back into the native language, if it's around me and it's too complicated for me to understand or if it's with other company who don't speak the language I just go 'dad, English?' And he catches himself and switches back to English.

There's nothing wrong with actually asking someone to speak English in a situation where you can't understand them and you're meant to. It only becomes offensive when people say it to strangers they don't know and have nothing to do with - I.e. policing the language they speak just because they're in this country.