Common sense or ignorance?

Mind your language: Postmaster insists on English

What's your take on the incident?

A bit silly, I think. I'm English, and am all in favour of immigrants learning the language of their host country. But I'm also aware of how grateful I've been when overseas for the understanding attitude of shop staff when I've tried to buy something with a less than perfect grasp of the local lingo.

This story really irritated me when I read it. I would be very interested to see if he would expect to be treated in the same way when abroad (i.e. not resorting to English, unless in an English-speaking country). No surprise that it was the Daily Mail that interviewed him.

I am all for the integration of immigrants in their host countries but, as a native Spanish speaker living in the US, I can say that it is ridiculous and feels just plain awkward to speak English with another native Spanish speaker (exception made when there are no-Spanish speakers present, for politeness).

The IT support helpdesk of my company is located in Costa Rica, and every time I call them (often, unfortunately) we have to speak in English as a standard procedure (because conversations are recorded "for quality purposes"), it is frustrating because their English is not very good (and mine could be better) so it takes forever to have a simple conversation about the most inane subject; the whole thing feels so bizarre and farcical to the point of being comical.

"and mine could be better"

Really, pali, it's hard to imagine just how it could be better.

I think he's gone a bit over the top. If a tourist who doesn't speak English goes in to buy something from him is he going to refuse to serve? Like others on this thread I'm all for immigrants learning the language and if his policy is only directed to those living and working in the immediate area then maybe he has a point, otherwise, no.

i don;t get it. he's from Sri Lanka- presumably he speaks either Sinhala or Tamil in addition to Egllish. So when an 'Asian' woman comes in- and she wants to speak her mother tongue- unless that mother tongue is the same as his obvioulsy he's not going to understand her. If he mother tongue is Urdu or Bengal it would be hard from him to help her.

If they share the same mother tongue then he is being pedantic.

Anyway, what does it mean, to speak english? Does he help a foreign tourist who comes in and manages to say 'stamp please, one' or does he insist on full sentences like 'Excuse me sir, I'd be awfully obliged if you would be so kind as to sell me a stamp for this letter that i would like to send. One stamp will do just fine, thank you very much'

Estuti ('thank you in Singhalese?) for all the replies.

I would be very interested to see if he would expect to be treated in the same way when abroad (i.e. not resorting to English, unless in an English-speaking country).

I suppose it's a diiferent story when dealing with tourists.

But his insistence of using just English is somewhat contradictory to the government's effort there where posters/leaflets etc are printed in different langauges.

Latest news: He left his job....

#2, he was interviewed by the BBC too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_7953000/7953198.stm

He's now left the job - apparently, he was a temp. 'Mr Raja' who had worked with him said the guy used to speak to Sri Lankan customers in their own language (he called it Sri Lankan).

I think we can safely assume that no tourists ever visited his shop! Not exactly in a prime tourist area. I'm therefore assuming that we're talking about local people here.

Essentially I agree with his actions, although I have issues with the way it was reported (especially by the Daily Heil). He said that if customers made even the slightest effort to use a few English words, he'd go out of his way to help them. Even if this was only 'stamp, please.' But if they made no effort at all, he refused to try to understand them.

I can't say I disagree with this policy (much as I feel that I'd like to). I can think of no reasonable excuse why any immigrant living in the UK wouldn't be able to learn at least two words of English.

My main problem with this is that it's a unilateral action by one employee. Who is this man to set policy? He's a rogue staffer and should not be tolerated.

In an interview I read he said the manager didn't support his policy. Of chucking potential customers out? Of course the manager/owner of the business doesn't want that.

This man sounds like a loony to me. If he owned his own shop, well, I guess he could try this. But to think that you can do this when all you are is a shop assistant, is incredible to me.

He's more than a shop assistant. He works in a government establishment. Or worked...

maybe he deserves a mention for going against the system, despite a one-man show....

his action is nothing but discriminatory though....