Why are native speakers often perceived as rude by language learners?
Sometimes, when talking to a native speaker, you might feel rude even though it's clear they have no ill intentions whatsoever. A linguistics expert explains this feeling.
Emotion and moral stance in evaluations of importantness in L1 and L2 from video clips of workplace interactions - ScienceDirect
Trying your best in a second language? Here's why native speakers seem so rude
https://theconversation.com/trying-your-best-in-a-second-language-heres-why-native-speakers-seem-so-rude-277895
According to linguist Irini Mavro and her colleagues, when speaking with a native speaker in a second language, one may find the speaker's manner of speaking irritating or feel they lack consideration. While it's often assumed that this is due to a lack of knowledge and inability to understand what the other person is saying, there's actually a different reason behind it.
Mavro and colleagues conducted a survey of 55 first-language English speakers and 45 second-language Spanish speakers.
Participants watched videos depicting workplace interactions in English and responded to questions about how rude the interactions appeared and what emotions they felt. The videos were excerpts from the American reality show 'Below Deck' and its spin-off, which follows employees working on a yacht, offering a glimpse into the realistic human relationships typical of reality television.
This study revealed two main important facts.
One reason is that second-language speakers are more sensitive to rudeness. Spanish speakers who speak English as a second language tend to perceive the same interaction as more rude than English speakers.
Mavro and colleagues suggest that the reason for this is that 'second language users may be overestimating the severity of rudeness.' While some videos included insults and tense exchanges, it's possible that second language users failed to grasp the subtle nuances that first language speakers would understand.
Furthermore, the cognitive load on second language speakers may also be a contributing factor. Because second language speakers experience a greater cognitive load when speaking than first language speakers, they may be more sensitive to facial expressions and gestures. Participants may have interpreted this information more strongly than first language speakers and perceived it as a sign of tension or conflict.
Another point is the fact that the emotional responses of first-language and second-language speakers were surprisingly similar. Mavro et al. state, 'There is a belief that emotions are weakened when using a second language, but in this study, both first-language and second-language speakers showed similar levels of emotional response.'
In particular, situations in which someone is treated disrespectfully or welfare is neglected elicit strong emotional responses, and these responses were especially pronounced in situations where bullying, sexism, and oppression were recognized.
Mavro and colleagues stated, 'To understand what is considered rude, it's important not only to know the words but also to read the emotional cues in the context. Language teachers can reduce misunderstandings by explicitly explaining how the speaker's gestures and nuances of words are interpreted.'
Mavro and his colleagues also point out that learning about cultural aspects is important. For example, Eastern cultures tend to avoid direct expression, while regions like Russia tend to perceive direct expression as sincere and polite. Mavro and his colleagues say, 'Second language speakers can remove barriers by deepening their understanding of these cultures.'
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in Science, Posted by log1p_kr