4 ms·

> "I still encounter the situation when a stranger interrupts me after a few words I spoke to interrogate me: 'You have a strong accent. Where are you from?' It

> "I still encounter the situation when a stranger interrupts me after a few words I spoke to interrogate me: 'You have a strong accent. Where are you from?' It is a continuous reminder that you are forever an alien in your own country." Ugh. When will this victim mentality end? I'm a naturalised citizen in a foreign country and get asked this all the time because of my accent. It has never come across as anything less than interest.

dsr_ 5y ago
In my experience, it's usually interest and friendliness -- but after the first time you hear it used aggressively, you'll never forget that can happen.
elric 5y ago
I frequently ask speakers of my native Flemish where they're from because they have interesting regional accents or speak baffling dialects. And that's a language spoken by barely 6 million people. Feeling an "alien in your own country" because you don't speak a language in the exact same way as the people around you ... seems very counterproductive.
- domano 5y ago
  These people are natives with dialects. As an immigrant you face prejudices sometimes and being in a negative interaction makes you more wary of the other parties intent.
  - elric 5y ago
    Yeah, I get that. But at some point you have to let go of that fear & wariness. Arseholes are pretty universal, and whether they're having a go at you because of your accent, your immigration status, or the colour of your hair doesn't matter all that much. Arseholes gonna arsehole, and they'll find a stick to beat you with if they so desire. The vast majority of people, thankfully, aren't arseholes, and their intentions tend to be on the "good" part of the spectrum.
another-dave 5y ago
Asking where someone is from _could_ be polite interest if there's a lull in the conversation. If they're cutting them off in order to change topic & bring it up, not so much!

dsr_ 5y ago

In my experience, it's usually interest and friendliness -- but after the first time you hear it used aggressively, you'll never forget that can happen.

elric 5y ago

I frequently ask speakers of my native Flemish where they're from because they have interesting regional accents or speak baffling dialects. And that's a language spoken by barely 6 million people. Feeling an "alien in your own country" because you don't speak a language in the exact same way as the people around you ... seems very counterproductive.

domano 5y ago
These people are natives with dialects. As an immigrant you face prejudices sometimes and being in a negative interaction makes you more wary of the other parties intent.
- elric 5y ago
  Yeah, I get that. But at some point you have to let go of that fear & wariness. Arseholes are pretty universal, and whether they're having a go at you because of your accent, your immigration status, or the colour of your hair doesn't matter all that much. Arseholes gonna arsehole, and they'll find a stick to beat you with if they so desire. The vast majority of people, thankfully, aren't arseholes, and their intentions tend to be on the "good" part of the spectrum.

another-dave 5y ago

Asking where someone is from _could_ be polite interest if there's a lull in the conversation. If they're cutting them off in order to change topic & bring it up, not so much!