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Saying something to a foreign coworker who uses “you people”
How to deal with colleague that uses you as a crutch to complete their tasks?How to work with senior colleagues who always seem to have an upper saying?Drunkenly said something offensive to a coworkerCoworker uses her breast-pump everywhere in the officeHow do you deal with a coworker who seems provoke you constantly?How to deal with a colleague who is being aggressive?Colleagues speaking another language and it impacts work
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A new co-worker who is not a native English speaker uses "you people" whenever referring to a group. As in "This quarter was great because of you people." If something negative happened "You people did not finish X, Y, Z?"
Part of me says to say something 1:1 like "You people is an insult in America, you should use 'you all' or 'y'all'". Part of me also says to say nothing as I don't want to become a language coach.
Should I mention it, and how is the best way to phrase this?
For those outside the US, the exact words "you people" have become an insult. See https://www.yourdictionary.com/you-people
NOTE: I am a native English speaker, and do not believe the co-worker means this as an insult.
colleagues united-states social-nuances
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
add a comment |
A new co-worker who is not a native English speaker uses "you people" whenever referring to a group. As in "This quarter was great because of you people." If something negative happened "You people did not finish X, Y, Z?"
Part of me says to say something 1:1 like "You people is an insult in America, you should use 'you all' or 'y'all'". Part of me also says to say nothing as I don't want to become a language coach.
Should I mention it, and how is the best way to phrase this?
For those outside the US, the exact words "you people" have become an insult. See https://www.yourdictionary.com/you-people
NOTE: I am a native English speaker, and do not believe the co-worker means this as an insult.
colleagues united-states social-nuances
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago
add a comment |
A new co-worker who is not a native English speaker uses "you people" whenever referring to a group. As in "This quarter was great because of you people." If something negative happened "You people did not finish X, Y, Z?"
Part of me says to say something 1:1 like "You people is an insult in America, you should use 'you all' or 'y'all'". Part of me also says to say nothing as I don't want to become a language coach.
Should I mention it, and how is the best way to phrase this?
For those outside the US, the exact words "you people" have become an insult. See https://www.yourdictionary.com/you-people
NOTE: I am a native English speaker, and do not believe the co-worker means this as an insult.
colleagues united-states social-nuances
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
A new co-worker who is not a native English speaker uses "you people" whenever referring to a group. As in "This quarter was great because of you people." If something negative happened "You people did not finish X, Y, Z?"
Part of me says to say something 1:1 like "You people is an insult in America, you should use 'you all' or 'y'all'". Part of me also says to say nothing as I don't want to become a language coach.
Should I mention it, and how is the best way to phrase this?
For those outside the US, the exact words "you people" have become an insult. See https://www.yourdictionary.com/you-people
NOTE: I am a native English speaker, and do not believe the co-worker means this as an insult.
colleagues united-states social-nuances
colleagues united-states social-nuances
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
edited 1 hour ago
sevensevens
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
asked 1 hour ago
sevensevenssevensevens
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
14.7k4 gold badges34 silver badges49 bronze badges
@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago
add a comment |
@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago
@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
You would not be a language coach, since this is not something trivial. This can damage the work environment and relationship between your group and this particular colleague. I think that the best thing to do would be to explain to him that you are worried that people might misinterpret what he says and take it in a negative way because of the phrasing.
"I have noticed you use the phrase "you people", which happens to have a negative undertone in USA. I know you mean well, but perhaps it could be beneficial to use "you guys" or just "you" instead."
I am not sure about "you guys" either, since USA is very gender sensitive, so perhaps "guys" part also can touch someone the wrong way.
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
add a comment |
As a non native English speaker working in an English speaking company, I’d very much appreciate a comment (in private) when using phrases wrong or phrases that could have connotations that I haven’t anticipated.
It happened to me more than once and I’ve profusely thanked the people that told me about it.
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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You would not be a language coach, since this is not something trivial. This can damage the work environment and relationship between your group and this particular colleague. I think that the best thing to do would be to explain to him that you are worried that people might misinterpret what he says and take it in a negative way because of the phrasing.
"I have noticed you use the phrase "you people", which happens to have a negative undertone in USA. I know you mean well, but perhaps it could be beneficial to use "you guys" or just "you" instead."
I am not sure about "you guys" either, since USA is very gender sensitive, so perhaps "guys" part also can touch someone the wrong way.
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
add a comment |
You would not be a language coach, since this is not something trivial. This can damage the work environment and relationship between your group and this particular colleague. I think that the best thing to do would be to explain to him that you are worried that people might misinterpret what he says and take it in a negative way because of the phrasing.
"I have noticed you use the phrase "you people", which happens to have a negative undertone in USA. I know you mean well, but perhaps it could be beneficial to use "you guys" or just "you" instead."
I am not sure about "you guys" either, since USA is very gender sensitive, so perhaps "guys" part also can touch someone the wrong way.
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
add a comment |
You would not be a language coach, since this is not something trivial. This can damage the work environment and relationship between your group and this particular colleague. I think that the best thing to do would be to explain to him that you are worried that people might misinterpret what he says and take it in a negative way because of the phrasing.
"I have noticed you use the phrase "you people", which happens to have a negative undertone in USA. I know you mean well, but perhaps it could be beneficial to use "you guys" or just "you" instead."
I am not sure about "you guys" either, since USA is very gender sensitive, so perhaps "guys" part also can touch someone the wrong way.
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
You would not be a language coach, since this is not something trivial. This can damage the work environment and relationship between your group and this particular colleague. I think that the best thing to do would be to explain to him that you are worried that people might misinterpret what he says and take it in a negative way because of the phrasing.
"I have noticed you use the phrase "you people", which happens to have a negative undertone in USA. I know you mean well, but perhaps it could be beneficial to use "you guys" or just "you" instead."
I am not sure about "you guys" either, since USA is very gender sensitive, so perhaps "guys" part also can touch someone the wrong way.
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
answered 1 hour ago
AtizsAtizs
4487 bronze badges
4487 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
As a non native English speaker working in an English speaking company, I’d very much appreciate a comment (in private) when using phrases wrong or phrases that could have connotations that I haven’t anticipated.
It happened to me more than once and I’ve profusely thanked the people that told me about it.
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
add a comment |
As a non native English speaker working in an English speaking company, I’d very much appreciate a comment (in private) when using phrases wrong or phrases that could have connotations that I haven’t anticipated.
It happened to me more than once and I’ve profusely thanked the people that told me about it.
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
add a comment |
As a non native English speaker working in an English speaking company, I’d very much appreciate a comment (in private) when using phrases wrong or phrases that could have connotations that I haven’t anticipated.
It happened to me more than once and I’ve profusely thanked the people that told me about it.
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
As a non native English speaker working in an English speaking company, I’d very much appreciate a comment (in private) when using phrases wrong or phrases that could have connotations that I haven’t anticipated.
It happened to me more than once and I’ve profusely thanked the people that told me about it.
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
answered 28 mins ago
g3rv4g3rv4
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
4574 silver badges8 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
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@bruglesco - good point - edited to use y'all, which is what I use
– sevensevens
1 hour ago
Your link clearly says it's only an insult in the context of a speaker of one race addressing a group of another race. Was this the case when the non-native speaker addressed the team? And do you think anyone was actually insulted or are you just concerned that someone might be insulted.
– HenryM
7 mins ago