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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
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Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? 1
#22102259 - 08/17/15 10:41 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've encountered two extreme cases of this where I was just helpless. Working in the service industry and simply being unable to understand a word the customer says.
I had this guy on the phone ordering pizza once, he was trying to tell me his name or something, and he got frustrated enough with me that he started spelling it. But I can't even begin to guess at what letters he's even saying, and am literally guessing randomly, which only angers him more. (crazy, out of all 26 letters he somehow made a mouth noise that didn't sound like a single one of them. more than once!) I don't quite remember how that one got resolved
So yeah, is there a way to deal with this that's not ridiculous like asking them to write it down?
"you don't happen to know Morse code do you?"
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Patlal
You ask too many questions



Registered: 10/09/10
Posts: 44,797
Loc: Ottawa
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Psilosopherr]
#22102273 - 08/17/15 10:44 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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My strategy is hanging up the phone.
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qman
Stranger

Registered: 12/06/06
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Psilosopherr]
#22102279 - 08/17/15 10:45 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I simply ask, "do you speak English?". Sometimes it pisses them off.
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Midnight_Toker
Gone Fishin'


Registered: 09/26/10
Posts: 11,589
Loc: Canada
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Psilosopherr]
#22102292 - 08/17/15 10:48 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ask them to speak slower and pronunciate more clearly.
Use the guise that you're hard of hearing so as to not offend them. Though nobody should be offended by that. It makes it easy for both of your lives if they try to communicate better.
I can only understand 70% of what my English uncle says, but he never tries to speak in a way that I understand. It's so awkward now that I hate having to talk to him simply because I can't understand him and I hate going, "What? Sorry what was that?" A million times before finally just guessing and nodding or laughing at the wrong time and looking like an idiot.
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Patlal
You ask too many questions



Registered: 10/09/10
Posts: 44,797
Loc: Ottawa
Last seen: 7 hours, 40 minutes
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Midnight_Toker]
#22102303 - 08/17/15 10:51 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Punch them in the face until they sound right.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Midnight_Toker]
#22102311 - 08/17/15 10:53 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Midnight_Toker said: Ask them to speak slower and pronunciate more clearly.
Use the guise that you're hard of hearing so as to not offend them. Though nobody should be offended by that. It makes it easy for both of your lives if they try to communicate better.
I can only understand 70% of what my English uncle says, but he never tries to speak in a way that I understand. It's so awkward now that I hate having to talk to him simply because I can't understand him and I hate going, "What? Sorry what was that?" A million times before finally just guessing and nodding or laughing at the wrong time and looking like an idiot.
I like it nice and subtle.
I have enough trouble understanding people who speak normally.
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Cujllickduo



Registered: 06/13/15
Posts: 19,552
Loc: England
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Patlal]
#22102321 - 08/17/15 10:56 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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just smile an laugh or say ok , alright ,yh that sounds about right , i understand , yep , laugh an giggle. or say nothing an nod your head.
What i usely do is just blabber on so i don't have to hear what there saying which i dont understand anyway.
Just be happy an smile whislt you talk to them it makes it a whole lot easier if any of this makes sense which it never does.
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ReposadoXochipilli
Here, there, inbetween



Registered: 08/30/05
Posts: 7,501
Loc: Sand and sunshine
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Cujllickduo]
#22102360 - 08/17/15 11:07 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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it gets awkward after the 3rd time in a brief conversation when you repeat, im sorry i can't understand what you are saying, im not trying to be difficult i just can't understand. i also blame it on being hard of hearing, although that is not completely true.
sometimes a pad a paper helps if you are talking face to face.
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MichAnon.ael
Dark Stranger


Registered: 12/15/14
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: ReposadoXochipilli]
#22102817 - 08/17/15 01:23 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Don't talk to Canadians.
THATS RIGHT CANADA. LEARN FUCKIN ENGLISH!
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,672
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Patlal]
#22102821 - 08/17/15 01:24 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Patlal said: Punch them in the face until they sound right.
Funny you should say that, that's the exact same thing I though before opening this thread.
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Drumdude27
Millennial Hippy



Registered: 03/22/13
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: koraks]
#22104813 - 08/17/15 10:35 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I work retail and I once had a guy that knew very little English try to ask me about computers. It can be hard enough at times to talk to those that won't even begin to try to understand computers (even when they're about to buy one ), let alone to someone who struggles communicating in English. We tried using Google Translate, but my phone only had 3G at the time and it wasn't working too well overall. He said he was going to come back with one of his kids who spoke more English but I never saw him again.
I know they're working on software that will solve this issue.
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Doctor Sponge
He's off on a tangent



Registered: 05/03/12
Posts: 11,795
Loc: the desert
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Drumdude27]
#22104846 - 08/17/15 10:49 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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learn ebonics
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




Registered: 05/12/07
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Psilosopherr]
#22104972 - 08/17/15 11:51 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I find that practice always helps. Practice listening. Its kinda like practice to speak a new language.
I get this sometimes calling customer service for my cable service and its based in India. To understand, takes careful listening to their voice and once u hear it enough times, it will come natural.
so my advice is to call some customer service lines, anyone u want. once u hear enough accents over and over, u will get it.
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zZZz
jesus


Registered: 12/28/07
Posts: 33,478
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: Psilosopherr]
#22104983 - 08/17/15 11:58 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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If I can't understand them I'll immediately let them know
The key is to take charge of the situation before it escalates
Honesty is key
Don't beat around the bush
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,278
Last seen: 1 month, 10 days
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Re: Anybody have a good strategy for dealing with accents you can't understand? [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 1
#22105015 - 08/18/15 12:10 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
LogicaL Chaos said: I find that practice always helps. Practice listening. Its kinda like practice to speak a new language.
I get this sometimes calling customer service for my cable service and its based in India. To understand, takes careful listening to their voice and once u hear it enough times, it will come natural.
so my advice is to call some customer service lines, anyone u want. once u hear enough accents over and over, u will get it.
there's a new one
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