Not the alien language

U shouldnt call different languages disrespectful names like an alien language

You do realize that USA legally call foreigners (non-resident) aliens. So...

Why are u telling me this?? Im not from america

I am just saying that what you may believe is disrespectful is basic standard wording in some other countries.

Just because it’s normalised and common in different countries doesnt make it right. I’m still standing on the fact that it was disrespectful to call Vietnamese an “alien language”.

It is not a fact, it is your opinion. Facts are independent of your feelings.

No, it is a fact. To call something alien like, as if its something not of this world and of non human nature is disrespectful when it is something used and known by many humans. Humans speak Vietnamese, its not an alien language, its a language a community uses on their day to day life and an important part of their culture. Ur talking as if it can be considered “respectful” bitch bye

Just because you say it is a fact does not make an opinion a fact.

What is a fact, is that the word "alien" can refer to "foreigner" in some countries, like the US. The word "alien" does not only refer to extraterrestrial organisms; you are free to broaden your vocabulary and do a little research. If a country calls foreigners, "aliens" (e.g., US immigration laws), then a foreign language is an alien language. It might sound disrespectful to you, but I can ensure that when you are filling a VISA application for the US and they call you an alien, they are not trying to be rude. You can get offended and be willing to understand that word has different denotations and connotations around the globe.

What you fail to grasp is relativism. Aliens have a lot of meanings. Whether it is disrespectful or not is a matter of opinion, not of a fact. Finally, for someone advocating for respect, you are blatantly rude over basic semantics.

Literally why do u keep talking abt the united states? We dont even know if op is from america or not and im not from america either. If u are then i literally dont give a fuck, my point was to not call other languages an alien language because it’s disrespectful. Do u genuinely believe it can be respectful? I dont care if their intentions were not to be rude because I literally acknowledged that and told op that u shouldnt call othwr languages like rhat. Genuinely whats even ur purpose

I am talking about the USA because it is one of the countries I came across where "alien" is used to refer to foreigners. It did shock me at first, but opening a dictionary and stopping being offended over nothing helped.

The question is not whether anyone is from the USA. The point is that the word "alien", which seems to have triggered you, has multiple meanings. Open any decent English dictionary and see for yourself.

So, your question is whether calling a language "alien" is respectful. I would answer with another question: is calling 'something foreign' foreign respectful?

At this point, my purpose is simply to respond to your replies. If they want to describe another language as alien (their opinion), they are free to do so, just as you are free to be offended by it (your opinion). I speak French and English, and I often hear people say that certain French expressions make no sense or sound like complete gibberish. I do not go on a crusade accusing them of being rude or disrespectful.

There is no need to take it so personally. Of course, something foreign can sound alien—that is, strange or unfamiliar. A new language/alphabet can feel alien to anyone. It is not as though the OP was trying to drag Vietnamese to the mud.

Calling out people for being disrespectful yet disregarding their intentions. In the same way you "dont care if their intentions were not to be rude", they have no obligation to be considerate of your feelings. :/

I never even took it personally because I frankly can’t because I’m not Vietnamese nor do i speak it. No shit they’re free to say whatever but just because YOU dont make a big deal out of it when people call ur own language weird ans gibberish, which i personally think is stupid and u should seek respect from those ppl insulting ur own culture, doesy mean others shouldnt make a big deal out of it when they get disrespected. And being called a foreigner isnt disrespectful (depending on the intention) because thats actually something that correlates to being human, alien doesnt. And literally what other definition do u think op was talking abt w the word alien like bitch shut up ur just saying anything

You do not have to be Vietnamese or speak Vietnamese to take something personally. Empathy is enough to make someone feel offended on behalf of another.

The reason they are free to say what they want is not because I personally do not make a big deal out of it. It is because of something called: freedom of expression and opinion. Feel free to consult to Universal Fundamental Human Rights from UNESCO.

It appears someone is conflating language with culture. It is normal for someone to find another language unfamiliar or even alien to them, especially when it does not share the same alphabet, pronunciation, grammatical structure, or etymological roots as their own. Human beings naturally tend to be more cautious or skeptical when encountering unfamiliar things. Anyone learning a new language will inevitably come across words, expressions, sounds, or grammatical structures that simply do not exist in their own language. Finding those strange, nonsensical, or difficult to understand is not the same as insulting the culture or the people who speak the language. They are expressing frustration with something they cannot comprehend—the language itself. It is quite a stretch to conclude that calling certain French expressions gibberish means someone has bad blood with French people. Even French speakers are not delusional enough to pretend that French learners never struggle or that some expressions cannot sound bizarre when viewed from the perspective of another language.

Personally, I find those reactions amusing. They teach me some English, I teach them some French, and we both laugh about the weirdness of our respective languages. Of course, you are free to be a stick-in-the-mud and take offense over such silliness.

Have you ever tried opening a dictionary and looking up the word "alien"? You are stigmatizing the word by reducing it to one meaning. This entire silly debate over semantics would end as soon as you realize that alien does not refer exclusively to 'non-human'; it can also mean foreign, unfamiliar, strange, or coming from a different country.

And have you ever heard of the word hypocrite? You consider the expression alien language disrespectful, yet somehow your frequent use of swear words and hostility are okay? Respect is not something you can simply demand from others while refusing to extend the same consideration yourself.

Ur making it seem like i dragged it. I said that u shouldnt call other languages an alien language because it’s disrespectful. And no i cant take it personally because it doesnt affect me as much as it would if someone called my native language an alien one. YOU are not the op, u dotn know their intentions and i dont either, if u wanted to send a comment being like “they probably didnt have any bad intentions” i would have jusf said yeah thats true but im js sending it in case and we would have moved on from our lives. Ur overthinking ops comment like it was never that serious for u to be talking abt the different definitions of alien like bitch wtf It was disrespectful, i dont give a single fuck about how french people would take it because not every french person is the same, just bc a majority doesnt gaf doesnt make the minoritys feelings any less valid. Others can be affected by ops words so i just let them know that regardless of their intentions at least one person would feel negative emotions from it. I dont careif u think im a hyprocite for swearing because i once again dont give a fuck about u because my comment was intended for the op, yes u can reply, its a public comment section but i have no care in what u say if my comment was never intended for u. Literally leave me alone ur all heated bc i told someone to watch what they say

Calling out people for being disrespectful yet being disrespectful yourself. In the same way you are not considerate of people's feelings when you swear, they do not have to be considerate of others when they use the adjective of their choice—the Golden Rule?

My reply was what it was. It does not have to be reframed to suit your needs. The point is and remains that the word "alien", which seems to have triggered you, has multiple meanings.

I am not OP nor I am pretending to be. I am me, holding my own views on the matter you introduced for everyone to see. I guess I am overthinking by taking a silly remark for what it is—a silly remark—and not turning it into a diplomatic controversy.

The example of the French speakers was just an example. Unfamiliar things can feel strange or unsettling; this is a common human tendency. This applies regardless of whether someone belongs to a majority or minority group. Humans often react emotionally and quickly to perceived threats, insults, or norm violations; people can form an initial emotional judgment before consciously engaging in deliberate reasoning.

If somebody finds phở disgusting and says so, I see little reason to respond with: "Saying that phở is disgusting is disrespectful! It is insulting to Vietnamese culture and to everyone in the Vietnamese community who eats this dish. If you are Vietnamese yourself, you should demand respect!" That is not too far removed from saying that you should refrain from expressing yourself because it might hurt my feelings. Whether something is disrespectful or not is, to a significant extent, subjective and dependent on context, intent, and interpretation. It is relative. Hence why I said, "what you may believe is disrespectful is basic standard wording in some other countries."

If you wanted to move on with your life, did not care, was not affected personally while advocating for people's feelings, you entertaining this discussion seems paradoxical. As for me, I am simply a philomath answering your replies. You reply to me, so I reply to you. (●'◡'●)ﾉ