Am I the only one who finds it awkward? 
It feels too informal. I don’t want to let my guard down with random desis I bump into…
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Urdu is all I use. Interesting thread nonetheless.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
No, I don't find it awkward. I like it. Gives a feeling of apnapan.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Saeed: Pakistan mein tau I don't recall speaking in English with anyone.
Le Pakistan: I guess for me it depends on who the stranger is... if it's some auntie jee I meet in the mall or something, I will speak in Urdu considering they aren't always fluent in English... but when it comes to a random desi pizza delivery boy, I'd prefer to keep it formal.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
when I bump into desis, I ask them where they are from, and if they are from Pakistan or North India, my next question usually is 'so you speak urdu/hindi'. If they say yes, i quickly switch over to urdu/hindi. By that time they usually know that I am not speaking urdu/hindi cause I cant speak english, so they always get the positive message out of that I am doing it cause of what Le Pakistan said 'apnaapun'
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
I guess I just had a couple of bad experiences then 
Pakistani mard hazraat apnapun ko kuch or he samajh lete hain.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Pakistani mard hazraat se baat shroo kerne se pehley, proactively take your sandal off and hold it in your hand
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Or just keep replying to them in English, they get the point without the sandal.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Ji aap kaisay hain? Kya aap frequently yahaan aathi hain?
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
If I bump into some desi I just say salaam and move on, until they ask me a question.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Or one can be like Muhammad Ali. He didn't bump into the other guy. Neither did he always have his guard up. But he bobbed and he weaved.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
yeh logic bhii Khoob rahii...strange idea!
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
And as back up, Ali floated like a butterffly and stung like a bee. This I recommend as last resort after negotiations break down.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
If someone talks to me in urdu, I don't hesitate and I just talk to them in urdu. I actually like talking in urdu, don't get to speak urdu that often (except the toti paji urdu mix punjabi mix angrazi at home). I've never had a bad experience either.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
I find the switch really hard when talking to younger people. BUT if its aunty/uncle aged people I switch over fine. Although if they keep speaking in English then again I find it hard to switch to Urdu.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
My urdu is pretty poor so when I need to speak it, I just do English with a heavy desi accent. ;)
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
If I see someone struggling with English and I have a suspicion that they can speak hindi/urdu/punjabi (like uncle ji is speaking to his wife in punjabi but addressing you in broken english) then I will switch automatically to make life easier for them.
Otherwise I stick to my guns.
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
Huma, kia haaal hai? kaisee HO?
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
My Urdu isn’t great, sad to say, so I try to stick to English.
If I meet a desi my age, I’ll start off talking in English. If they have tooti-pooti English, I’ll try my best to talk to them in Urdu, but def throw in some English words that I don’t know how to say in Urdu :sid:
If I meet and uncle or aunty ji, it’s an automatic switch. I almost feel rude if I start off talking to them in English. Salam and straight to “Kehsay hain?” If they follow back with something in English… Sigh of relief!!! Normal convo in English.
The best, is the old school bebe’s. 
I’ll start off in Urdu with them, when they follow up with some Punjabi, that’s when you know you’re about to have a GOOD convo with a daddi ji 
Re: Speaking Urdu/Hindi with strangers
It depends on the age group and where I am i.e. Pakistan or UK. I don't find it awkward though.