Re: Speaking Urdu
If it is a professional setting, I'd feel weird talking in Urdu.
If I strike up a conversation on the subway in Urdu, I have no issues with it.
@Syraa: Both heads can’t speak Urdu or one can? 
Dealing with patients, mostly the elder ones dont know english....so i gotta talk to them in whatever language they speak to get their complaint. :)
No matter what the place, as long as the other person understands english, I wouldnt want to talk in any other language.
Re: Speaking Urdu
Do you know that speaking two languages has an advantage?? Knowing more than one language is a plus, always. More and more companies look for people that can speak two languages. Of course if they are looking for such professionals, I am sure their purpose is to use that skill in their work settings.
If a teller speaks to you in Urdu, that's a plus for him. My husband bought a car from a dealership where they speak English mostly of course (I live in NY), there is the one guy who has tons and tons of awards on his wall and on his desk, you know why?? He speaks Urdu and English. He sells more cars than anyone. People wait in line for him because he speaks Urdu. Trust me, if someone speaks to you in Urdu and provides you more personalized service, its always a good thing for the company.
As far as the whole evaluation thing is concerned, if a customer walks out happy, the company wins. And if an evaluation is done of course the manager will tell the teller he/she doesn't understand the language. Not a big deal.
Re: Speaking Urdu
I know there are some people who are just so happy that they can strike up a conversation in their native language to someone who can actually talk back to them ,because all they hear everday is english.
^yup. But not in workplace. Pakistanis have a habit of going into ancestral history of the other person and don't let go easily which is not suitable in professional places.
Re: Speaking Urdu
To my way of thinking - it smacks of the other person becoming bay-takalluf with me and until I've given them the cue to be more fmailiar with me, I don't like it. In a work/professional setting, I'm not used to such behaviour - I expect to be addressed as Ms. Sehrysh and not to be asked about my shajra-e-nasl.
I do understand that certain older people are more comfortable speaking in Urdu and as a result want to be served by a person who speaks the same language as them. But I think the choice of language should be initiated by the customer.
Re: Speaking Urdu
I will converse as best as i can in any language... with anyone.
And if that is a problem to someone else then they should speak out and tell me what problem they have... if its genuinely serious and they need to know then i will tell them too... otherwise break the nosey/racists ****! Legs.
Re: Speaking Urdu
I avoid urdu unless someone keeps speaking to me in urdu. I do feel a bit weird speaking urdu/punjabi in professional places.
I personally dont think the manager will/should get suspicious.
What if a cliënt/customer doesnt know english (that well)? In that case isnt it allowed that a worker speaks in the native language?
Yeah they shouldn't get suspicious its actually an asset to have a bilingual employee, it will help facilitate customer service for those that don't speak english will. Nothing wrong with it if your uncomfortable that people might get the wrong impression answer back in English next time :).
Sehrysh you are right in that choice of language should be initiated by customer. I agree with you there.
Re: Speaking Urdu
Nothing wrong with it. You cannot stop paranoid people being paranoid, so who cares!
Re: Speaking Urdu
well... i work at bankk and whn some desi come over i help emm... and usually talk to emmm in urduu if they want me tooo or usually if they dont get anything i explain emm in urddduuu... wht is so weird abt it??? does dat happen?? i wonder if my customers think the same thingy?? :S
Re: Speaking Urdu
I don't like to talk to a total stranger in Urdu, even if he is obviously a Pakistani. Not that I find anything wrong with it, it's just that it feels awkward to me. To me it feels like talking to a total stranger using "tum" instead of "aap". But if the other guy breaks the barrier then I will start going non-stop in Urdu. No problemo.
May be it's just personality thing. Hard to explain.
Re: Speaking Urdu
I think it works wonders!
I was on the road once and couldnt find a place I was meeting some friends. I went into this corner shop. I asked him how to get to this place, he explained to me in broken english. Having realised English was not his first language, I asked if he spoke Punjabi or Urdu. He said yes! He explained presciely were the place was in Punjabi and I got there in a matter of minutes.
Thanks mate! :D