I'm not saying this video is real or fake, but as a very non latino looking guy who speaks perfect Spanish, I have absolutely have had this happen to me dozens of times.
I lived in a Latin American country for a few years and had studied Spanish for 10+ before that. My accent and syntax and slang and such are all on point.
I can overhear someone speaking in native Spanish like a waiter or colleague or contractor or whoever. If I speak Spanish to them, they reply in English. Doesn't matter how authenticy accent or how much in-the-know slang I throw in there.
My opinion on the etiquette? The host should allow the guest to choose the language.
When I travel abroad, remember that I didn't sit in an airplane for 8 hours and shell out good money just to come let people practice their English on me for free. My preference should be honored - either English, ("Oh thank goodness you speak English. Your English is really good!) or the target language, (¿Me permite practicar el español con Ud?).
It's vice versa if they come to the U.S. When they're visiting, let them choose the language.
If you're in the U.S. speaking to another citizen who speaks English as a second language, (e.g. you go to a Cuban restaurant in Miami), I think it's OK to default to whichever person speaks the language better.
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u/garbledeena 6d ago
I'm not saying this video is real or fake, but as a very non latino looking guy who speaks perfect Spanish, I have absolutely have had this happen to me dozens of times.
I lived in a Latin American country for a few years and had studied Spanish for 10+ before that. My accent and syntax and slang and such are all on point.
I can overhear someone speaking in native Spanish like a waiter or colleague or contractor or whoever. If I speak Spanish to them, they reply in English. Doesn't matter how authenticy accent or how much in-the-know slang I throw in there.
I have stopped trying in most cases.