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Why do people keep asking where I'm from? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) by Shampoo_Bottle@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Up until I started working, I didn't really encounter that question. When I did start working, people started asking me that question.

Them: Where are you from?

Me: Canada.

Them: Where are your grandparents from?

Me: Canada.

Them: Ok, where are your great grandparents from?

Me: Canada.

It's irritating sometimes. I just want to exist, do my job and go home, like anyone else. Once is ok, twice is odd, three times is weird, and the fourth time is a pattern.

The only accent that I might have would probably be from Newfoundland, Canada, as I grew up with a lot of people from there. I also talk too fast sometimes.

Have you had similar experiences, and if so, how did you handle it? Can fast speech patterns cause this? Why do random people care so much?

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[–] simple@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I was actually in a similar situation where I wasn't too good with my native tongue so people would constantly ask where I'm from. It's not malicious, people just assume you're not from here if your accent is different.

[–] Drusas@kbin.social 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Your native tongue is the one you grew up speaking. This isn't always the same as the language predominantly spoken by your ancestors.

[–] simple@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

I did grow up speaking it, I'm just better with my 2nd language.