Historic in standard dictionaries (Oxford, Webster) has the h pronounced (IPA: /hiˈstôrik/ ) so we must use A instead of An.
It is different for some other words start with h, for example hour (IPA: /ˈou(ə)r/) that the h is silent and it starts with the vowel sound, so we should use an hour.
It is a chicken and egg problem. When you have no COVID cases, the risk of taking a vaccine for older people (its side effect) may outweigh the benefits. However, once it cannot contain COVID cases anymore, the benefits/costs calculation will change drastically and they cannot get vaccinated fast enough then. It is a dilemma that the China government needs to resolve, there is no way they can continue with this zero COVID policy forever.
Nevertheless the fraction among general intellectuals is todays negligible, and most current opinion makers wouldn't be able to say "Hello" in either language. This increases the civilizational distance significantly.
It used to be much higher; 100 years ago, both Greek and Latin were compulsory subjects in many schools.
If they speak another language in the office but not with you (you are not part of their conversation), why is it rude? It is like a different channel where you will be less distracted by eavesdropping people.
Because it's disrespectful (non-inclusive and non-welcoming) to willingly bar someone who can obviously hear you, from understanding the conversation.
If you are "out of range", or in another room, then by all means, go nuts. Speak Elvish or even Klingon if that's your fancy. It won't bother anybody.
But in the presence of others, respect demands to let everyone understand. Even if the conversation is completely irrelevant to them.
And if you don't even apply basic respect, when others will start assuming the worst about your conversations, than that'll be your fault. You'd have brought it on yourself. Not "them", not HR—which sooner or later is going to be brought into the conversation...
Note: to make it clear as I have commented in the other thread, I believe that people should speak English in a discussion that involves people that don't speak the language(meeting, discussion that involved other people). However, they should be free to speak their own language if they want to communicate to each other in a private setting.
You are talking from only 1 perspective. Have you ever try to understand from the other side why they speak their own language?
I have been in both situation (people speaking a language I don't understand and I speak to other people in a language I don't understand) and almost 99.99% of the time it is not about YOU in the conversation. They speak their language mainly out of convenient. They can communicate/connect more easily with their peers speaking their mother tongue. Of course, there should be some courtesy apply here: don't speak too loud, make a lot of noise. But I guess it applies the same when you speak the common language. If they really need your input, they will switch to English and ask you to join the conversation.
> If you are "out of range", or in another room, then by all means, go nuts. Speak Elvish or even Klingon if that's your fancy.
So you are saying that speaking another language in public is forbidden? How inclusive is that of you? It is like British school in 19th and 20th centuries banning children from speaking their mother tongue in school. Does that sound good to you?
> when others will start assuming the worst about your conversations, than that'll be your fault.
And you don't want other people to speak their own languages to their peers just because of your insecurity?
>not HR—which sooner or later is going to be brought into the conversation...
Do you have any cases where HR involves in this? I really want to know how it goes.
> If you are, then personally I think it is really bad form for the other team members to be speaking in a foreign language when the native English speaker is present.
It depends, if it is in a meeting, they should use a common language that everyone understands (English). However, if they are just talking to each other in the office WITHOUT talking to you, they can use whatever language that is comfortable to them. You are not part of the conversation.
I think the problem here only is that why the person in a FAANG company cannot communicate in English when needed.
Usefully overhearing and jumping into other people's conversations is the one upside to an open office workspace. If you're not going to have even that, it's utterly pointless drudgery to be made to work in one.
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