DEAR ABBY: I’m in an online group with neighbors, but I haven’t been able to get out and meet some of the newer members in person. One person signs his messages in a language I don’t recognize, and I was wondering if there is a polite way to ask him how to pronounce his name and what language it is in. There doesn’t seem to be a way to broach the subject without coming across as negative.
And when I hear people in my local store speaking another language, I’m curious because I’m semi-fluent in three languages and interested in learning more, but again, what’s a polite way to ask? — SEPARATELY IN VIRGINIA
BEST QUESTIONS: If you’re at all concerned about asking your neighbors how to pronounce their name and what language it is, don’t do it online. Ask another neighbor or wait until you can meet the person in person.
If you’re out and about and hear a language you don’t recognize, smile at people, tell them you speak three languages that sound like theirs, and ask what it is because you might be interested in learning it. If the question is asked in a friendly manner, most people will answer in the same spirit. (I did this recently in a supermarket. The answer was that they were from Indonesia and spoke Malay.)
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Dear Abby was written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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