On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t have put “There is really no such thing as Chinese New Years” or maybe added “to me” in it. I guess it all depends on the way you were raised, regardless of whether you’re in a Chinese family or not. My family and family friends always referred to it as the lunar new year, whether they were speaking English or not. I’d always been aware that the lunar new year was celebrated by several Asian countries other than China, so when I hear it referred to “Chinese New Year” it’s jarring to me.
Besides, I only correct people when they use it in conversation with me. If I’m a third party and I hear the exchange by two other people, I don’t jump in and try to correct them. However, when someone speaks directly to me, and asks “So when is YOUR new year?” I look at him puzzled. My new year is on January 1st, much like other Canadians, I respond. When he replies with “Oh, I mean, your Chinese new year” it takes me time to comprehend what he means. I figure it out, tell him that I’d rather he refer it to as the lunar new year when talking to me. If he complies, all is well. If it comes up in another conversation as “Chinese” instead of “Lunar”, it makes me agitated. I realise not everyone knows what will offend and won’t offend, and it’s different for everyone. However, when I’ve mentioned it once already, I would think he’d at least try to keep it in mind.
I should clarify, the guy at work isn’t a co-worker but a regular customer. Unfortunately, all the staff at the moment are Chinese, so I guess he might not realise that what my co-worker finds fun and amusing may not mean the same to me. He might or might not have the intention of treating the language like a novelty, but to me, that is what it feels like. My co-workers are happy to teach him words he want to learn, like tea, or bread, or thank-you. I don’t, and there’s not really anyway for anyone to make me want to.
What is taboo for me isn’t necessarily taboo for my co-workers, as I’m second generation immigrant, and most of whom I work with are older, and first generation. When I go to work, I’m all set to interact in English, and that’s what the mode my brain is in. I believe I shouldn’t speak Chinese at the workplace to my co-workers as that looks unprofessional, and when my brain is in that mode, I don’t want to switch back. So, when the transaction is in English, and all of a sudden, a Chinese word pops up, it stands out and makes me see it differently than if I were with friends, and we were joking around. When all I do is smile and nod, and don’t respond the way my co-workers do, I do not appreciate being goaded by him into teaching him. It’s not my job, and this is a kind of socialization I’m not comfortable with.
If it’s so I can use it to beat a clue into you, gladly.
