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Why do you assume he is a native English speaker? You don't learn English by osmosis even if you live in the country.Someone can be a native speaker of multiple languages. Any languages acquired before and during toddlerhood (and generally, anytime before the onset of puberty) are fluently-spoken native languages.
I may be giving Duan too much leeway here, but again assuming the best (that it was also just an honest mistake), he could have looked back at the original email to see how much he actually overcharged, saw all those numbers on the
Not at all -- a lot of native English speakers write like that. Especially with electronic spell-checked media, and with being hurried and such.
Going by his age on arrival to the country. Adults have a hard go of learning new languages, true (see the language acquisition link I provided upthread). But for small children, it is an entirely different matter. Duan would have to have been unusally sheltered to not pick up English as a school child. For one thing, he'd have to have gone to a school where only Chinese was spoken.
Actually, if you're now in your thirties or forties and you lived in a country since age three and were incessantly surrounded by that country's native language in school, on the TV, and in the streets then, yeah, you would pretty much learn that country's native language by osmosis just like any other kid growing up in that country since birth would.Why do you assume he is a native English speaker? You don't learn English by osmosis even if you live in the country.Someone can be a native speaker of multiple languages. Any languages acquired before and during toddlerhood (and generally, anytime before the onset of puberty) are fluently-spoken native languages.
God forbid some college students got to watch a game on their computers.
Not out of the realm of possibility especially with immigrant parents. I assumed English wasn't his first language after reading his emails.
Not always true. Ever been to a China town in a major city?Actually, if you're now in your thirties or forties and you lived in a country since age three and were incessantly surrounded by that country's native language in school, on the TV, and in the streets then, yeah, you would pretty much learn that country's native language by osmosis just like any other kid growing up in that country since birth would.Why do you assume he is a native English speaker? You don't learn English by osmosis even if you live in the country.Someone can be a native speaker of multiple languages. Any languages acquired before and during toddlerhood (and generally, anytime before the onset of puberty) are fluently-spoken native languages.
They don't have different prices at different places in the same city. They have one price in Woburn, and another price in Brookline, a much more expensive place to live, and to operate a restaurant.
Duan speaks fluent English at the beginning and end of this video. Sounds just like any other guy from that neck of the woods. Language was no specific issue in dealing with Edelman. Now, he might have hurriedly glossed over Edelman's initial query. Duan might have erred in thinking the "oops, website's not updated" excuse would satisfy Edelman. But it was not a language issue.
I have read all that since. I've always acknowledged that Edelman was dooshy, expecially with whipping out the triple-damages stuff. I just think Edelman was in the right, and that Duan commited a business faux pas (though it will probably ultimately work out in his favor).
Interestingly enough, I'm typing this from a Chinatown in a major city. Recent emigres and old people who came to America when they were adults (and were thus less apt to pick up a new language) don't speak English. Chinese-American adults who were raised in America since they were a toddler do speak English, but most of them have long since moved out of the Chinatown that is typically occupied by more recent emigres.Not always true. Ever been to a China town in a major city?Actually, if you're now in your thirties or forties and you lived in a country since age three and were incessantly surrounded by that country's native language in school, on the TV, and in the streets then, yeah, you would pretty much learn that country's native language by osmosis just like any other kid growing up in that country since birth would.Why do you assume he is a native English speaker? You don't learn English by osmosis even if you live in the country.Someone can be a native speaker of multiple languages. Any languages acquired before and during toddlerhood (and generally, anytime before the onset of puberty) are fluently-spoken native languages.
Edelman also, after Duan had offered a full refund, mentioned that he had notified the authorities, and was basically casually threatening Duan with a class action suit, wondering how many other consumers could be in line for punitive damages, and on and on.
"Despicable" is overselling it. That would require actually filing suit and working to shut the restaurant down or something.
Forget Edelman for a second.
Just don't think it's cut-and-dried in one direction
I have no choice but to own that doosh-ness, and remember academically (not viscerally) that others consider it dooshy and obviously incorrect.
I went to High school with a kid that was born here and could hardly speak English. He grew up in a very insular Hispanic community. He didn't really start learning English until Jr. High. I imagine it improved over time, but if you miss the early years it can be a struggle.
Nothing ever is cut and dry. If they guy did not have a point, he would have dropped it. But having a point doesn't give you the right to be a complete and utter buffoon about it.Just don't think it's cut-and-dried in one direction
Yes, and I agree. I've already posted that Grove's phone call suggestion was the way to go.
He's checking to see what he can sue you for.
This was perfect. "Oh, you called the police? I will gladly deal with them and not your crazy ###."
... I actually read that from Duan as being deadly serious.
I read it as serious too. You've got a Harvard prof quoting statutes to you and threatening you. He calls the authorities. I would do the same damn thing at that point. If you bring the big guns I'm done working with you directly toward a resolution.
Aren't you a CPA or something? It's not like you're out there building skyscrapers and saving lives.
We don't cheer for superheroes who go after little old ladies who are double parked for 30 seconds while they drop off a box of donations at Goodwill though.
I have private clients who pay me. yesterday I got the state of Montana to dismiss over $650k in taxes, interest, and penalties for someone. I deliver value, not hype.
20+ years ago, I was in Boston on a rugby trip--playing MIT, HBS etc. One night at the bar, I asked a girl where she was from and she responded, "Harvard." So lame.
