Imagine living in a country for nearly a decade and not bothering to learn the local language. Now, add family dinners where you’re the only one not speaking the language, and your sister-in-law becomes your default translator. Sounds frustrating, right? Well, that’s exactly the situation one woman found herself in. Living in Brussels, she’s had enough of translating for her sister-in-law, who hasn’t made an effort to learn French. But when she decides to put her foot down, drama ensues. Let’s dive into this linguistic showdown.
Setting the Scene in Brussels

The Language Barrier

Sarah’s Excuse ♀️

The Translation Duty ️

Why Me? ♀️

Growing Frustration

Family’s Stance

The Breaking Point

Enough is Enough ✋

A Bold Ultimatum

The Aftermath

Family Dinner Boycott ️

The Great Translator Standoff
So, there you have it, folks. A tale as old as time, or at least as old as international marriages. Our heroine, caught between the love for her family and the exasperation of being an unpaid translator, finally draws her line in the sand. But, as with all good dramas, the fallout is swift and tear-filled. Now, the family dinners hang in the balance, with a side of linguistic pride and a dash of stubbornness. Will there be an apology, or will this be the end of harmonious family gatherings? Only time will tell.
Let her husband do the translating. Not your job. #NTA

Navigating language barriers in a community. ️

Marriage = Translation services? NTA for refusing.

Effortlessly not picking up language in 7 years? NTA but…

Family drama over translation duties. NTA stands their ground.

Assertive NTA response shuts down language barrier drama
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Don’t be the family translator. NTA for setting boundaries

Husband should translate, not OP. Apologize in French

Respectful or not? NTA for not being family translator

American expat in Germany shares thoughts on language barrier drama.

Seven years is enough time to learn the basics ♀️

American commenter sympathizes with OP and criticizes SIL’s behavior.

Learning a new language for love ❤️

NTA for not being a family translator. ♀️

NTA. SIL can’t expect family to do all the translating forever.

Refusing to be the family translator? NTA, girl needs a clue

Refusing to be a family translator. NTA and well said!

Language barrier? No excuse. Put in effort like this guy

NTA commenter calls out Sarah’s entitlement and suggests translation apps.

Poster defends their post, but commenters agree with them. ♀️

Stepson’s love and effort for his husband’s language is inspiring ❤

Bring your own translator and enjoy family time. NTA

Translation duty ruining family dinners? NTA, husband should help

Navigating language barriers can be tough, but NTA for setting boundaries.

Don’t let the language barrier become a mental burden

NTA for standing up against disrespect towards in-laws
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SIL’s language barrier causing family drama, NTA for refusing translation.

Surrounded by a language, NTA for not being the translator

Translation drama solved with a non-apology. NTA

Setting boundaries without being the family translator. #NTA

Not responsible to translate. SIL may have learning disability.
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Refusing to be the family translator, NTA. Apologize if needed.

Setting boundaries with a touch of sass. NTA

Mom and daughter learning French, daughter expects her to translate. NTA.

Lazy spouse refuses to learn French. NTA judgement.

Embracing the culture of your host country is a must

Learning the language is a basic courtesy

Refusing to learn English despite help, is it rude?

Struggles with language barrier and self-consciousness. Any advice?

Learning a language can be tough, but don’t be a doormat

Struggling with languages, but NAH for refusing to translate anymore

Refusing to translate for family, gets blamed. Not the a-hole ♀️

Learning a new language is hard NAH comment

NTA. The husband should translate for his wife, not you

Why should you be the family translator? NTA

Not the a-hole! They can learn French or hire a translator ♀️

Husband’s choice: be the translator or skip the event. NTA

Let her husband translate ♀️ Avoid family drama

Husband should translate, not you. French is hard, NTA

Refusing to be the family translator. NTA wins.

Not the a**hole for refusing to translate for SIL ️

Don’t be a family translator, NTA. It’s impossible to interact fully.

Refusing to be a translator for entitled family member. ♀️

Relatable frustration with language barrier ignorance in the US

Family drama resolved with a simple solution #NTA

SIL faces backlash for not learning French. NTA.

Translation drama: No need to apologize for refusing.

Translation drama ends with a**hole family boycotting dinners. NTA.

NTA. Commenter finds it hard to believe in-law hasn’t learned language.

Google translate and blessings: NTA wins the language barrier drama.

Lazy SIL refuses to learn French, causing translation drama

Is it really that hard to learn a language?

Husband should be translator. OP deserves apology for interruptions.

Learning the language of in-laws is beneficial

Don’t apologize, they shouldn’t come to family dinners ♂️

Learning the language is crucial when moving abroad

You’re not the translator, NTA. She shouldn’t have eavesdropped

Sibling solidarity against translation shirking
