In the expensive eateries lining Town Hall Square, Tallinn, the everydayness is «happy to serve you in English, or in Russian». Things get tough with official language. Watchdogs at the Inspectorate smell trouble and say it’s getting worse.
Estonian now rarity on lips of Town Hall Square waiters
2nd July 2015, 18:08
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From a waitress, B1 level official language is required – ability to communicate with clients on topics related to her work.
A waitress serving at open air terrace of Restaurant Revalia, at edge of Town Hall Square, introduced herself as the only Estonian-speaking waitress in the house. She said they totalled about 15 in the restaurant, mostly Russians, but one is a Latvian. «I can practice my English and Russian here,» said Deisy, merrily.
On the terrace of restaurant Tule Estonia, a damsel in a multicoloured dress claimed they all spoke Estonian in the house. «At work no answering questions,» she escaped additional questions, in broken Estonian. Answers also failed to come from a colleague who did not understand the question.
Manager of Tule Estonia and Revalia refused to comment on language problems among the staff.
According to a perky lad working for Maikrahv, speakers and non-speakers of Estonian are about 50:50. «Estonians know English, Russian and Finnish, but not Spanish, Norwegian or French. Therefore, we have people on staff from Norway and Nigeria, for example,» said the veteran waiter.
According to Harry serving drinks at restaurant Vana Toomas, no Estonian is spoken by helps staff and the people who invite people inside. «They wear a red shirt, we call them chuckers-in.»
«This is wisdom to have «chuckers-in» of various nationalities,» says one of them named Sunday, waiving towards an American nearby wearing a red shirt and a smile. «Easier to make contact with foreign clients,» he explained.
A Maikrahv employee said about 95 percent of clients are foreigners. «To eat one’s fill, it costs close to €20. With the prices so high, Estonians just will not come,» said the young man in an old-time white shirt, fishing clients for their terrace. «With foreigners, they want us full time preferably,» he said.
«I did initially come for the summer only, but the employer does not want me to leave. I have lots of time left over from my studies, I study environmental protection at Master’s level,» related the employee from Nigeria whose name tag features flags or England, France and Estonia – indicating that the chucker-in could do that in our language. Even so, he preferred to answer the questions in English.
While Language Inspectorate chief inspector Leho Klaser said there have been no complaints from Town Hall Square this year, and last year only served up one, the inspectorate is current with the poor command of the language.
«Language skill is also problematic elsewhere, and not on Town Hall Square alone. Everywhere, in stores also,» explained Mr Klaser. «The Town Hall Square is just a drop in the ocean.»
«The overall situation is such that aliens are coming in vast numbers and we will simply get lost among them. Things could be done but we just won’t manage. We cannot shut down institutions. This is a very big problem, one which will remain and, in reality, keeps getting worse,» observed Mr Klaser.
According to Mr Klaser, what makes solutions evasive is the rapid rotation of employees. «We present a waiter the language skill requirements, issue the relevant precepts to owner, and when we go to check it out the person we presented the requirements to is no longer there. Another has been employed in his place,» explained Mr Klaser. «I see no solution to this problem. We do checks, but that won’t mean anything will change,» he said.
Education ministry language department deputy head Riina Koolmeister said it was abnormal to not be serviced in Estonian in Estonia.
«Pursuant to Language Act the employer is responsible for language skills. If the employer is satisfied with his staff and no-one complains, nothing doing,» admitted Ms Koolmeister, adding that an institution ought to at least have somebody to speak Estonian. «In Narva, for instance, the tradition is to have an Estonian-on-duty in every institution who ensures services in Estonian, but in Tallinn that would probably not cover the need,» she said.
The picture was not all bad. «We serve Estonian foods and we all speak Estonian,» said a blond young lady wearing an apron and picking up empty glasses at the tables of Liisu Juures. «All do [speak it],» assured a Russian waiter at Irish pub, in the purest of Estonian.