Understanding opposing faction channels in capital cities?

[pianodwarf]

I'm just starting out with WoW and playing a night elf druid. My understanding is that the two opposing factions are not supposed to be able to understand each other. However, the other day, I discovered Undercity and went in (not knowing what I was getting myself into, of course...). When I entered, I was automatically changed to the usual channels for the territory, but much to my surprise, the traffic on the channels didn't come thru in that pseudo-gibberish that is the norm for cross-faction communication, but in standard English. And the local guy who yells about the zeppelin going to Orgrimmar, that came thru in regular English as well. I wanted to try talking on channels myself to see whether others could understand me as well, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself.

It doesn't seem likely that Blizzard would have made such an obvious mistake (or, if they had, I doubt I would have been the first to discover it, just the other day). So I figure something else must be going on. Can someone fill me in? TIA.

[elsegundo]

you can often hear NPC's speak your language. yes blizzard has not addressed that issue. i remember running around barrens and hearing and npc yell in "common" language, but is obviously in response to a horde quest being completed.

if you change channels to undercity, you will only hear alliance players who are in a city, any city, as you are taken to the default "trade" channel. if you did see people chattering, it would be the trade channel of your own faction.

easiest way to figure this out is to shift+click on the person talking. you'll know instantly what level/class/race they are.

[pianodwarf]

you can often hear NPC's speak your language. yes blizzard has not addressed that issue. i remember running around barrens and hearing and npc yell in "common" language, but is obviously in response to a horde quest being completed.

if you change channels to undercity, you will only hear alliance players who are in a city, any city, as you are taken to the default "trade" channel. if you did see people chattering, it would be the trade channel of your own faction.

easiest way to figure this out is to shift+click on the person talking. you'll know instantly what level/class/race they are.

I figured I was just overlooking something due to newbie-syndrome. Thanks for filling me in. I'll try that if I ever actually try going to an enemy capital city again.

[Luciaz]

^
^ Aah. So that explains everything.
I thought I was going crazy when I hear cows talking in Thunderbluff.