[Stealth]

yeah, but the principle still applies:  people who speak the country's official/native language do not like to speak to other people in another language, particularly if that person doesn't even attempt to speak the country's native/official language.  it's rude to not speak to a tourist/foreigner, but it's also rude for the tourist/foreigner to not try to speak the country's language, and instead to expect everyone else to speak their language.

[beatspete]

Originally posted by Nico

->so, beatspete: I think he meant it You know, french or not, a guy like that, he just asks for a good slapping
 

Nuts.  I really wanted to punch him, but it didnt seem very fair cause he was about half the size of me. And now I'll never get the chance... well thats a good thing.

[Rictor]

Stealth: yeah, thats true. I think it would be sort of rude if I went to another country and didn't even attempt to learn some of the basics. I mean, OK, if you're only there for a weekend or a week, sure. But if its for any extended period of time, the least you can do is try to learn a few common phrases.

That being said, I never give foreigners dirty looks or anything. Because I am a foreigner, and I'm not living in my own country anyway so I can't dislike them cause they're invading my space or anything of that sort. But maybe the French are a bit arrogant, who knows. Never been there myself, and I have no particular wish to either.

[jdjtcagle]

If I was at Wal-Mart and some chinese guy came up to me asking for something in chinese.  I would laugh too...

[ChronoReverse]

Well, let me add a little anecdote.

During my trip to europe, I toured both france and italy.

In Italy, I had a "plumping problem" and went into a pizza place to ask for the bathroom (no public one nearby that I could tell).

I had a few memorized phrases including the one for directions to the restroom.  Too bad the acute pain was crimping my memory and I probably didn't get the phrase right at all.

The guy was kind enough to speak to me in English and point out where the washroom was.

I find out afterwards from a friend that practically everyone in europe's major cities understands enough english for me to ask for things in english XD.


BTW, the french in Canada are really protective of their language.  I've heard a story of how a christmas present was confiscated once because the box it came in didn't have any french on it.

[vyper]

WHAT
THE
****

ENGLISH = British language. The yanks didn't ****ing invent it you tools - the English did and good on them.

And as for this discussion of respecting other ppls culture... I'll respect it so long as it's financialy worth my while. Rule Britannia.

That is my contribution to this little tardy thread.

Oh and France is part of a group of nations trying to make the UK part of a superstate so this time - blow me france.

[Grey Wolf]

I took French in Junior High and my first 2 years of High School, and during that time, we took two trips to Canada. The first, we went to Hull. The second, to Montreal and Quebec City.

During the first, a rather amusing incident happened. As it was the first year we had taken French, we had a rather poor grasp of the language. About half way through the day, one of the members of my class took it upon himself to go speak to some kids from the area in French. If I remember correctly, they then took that opportunity to make fun of him in both French and English.

The second trip, I think I actually encountered more things in English than in French, especially in Montreal. The only problem I had on that trip was with an employee in a McDonald's in a mall near Montreal, but I think that was more of a matter of her lacking intelligence as opposed to communications problems (She didn't understand the word "Sprite").

[Knight Templar]

Oh, no, see, Stu doesn't like the expectation of people to speak English even in non-english native countries, so that means that it must be an American trait.

It's a new rule you know.

On a side note: I live in Northern California. I'm eating a can of Pringles chips. Everything on the can, save for the title is both in English and Spanish. T'wasn't like that 10 years ago.

[Krackers87]

Originally posted by vyper
WHAT
THE
****

ENGLISH = British language. The yanks didn't ****ing invent it you tools - the English did and good on them.

West Germanic tribes did. so

[Ghostavo]

West Germanic tribes invented english as much as Romans invented italian, french, spanish, amongst others...

[WMCoolmon]

Whee.

I thought modern English was invented by the Anglo-Saxtons, not exactly English or Germanic. And of course it wasn't like someone just sat down and said "Let's invent a new language today!" it just sort of evolved.

So the whole discussion is pretty silly. Especially since English isn't all that elegant of a language. French, for example, is a lot more, hmm, romantic.

Except when spoken by snooty waiters.

*Puts on flame-retardant suit*

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Knight Templar

On a side note: I live in Northern California. I'm eating a can of Pringles chips. Everything on the can, save for the title is both in English and Spanish. T'wasn't like that 10 years ago.

it's worse here.  you know what happened the other day?  i was at HEB (it's a store over here, don't know if they have it in California, may just be a Texas thing) and they made an announcement in Spanish!  completely in Spanish!  i was so pissed... see what happens is the Mexicans swim the border, and then they stay in this country working and getting paid under the table (or they get a fake SSN, either one)... and then they expect everyone to bend to THEIR culture... to speak Spanish to them, rather than them speak English to us!!!  

I've got nothing wrong with them coming to this country... really... it's part of the American dream.  But part of the American dream is leaving your culture behind and starting fresh in America.  and America speaks English, not Spanish.  so they should learn English, not expect everyone else to speak Spanish to them.

I'm telling you KT, give it a few years, and Spanish is going to be America's dominant language... it will start in the northern states, like New Mexico and Texas, but it'll soon make its way up to California.  because the Mexicans have on average, twice as many babies as the average white family, so that, plus the fact that hundreds swim the border every day, in a few years, whites in this country are going to be a minority.  watch.

[ChronoReverse]

Texas is a northern state?

[Knight Templar]

I guess they're only re-colonizing what was there's anyway... what annoys me is people like my Dad, who aren't particularly racist, but who seem to have this social phobia that the mexicans are taking over the city (which isn't all that far from the truth) and that all their children are gang members ready to rob the nearest white person in sight (again, not entirely true, but the majority of them sure make it hard to tell) so he's already making plans to move the hell out of here when we really do live in a semi-nice area.

He's just totally irked that more and more houses in the neighborhood are now rentals and mexican families (notoriously big) are moving into them. All because they are low income people who can't afford to to be there at all times, or keep things in check, yet support each other as a family (bringing in 10 people into a four bedroom house) and so on. Just because their kids wear all the latest **** from Achor Blue and walk down the street every day doesn't necesarily make them bad guys. I know there is a real problem out there, but it bothers me when my Dad stereotypes people like the folks who live two houses down from me and builds his whole fear of mexicans around them.

Bah... I have to get up at six tommarrow. ****.

Chrono: Southern. Unless he was talking about Northern Mexico....

[Carl]

Originally posted by Knight Templar
Unless he was talking about Northern Mexico....

Northern Mexico
"don't eat the ice!"

[WMCoolmon]

I've got nothing wrong with them coming to this country... really... it's part of the American dream. But part of the American dream is leaving your culture behind and starting fresh in America. and America speaks English, not Spanish. so they should learn English, not expect everyone else to speak Spanish to them.

WTF? So the American dream is that you can have freedom of speech, religion, etc, just as long as you give up your culture and assimilate into ours?

And why, if there are SO many people who speak Spanish, does everyone have to learn English? Did Congress pass another law that goes against the Constitution?

[Nico]

Originally posted by Grey Wolf 2009
I took French in Junior High and my first 2 years of High School, and during that time, we took two trips to Canada. The first, we went to Hull. The second, to Montreal and Quebec City.

During the first, a rather amusing incident happened. As it was the first year we had taken French, we had a rather poor grasp of the language. About half way through the day, one of the members of my class took it upon himself to go speak to some kids from the area in French. If I remember correctly, they then took that opportunity to make fun of him in both French and English.

The second trip, I think I actually encountered more things in English than in French, especially in Montreal. The only problem I had on that trip was with an employee in a McDonald's in a mall near Montreal, but I think that was more of a matter of her lacking intelligence as opposed to communications problems (She didn't understand the word "Sprite").

Really, Quebec french and France french are really different. They use kind of the same grammar system, but the words are completly different. Take brits english and US english: there's some words that differ, from times to times ( car park, I think, for exemple ). Well then, imagine that 1 out of 2 words are now different... Do you know what french did you learn?

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Stunaep

That's good. The overt americanisation of everything is starting to get on my nerves

Americanization? Why the heck are you typing in English, hmm?

[Knight Templar]

We have control of his mind!

[Bobboau]

he's been imperialized