Do you get miffed when you try to speak the local language and they respond to you in English?
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:06 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you get miffed when you try to speak the local language and they respond to you in English?
Does this happen to you? I have heard of people going to Paris and speaking French rather well to only be answered in English. Thia ia quite annoying when you really want to practice the language. Why do they answer you in English when its obvious that you would like to speak in French!
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:12 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No.
>Why do they answer you in English when its obvious that you would like to speak in French!<
Because it is much easier for them to speak English than to try to understand your awful French?
>Why do they answer you in English when its obvious that you would like to speak in French!<
Because it is much easier for them to speak English than to try to understand your awful French?
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:28 PM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, I'm quite grateful when they respond to me in English.
I'm quite aware that although I try my best, I am butchering their language.
Allowing the conversation to continue in English is a relief.
I'm quite aware that although I try my best, I am butchering their language.
Allowing the conversation to continue in English is a relief.
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:29 PM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, Ira, I didnt realize the caps were on. I was yelling. Also, I meant to say"I am saying" not I Saying.
Actually, my French is pretty good and it doesn't happen that often that they answer me in English and when it does it still is annoying. I do continue in French. I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you were not trying to be antagonistic.
Actually, my French is pretty good and it doesn't happen that often that they answer me in English and when it does it still is annoying. I do continue in French. I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you were not trying to be antagonistic.
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:41 PM
#11
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 37,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you sure that the only thing in that coffee was the au lait? LOL I think they are trying to be considerate rather that being antagonistic...it seems you have an odd "take" on it. You certainly are free to continue to speak french as you say you do and when they realize how well you speak it I'm sure they are comfortable speaking to you. Personally, I am not as fluent in the language as you are so after awhile I am actually glad they come back in English because by the end of the day my head is hurting from the attempted frend speaking.
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:45 PM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have never been miffed at anyone for speaking English to me. If I am in a non-English speaking country and they have gone to the trouble to learn my language, I am grateful. When that happens, I am well-aware that their English is much better than my command of thier language, and I don't have a problem with that.
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:50 PM
#14
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many years ago as we were checking out of the Hotel Scandinavian in Paris I was trying, in my awful French, to explain which days our two teenagers had breakfast.
The desk clerk politely asked my in English if I speak English.
The desk clerk politely asked my in English if I speak English.
Dec 21st, 2004, 12:54 PM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My daughter is having the devil of a time in Germany. She's studying at the University of Tubingen and working hard to immerse herself in all things German. But Germans keep speaking English to her. When she asks them politely to speak German so she can improve they say that they want to practice their English.
Dec 21st, 2004, 01:02 PM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am trilingual. My first language is English and I speak Spanish fluently and French fairly fluently. When I meet some people in the States who speaks these languages, I never speak to them in their native language unless they tell me that they don't speak English. To be polite to them, I might ask them if they would like me to speak either language. You just never know how long someone has been living here and I know that they might take offense.
In Europe, I don't think that it is always to help out the English speaker that the Parisian shop keeper responds in English when he has been addressed in decent French. Regardless if he hears an accent. I think in a lot of cases, it is both a control and a snobbery issue. This can happen in Montreal too. Its like " oh, please, I can't be bothered with the way that you are speaking my language so I choose to switch to English, you fool!
In Europe, I don't think that it is always to help out the English speaker that the Parisian shop keeper responds in English when he has been addressed in decent French. Regardless if he hears an accent. I think in a lot of cases, it is both a control and a snobbery issue. This can happen in Montreal too. Its like " oh, please, I can't be bothered with the way that you are speaking my language so I choose to switch to English, you fool!
Dec 21st, 2004, 01:19 PM
#19
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, given the response here, I would bet that 90+% of people appreciate it when responded to in English, and that might explain why people do it. I doubt that it has much to do with snobbery, and even if it did, it's a fairly small slight. I am sure that if I spoke another language and someone asked me a question in broken English, I'd try to switch to their language, too. I think people are just trying to be courteous (or save time).
My French, unlike yours, is atrocious (if not non-existant), and I was super-appreciative each time someone volunteered to speak English to me. I'm sure the panicked look on my face (when they asked a question in French) hastened their decision to speak English to me!
My French, unlike yours, is atrocious (if not non-existant), and I was super-appreciative each time someone volunteered to speak English to me. I'm sure the panicked look on my face (when they asked a question in French) hastened their decision to speak English to me!
Dec 21st, 2004, 01:57 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The only reason why I would answer in English (and I know I have done this!) is just to be helpful. It has nothing to do with being snobbery.
Although people think their French is good there is still the accent that often makes it hard to understand, especially for a non-French, non-English native speaker like me (my mother tongue is Dutch).
Although people think their French is good there is still the accent that often makes it hard to understand, especially for a non-French, non-English native speaker like me (my mother tongue is Dutch).
