How people react when you try to speak their language
How people react when you try to speak their language
40 comments
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I spent two years living in Germany, about a 30-minute drive from the French border.
When my coworkers visited France and spoke English, everyone was rude to them and refused to help them. When my wife and I went to France and attempted to speak French, everyone was super nice and helpful... but would immediately switch to English for us.
We learned that as long as you made an attempt to speak their language, the French were very accommodating. But they'd get offended if you just assumed they spoke English.
My wife actually got frustrated because she wanted to practice her French, but no one would speak French with her. Except for the Germans. She tried to speak German to a guy in Berlin once and he switched to French for her. Turns out, my wife speaks German with a French accent. She was able to successfully complete the conversation in French.
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I got told by a friend that if you want to encounter polite french people learn one phrase "Hello. I'm sorry, I dont speak french. Do you speak english?"
Dont assume they speak english and dont butcher their language.
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Exactly.
In Paris and other urban and touristy locations you'll encounter the one listed. Elsewhere they might refuse you service if you don't at least say bonjour and try a few words. And when you do, they tend to be very nice.
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When my coworkers visited France and spoke English, everyone was rude to them and refused to help them.
Huh... so it's not just Quebec. Good to know!!
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Dunno... I'm from Belgium and I speak fluent French and oh my god how rude they can be in the south... Even tough we could perfectly understand each other, just because some words may be a bit different I had one couple In a super market talk me out to learn to speak French?
I was so shocked I couldn't even think straight anymore. They have to much pride in their language / culture... The Frenchies are the worst people I have ever met, even Germans who are supposed to be cold and non welcomed where way more friendlier.
Just a bad experience In the South of France I guess?
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That may be a southern France thing. My wife had a similar experience there. She was trying to buy tickets and struggling over the French words. A schoolteacher with a bunch of kids in tow pushed past her, got tickets for her school kids, then turned to my wife and said in English, "Your French is terrible. Maybe you just shouldn't speak at all."
My wife was so mortified, she didn't speak to anyone else the rest of that trip.
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But did you go to Paris
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Ireland is incorrect. The majority would probably be blue or red. But definitely not cream (no reaction).
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I guess that depends on which language OP means by "their language."
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Good to know about France--that if you try, they'll switch to English but treat you better because you made an effort. I've always wanted to visit, and while I feel less and less like I'll ever get to, I will practice some French before I go. I took French in high school 30 years ago, hoping I'd someday get to visit, but it hasn't worked out yet.
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I always like to do a double whammy of speaking French in France because just attempting it is not always a good idea and pisses some of them off. So you need to get them off guard first then get your question in.
So,
Pardon, j'ai du le fromage de pantalon. Parlez-vous anglais?
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I'm sorry, I'm English and you wouldn't get [no reaction].
Meet someone like me: I'll be happy that you're attempting and try to keep my English slow and simple for you.
But it's sadly likely you'll meet someone not like me: at best they'll get frustrated, say "I can't understand you" and try to fob you off onto someone else, and at worst you'll get "fuck off back to your own country" followed by a few choices slurs depending on how white you're skin is and how you're dressed.
It fucking sucks here.
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Canadians: we do still have the letter "o" but good for you bud.
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Ahoi!
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Ahoj.
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I wonder how the Irish react if you (try to) speak Irish.
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Slight panic at trying to remember the year they took of it at school (I'm guessing)
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Spent two weeks on the West coast back in March. Some really tiny, tiny towns in the main Irish Gaelic speaking areas. Did not hear one word of Irish.
Compare this to when I was in the same area in late 1998, and in these small towns you'd still hear it often in the pubs. It is a damn shame, IMHO.
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A friend of mine moved to Ireland for work. She told a co-worker that she'd like to learn a bit of Irish.
"Oh, great! You can teach me something after you do!"
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I just hope they don't mind being called my friend because Mo Chara is the only Irish I know
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Is that really people's experience in France ? that's a bummer
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I feel that French is a rather thankless language in comparison.
if you speak french pretty well, its still not good enough. if you speak a bit of french, its taken for granted. if you speak no french, good luck getting anyone to talk to you.
meanwhile, speak three words of Arabic and people start cheering.
on the upside: Nothing helped revive my French just as much as being forced to use it (since English gets rejected). And people did seem to be patient with my attempts, which is worth a lot.
I'm German and I feel for the people trying to learn our insanely annoying language, only to get switched to English immediately. I'm fairly certain it's easier to learn French on the street than to learn German.
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I can't compare since I don't know a word of german...
if you speak french pretty well, its still not good enough. if you speak a bit of french, its taken for granted. if you speak no french, good luck getting anyone to talk to you.
I didn't know this was the case, that sounds terrible. I almost feel like apologizing on behalf of my peers
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Everyones experience in France is a bummer.
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ah come on
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Afraid so
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40 comments