The French - English Issue

• I thought all the wars between France and England were a thing of the past. However, I still find I am being treated unfriendly whenever speaking English in France. When will we finally respect eachother regardless of origin and language?

  27 Oct 2004, 09:39 Anonymous

Replies

• ah les anglais!

  you're not being mistreated because you ARE english but because you SPEAK english in France.
  
  I don't find people friendly in England to people who do not speak english! Actually, in England or in the US nobody speak any foreign language!

  Anonymous 13 Feb 2005, 02:32 - Report

• sort of...

  actually, in the US english is the primary language although, depending on city or region, other languages such as spanish is the predominant native tongue.

  Anonymous 21 Mar 2005, 09:45 - Report

• Languages

  Montag is totally right; speak Croatian in Paris and I can assure you people won't come close to you. However, I must say, however, that in the US Spanish is very well spoken.
  I live in Mexico and have never travelled overseas, however my British accent here at my school when speaking English is amusing to those who speak American English --that is everyone. Also, when I speak French in front of someone who doesn't know the language, they get mad.
  
  See how language affects communication? Even in Spanish, my mother tongue, speaking too correctly or too rudely gets other people mad.
  
  So don't think it's personal if you're English and you're 'mistreated' in France --I must confess I do dislike Americans being here in my country and I despise AmEnglish, though. I don't like at all the US.

  Anonymous 12 May 2005, 01:33 - Report

• speaking french

  I find that if you really do make an effort it goes a long way. people think you are trying. Even if my language does mean I end up getting hot chocolate when I wanted chocolate ice cream.
  
  Just smile, don't be intimidated and try it out. The more interesting thing I had last year (when in the west of france) was talking to a man at a marche and telling him I live in London (which I also said was pres d'ici - I was in la rochelle) I only figured out why he was looking so confused with me a few hours later in the day! But I tried, learned something, and we got on really well for ten minutes or so.
  
  If you're in paris it's more likely to be a city thing. People don't tend to be overly pleasant in cities, unlike the country.

  Anonymous 02 Jul 2005, 11:21 - Report

• Dear Vicky

  You don't get any respect in France because you are fat, ugly and don't speak French!

  Anonymous 08 Jul 2005, 02:46 - Report

• I was born in the U.S.A.

  I was born in the U.S.A. and am of Spanish ancestry. Despite being an American of 42 years and highly intelligent Speaking no less than four languages,I can assure you the average American who identifies himself as distinguisheable from so called ethnic minorities in the U.S.A. is a pathetic socially ignorant organism. Often whining about this that or the other related to human interaction abroad. Truth be told especially to those who do not live here in the U.S.A. that these very same individuals discriminate and shun others of "apparent" diferent social identities often living very insulated lives inside little "racial" cliques here in the U.S.A. Id venture to say at least 90 percent of these "Americans" are nothing less than ugly nepotistic racist types that huddle in their circles becuase in doing so they feel there is an advantage of priviledge that the other less fortunate by virtue of surname or color do not enjoy. My advice.See an American abroad give him what he deserves.
  
  -American

  Anonymous 15 Jul 2005, 12:34 - Report

• The Mexican who doesn't like Americans in his Country

  Oye, pendejo, sentimos lo mismo de todos los Mexicanos que viven en EE. UU. Por que no quedais en Mexico? Nadie os quiere aqui. Que os vayais!

  Anonymous 07 Aug 2005, 07:05 - Report