Do you Guys, think the french will speak english in a few years?

Damian   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 20:14 GMT
Vincent: you are so right, as pointed out in other threads. Generally, the British are very poor in learning other languages. It is probably way down at the bottom of the Language Learning and Speaking League Table!

That really is a shame. The only excuses are that we arrogantly assume that everyone else speaks English, so...why bother to learn other peoples' languages? That is the "penalty" for having what is now a "lingua franca" as our mother tongue. Also, we are an island! No common land borders. The island mentality...even in 21st century. Stupid attitude really.

Within the UK itself, the English are far and away the worst for this. They never seem to put any effort at all in pronouncing placenames that are not English. I am Scottish and I have heard them make a mess of Scottish names and make no apology or attempt to pronounce them properly. As for Wales, they seem to be happy in their inability to get those difficult Welsh place names even remotely correct.
Anthony   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 20:49 GMT
The country of the dollars is the one that impose the language around the world, not the other languages. Spaniards want dollars, not pesetas.
Jordi   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 21:38 GMT
Anthony,
Spaniards use euros not pesetas, a currency that no longer exists, and try and change your dollars travellers' cheques in Spain. You'd be surprised at how difficult this can be. The other day I found a poor American soul lost in the streets, under the blazing sun, trying to find a bank that would accept those cheques. If you come to Spain --or anywhere else in the neighbouring countries-- don't forget to bring your euros with you.
Damian   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 22:16 GMT
I don't think the UK will ever exchange the pound for the euro! :-( Well, maybe a long time from now, who knows for sure. As usual, we will be Europe's "odd man out"! Personally, I would like to have the euro here...it would be so much easier when travelling within the EU with all of us using the same currency. It will be the older people who resist any changes as usual. I shall be voting in the Euro elections this week...the first time for me to vote in any election.
Axel   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 22:39 GMT
To Paul,
I absolutely can't believe what I read in your post: did you say that because people in France speak French instead of English everyday in their own country they are arrogant, self-minded etc.????
Of course the mainstream newspaper, TV and literature are all in French!! The main language in France is French, no? Would you say the same about the Spanish or the German because they speak their own languages in their own countries?? Anyway, if you want to read something else, in English for example, just buy it in a supermarket, you can find it everywhere in France... and don't tell me you can't because I am used to read books and newspaper in English in France.
Ah, thanks a lot for learning me that French culture is immersed in French, as you wrote: that is really unacceptable.
Anthony   Tuesday, June 08, 2004, 22:55 GMT
It's true Spanish use euros but dollars are more valuable around the world. Each country in Europe has its currency but euros are to the whole European commnunity to commerce to each other.
Might Mick   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 01:08 GMT
"And where the French people have strong feelings about their cultural and political superiority. "
Well gee. Isn't the US locked into the English language? That's just the way it's always been. People always having spoken English and continuing to do so has nothing to do with feelings of superiority.

How could or why would you force a country to change its language? It would take so much effort and money to transform the infrastructure - the language used in the various institutions, the beaucracies, the merchants, the schools, the media, the constitution,etc. Tens of thousands of language specialists would be required for every facet of society. And you'd need the language police to patrol the streets! LOL
Anthony   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 06:24 GMT
Might Mick, that is what I imagine, too. I can face an illogical world. Government paying amounts of money for fights and poverty increases in those countries. Noboby is superior to someone, except Jehovah. I can't force them to do something in my opinion. In schools the government should teach a resolution about the English spelling, not the pronunciation. We can speak the same words but the spelling you're not seeing it when you're conversing, just when you're writing and teaching.

I've heard that most countries prefer to communicate in English, but some of those don't speak fluently in English.
Might Mick   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 08:56 GMT
Yep they communicate in the lingua franca English where the first language isn't shared. E.g. Someone Dutch would speak in English to someone Spanish.
Nic   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 11:12 GMT
It depends, english is not especially the language people will choose to communicate. Example : a french and an italian will try to speak into a franco-italo mix. Why? Because most of them speak a bad english or they simply don't speak it. The same in Spain, i never used spanish all the times i have been there and i speak a very bad and rudimentary spanish. At list i think it's a shame for 2 latins languages speakers to use english.
Juan   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 12:16 GMT
<<Moreover I hate hearing somebody says we French are "too proud", because yes some of us are very proud (and I hate that) but I happen to know this is the same everywhere (don't you agree Juan?).>>

Ok, I agree with you Axel. But I think it is fair to say that the French have resisted the insidious nature of the English language more than anyone else on this planet.
Jordi   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 12:30 GMT
I have to insist that pesetas no longer exist, nor francs o marks for that matter. I use my Spanish bank notes (euros, of course) anywhere in Europe and so do the other European countries. Sadly, the British still prefer to remain outside. I suppose it'a a lovely world for them with pound notes and imperial measures.
Might Mick   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 13:01 GMT
"Ok, I agree with you Axel. But I think it is fair to say that the French have resisted the insidious nature of the English language more than anyone else on this planet."

Resisted?
There are an incredible number of modern day Anglicismes in French.
Everyday in the French media I notice more and more. On the internet I often see English words for IT terms that have equilvalents in French. E.g. la team, le soft, le channel, user (not to wear out), les news, le tuning, etc...
nic   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 13:56 GMT
Might Mick

I noticed a contradiction on what you said

: "How can the English language possibly arise from a culture that is completely fixed and immersed in French? Have you ever seen a French movie or one dubbed in French where English is spoken? "" and what you said after : more and more english words today.


It means that what you think does not matter. What you say are only impressions and there's not logical observation.


Some French speak English, if we believe you and your experience they are not a lot. All right, I believe you. So what? Those who don’t do , it means they don’t need it. As someone said TV is in French, everything is in French. Logic isn’t it? We are in France. Those who speak English or try (like me) only do it because they are interested in, it doesn’t mean I need to speak English in France. As you can notice, we have to go on an English site if we want to do it. Scandalous, don’t you think?! Some of you will think it’s a scandal. It is! Like it is if someone wants to learn French needs to go on a French site, the same for an Italian one ….
Damian   Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 14:10 GMT
Jordi: no such thing as ONE pound notes any more....just grotty heavy pound coins! I know that you meant though. As I said before, I personally want to change to the euro but the UK is full of stuffy fuddy duddy traditionalists who think the UK is "special" and want to remain with the island mentality, especially as the pound is so strong at the minute. Going to the Continent or even to Ireland (remember, they are in the euro as well) means we have the hassle of changing currency.

Imperial measures......I was taught all metric and that is how I think. Why confuse with two systems?....that is again a Brit thing I guess. Perfide Albion?