The arrogance of the English speakers

nuffingman

soaks the pages wrote:

nuffingman wrote:

There is however a nation that won't kow tow to the arrogance of the English speakers. A nation whose natives will give you a stare that can freeze magma at 30 paces, a shrug that says "fuck off" and a pfff sound expelled with vigor. The FRENCH! When I've asked a French waiter if he speaks English I half expect " I do but am not sure I want to!" delivered with a puffed out chest and a glare that would shrivel me to the size of a newt. And quite rightly so. So I learned a few French phrases and received a mocking smile.

j’aime les françaises, et j’aime la France (et je suis americaine). l’arrogance, c’est à vous… vous avez dites c’est important à apprendre les langues des autres SAUF que le français. peut-être, ça c’est pourquoi les françaises ne vous parleront en anglais… parce que vous aviez parti du principe que les françaises doivent parler l’anglais.

So you love the French and love France. I'll go along with that.
The arrogance is mine. How dare you! I can ask for 2 beers in 4 languages.
As for the rest... exactly, we English speakers have often assumed foreigners can speak English. I have tried to speak in local languages often with comical results. I think the French woman was having a laugh with me though.

redrock

nuffingman wrote:

There is however a nation that won't kow tow to the arrogance of the English speakers. A nation whose natives will give you a stare that can freeze magma at 30 paces, a shrug that says "fuck off" and a pfff sound expelled with vigor. The FRENCH! When I've asked a French waiter if he speaks English I half expect " I do but am not sure I want to!" delivered with a puffed out chest and a glare that would shrivel me to the size of a newt. And quite rightly so..

Hey! :evil: The French work really hard at that!

When you go to the shop, you say 'bonjour Monsieur/Madame' (like you did!), then you say 'Je ne parle pas bien le français. Parlez-vous un peu l'anglais? ' Then, if you're not dealing with a Parisian, they will be happy you tried to explain yourself and they might just speak to you in English!

An american friend of mine is always amazed at the french 'shrug' and flick of the hand to dismiss something. She says they do it with such class and art!

nuffingman

redrock wrote:

nuffingman wrote:

There is however a nation that won't kow tow to the arrogance of the English speakers. A nation whose natives will give you a stare that can freeze magma at 30 paces, a shrug that says "fuck off" and a pfff sound expelled with vigor. The FRENCH! When I've asked a French waiter if he speaks English I half expect " I do but am not sure I want to!" delivered with a puffed out chest and a glare that would shrivel me to the size of a newt. And quite rightly so..

Hey! :evil: The French work really hard at that!

When you go to the shop, you say 'bonjour Monsieur/Madame' (like you did!), then you say 'Je ne parle pas bien le français. Parlez-vous un peu l'anglais? ' Then, if you're not dealing with a Parisian, they will be happy you tried to explain yourself and they might just speak to you in English!

An american friend of mine is always amazed at the french 'shrug' and flick of the hand to dismiss something. She says they do it with such class and art!

If you're not dealing with a Parisian!

Fortunately I've used the "Parlez-vous l'anglais?" bit but admit not the "un peu". And of course when I say it, I receive the raised head, look down the nose and "well of course". I half expect "you silly man".

As for the French shrug, well you couldn't teach that to anyone.

redrock

nuffingman wrote:

As for the French shrug, well you couldn't teach that to anyone.

I know... my mama passed this on to me along with the traditional nursery rhymes and local folk tales