Comments on: “I don’t mean to offend you” – English conversations with the French http://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/ The English speaking forum of Grenoble Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:01:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: James Dalrymplehttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-173 James Dalrymple Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:34:30 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-173 Hi Ian, Agreed, I don't think anyone is being intentionally rude, and I see what you mean about the tipping point concerning competence in the language. Also, in some cases - where an Anglophone accent is detected - some French people do seize the opportunity to speak in English as (like my friend at the market) they have studied in an English-speaking country for a time. I certainly agree about the food, even if I don't like being told it really, as I described in more detail here: http://www.grenoblelife.com/grenoble-a-food-lovers-paradise/ Thanks again, James Hi Ian,

Agreed, I don’t think anyone is being intentionally rude, and I see what you mean about the tipping point concerning competence in the language. Also, in some cases – where an Anglophone accent is detected – some French people do seize the opportunity to speak in English as (like my friend at the market) they have studied in an English-speaking country for a time.

I certainly agree about the food, even if I don’t like being told it really, as I described in more detail here: http://www.grenoblelife.com/grenoble-a-food-lovers-paradise/

Thanks again,

James

]]> By: Ian SMITHhttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Ian SMITH Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:27:36 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-170 I think many of us who come to France and try to learn French notice the point at which a question in French receives an answer in French. This may be because your French is good enough that the person knows you will understand their answer. Or it might be that you have progressed to the point where they can no longer determine to their satisfaction where exactly you are from. Whatever the reason it is very satisfying when it eventually happens, but I don't think people who answer in English are being intentionally rude or mocking you. As for the food in the UK, I suppose when you have been here long enough you will agree. Mind you, France is the most profitable market in Europe for McDonalds so something is unfortunately going in the wrong direction here. I think many of us who come to France and try to learn French notice the point at which a question in French receives an answer in French. This may be because your French is good enough that the person knows you will understand their answer. Or it might be that you have progressed to the point where they can no longer determine to their satisfaction where exactly you are from. Whatever the reason it is very satisfying when it eventually happens, but I don’t think people who answer in English are being intentionally rude or mocking you.

As for the food in the UK, I suppose when you have been here long enough you will agree. Mind you, France is the most profitable market in Europe for McDonalds so something is unfortunately going in the wrong direction here.

]]> By: James Dalrymplehttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-94 James Dalrymple Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:33:07 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-94 Hi Florence, No need to apologize. These experiences really are the exception. Us Brits can be terribly insular and arrogant too, just in a different way. James Hi Florence,
No need to apologize. These experiences really are the exception. Us Brits can be terribly insular and arrogant too, just in a different way.
James

]]> By: Florence Thuderozhttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Florence Thuderoz Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:15:45 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-93 Yes, French people can be so chauvinistic sometimes, especially about food. This is something from our culture I really do not like. These are so uncomfortable situations! sorry!!! Yes, French people can be so chauvinistic sometimes, especially about food. This is something from our culture I really do not like. These are so uncomfortable situations! sorry!!!

]]> By: James Dalrymplehttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-67 James Dalrymple Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:56:48 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-67 Howdy Frank (without a 'C'!) Tout à fait! Spot on! James Howdy Frank (without a ‘C’!)

Tout à fait!

Spot on!

James

]]> By: FrankSansChttp://www.grenoblelife.com/%e2%80%9ci-don%e2%80%99t-mean-to-offend-you%e2%80%9d-english-conversations-with-the-french/comment-page-1/#comment-66 FrankSansC Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:39:14 +0000 http://www.grenoblelife.com/?p=762#comment-66 Howdy ! Bon vu le sujet je vais répondre en français :) Cela m'évitera en plus de faire trop de fautes (quoi que...). Je pense que la "jeune" génération (30 ans et moins) est plus à l'aise avec l'anglais que ne le sont les "anciennes" générations. J'ai remarqué également que spontanément les gens aimaient bien répondre dans la langue de leur interlocuteur (et ça c'est vrai partout, pas qu'en France : je l'ai constaté pendant mes vacances de l'année dernière à Berlin). Les gens sont contents de montrer qu'ils savent parler une langue étrangère. Donc je pense qu'il ne faut pas forcément y voir un côté "moqueur", genre "ah mince encore un étranger qui parle pas français". Maintenant je conçois que cela puisse être frustrant lorsque l'on fait des efforts pour parler correctement une langue et voir qu'on nous répond dans une autre. Howdy !

Bon vu le sujet je vais répondre en français :) Cela m’évitera en plus de faire trop de fautes (quoi que…). Je pense que la “jeune” génération (30 ans et moins) est plus à l’aise avec l’anglais que ne le sont les “anciennes” générations. J’ai remarqué également que spontanément les gens aimaient bien répondre dans la langue de leur interlocuteur (et ça c’est vrai partout, pas qu’en France : je l’ai constaté pendant mes vacances de l’année dernière à Berlin). Les gens sont contents de montrer qu’ils savent parler une langue étrangère. Donc je pense qu’il ne faut pas forcément y voir un côté “moqueur”, genre “ah mince encore un étranger qui parle pas français”.
Maintenant je conçois que cela puisse être frustrant lorsque l’on fait des efforts pour parler correctement une langue et voir qu’on nous répond dans une autre.

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