4 ms·
It's a french thing. Once I literally was told that the cafe "is closed" because I dared to speak english. It was Carcasonne fortress, midday, middle of summer,
by emp_zealoth 10y ago
It's a french thing. Once I literally was told that the cafe "is closed" because I dared to speak english. It was Carcasonne fortress, midday, middle of summer, with hundred other people being served. Don't hold your breath
- lorenzhs 10y agoThe French are a proud people, especially concerning their language. If you try (and fail) to talk to people in French first, they'll generally be happy to switch to English. Just don't start out in English.
- msh 10y agoYou say this like its a perfectly fine way of behaving?
- lorenzhs 10y agoYou say this like it isn't? What makes English so special that everyone has to use it over their own language? How would you feel if someone were to approach you in French, not showing the slightest inclination to speak English, not even a "hello"?
- msh 10y agoSo everyone should learn something of the language of every country they visit however shortly? English is the 2nd language most people in the world knows so that's a natural language to use approaching people whose language you don't know. English is not my native language. If someone visited my country I would expect them to speak to me in English, not learn my language unless they were going to settle here.
- falsestprophet 10y agoIt really isn't a French thing to be mortified by people speaking English. Probably, you did something else to offend. That said it doesn't hurt for bonjour to be the first word out of your mouth. It is France and they speak French after all. The same goes for hello in every other language in every other country on earth as well. source: American who has lived in France.
- catwell 10y agoNote that Octave Klaba is not French. His mother tongue is Polish. Also, he is not CEO of OVH anymore (he switched to a CTO position last year).