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UKer here: the French my daughter learns at school is very different from the language I studied 40-odd years ago - much more emphasis on how young people commu
by tragomaskhalos 8y ago
UKer here: the French my daughter learns at school is very different from the language I studied 40-odd years ago - much more emphasis on how young people communicate and vastly more English loan words (and no French writers in sight as far as I can see).
At the same time, the French themselves, who were infamous for their uncompromising linguistic pedantry in my youth are now far more relaxed and accommodating: whereas before speaking English to a Parisian seemed something akin to a crime, now it is considered quite normal.
- moray 8y agoI can confirm, French people had always been so proud of their language, but now not only tourists life is much easier in Paris, english words are also being used daily incorporated in their language. A very common example that younger generations use is the expression "c'est cool ca" to simply say that something is cool. source: I live in Paris
- cwp 8y agoWhen I went to France on a student exchange 25 years ago, all my classmates were using that exact phrase.
- jjgreen 8y agoI heard "On y go" in Paris, made me laugh.
- skywhopper 8y agoI saw a shop in Köln with this name. Multiple layers of amusement.
- boudin 8y ago(French here) The environment also changed a lot. We are now much more exposed to english based culture through Internet, movies and tv shows, making it much easier to maintain a level good enough to communicate after school. My parents did learn english but never had chances to make any use of it. They might have had a good enough level to communicate at some point but they definitely forgot everything
- barking 8y agoI think you're better off staying away from Capital cities as a rule. People are more patient outside them. The only truly friendly capital city I've been to is Rome. I wouldn't be the most widely travelled though.