On Sep 17, 2006, at 9:13 AM, TurquoiseB wrote: > At least in the major cities, many if not most of > the people you speak to *can* understand and speak > English. It's just that unless their income is > completely dependent on tips -- and sometimes even > when it is -- they WON'T converse with you in English > until you first prove your worthiness as a human being. > > You do this by attempting to speak French, and thus by > embarrassing yourself thoroughly in public. Once you've > done this and the other French people in the shop or > bar or restaurant have had the opportunity to snicker > silently at your terrible accent and grammar, the French > are more than willing to suddenly rediscover their > previously-lapsed language skills and speak English > with you. It's a pecking order thang. :-)
Actually, I've found that most people appreciate this. Nobody expects fluency from a tourist, but if you visit another country, and attempt to speak even a few phrases, even if you have to look them up in a phrase-book right as you're speaking them, people seem to treat you differently, as someone who is making an effort, even a small one, to understand a part of their culture. I've never interpreted the laughter to be derisive. Sal To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
