this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2025
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How people react when you try to speak their language (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 days ago by ooli3@sopuli.xyz to c/mapporn@lemmy.ml
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[–] cobysev@lemmy.world 44 points 4 days ago (5 children)

I spent two years living in Germany, about a 30-minute drive from the French border.

When my coworkers visited France and spoke English, everyone was rude to them and refused to help them. When my wife and I went to France and attempted to speak French, everyone was super nice and helpful... but would immediately switch to English for us.

We learned that as long as you made an attempt to speak their language, the French were very accommodating. But they'd get offended if you just assumed they spoke English.

My wife actually got frustrated because she wanted to practice her French, but no one would speak French with her. Except for the Germans. She tried to speak German to a guy in Berlin once and he switched to French for her. Turns out, my wife speaks German with a French accent. She was able to successfully complete the conversation in French.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago

I got told by a friend that if you want to encounter polite french people learn one phrase "Hello. I'm sorry, I dont speak french. Do you speak english?"

Dont assume they speak english and dont butcher their language.

[–] raltoid@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Exactly.

In Paris and other urban and touristy locations you'll encounter the one listed. Elsewhere they might refuse you service if you don't at least say bonjour and try a few words. And when you do, they tend to be very nice.

[–] N0x0n@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Dunno... I'm from Belgium and I speak fluent French and oh my god how rude they can be in the south... Even tough we could perfectly understand each other, just because some words may be a bit different I had one couple In a super market talk me out to learn to speak French?

I was so shocked I couldn't even think straight anymore. They have to much pride in their language / culture... The Frenchies are the worst people I have ever met, even Germans who are supposed to be cold and non welcomed where way more friendlier.

Just a bad experience In the South of France I guess?

[–] cobysev@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That may be a southern France thing. My wife had a similar experience there. She was trying to buy tickets and struggling over the French words. A schoolteacher with a bunch of kids in tow pushed past her, got tickets for her school kids, then turned to my wife and said in English, "Your French is terrible. Maybe you just shouldn't speak at all."

My wife was so mortified, she didn't speak to anyone else the rest of that trip.

[–] Thebigguy@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago

You come to me and speak your vulgar filthy Latin? Learn proper Latin you fuck.

[–] hyacin@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 days ago

When my coworkers visited France and spoke English, everyone was rude to them and refused to help them.

Huh... so it's not just Quebec. Good to know!!

[–] Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 4 days ago

But did you go to Paris

[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Why is Corsica purple?

[–] ooli3@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

probably because it is France

[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Huh, TIL. Always thought it was Italian.

[–] ooli3@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

honest mistake. Corse is closer to Italy , have a strong independant vibe and old people there can still speak there own unique language

[–] Babalugats@feddit.uk 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Ireland is incorrect. The majority would probably be blue or red. But definitely not cream (no reaction).

[–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

I guess that depends on which language OP means by "their language."

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Good to know about France--that if you try, they'll switch to English but treat you better because you made an effort. I've always wanted to visit, and while I feel less and less like I'll ever get to, I will practice some French before I go. I took French in high school 30 years ago, hoping I'd someday get to visit, but it hasn't worked out yet.

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 4 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I always like to do a double whammy of speaking French in France because just attempting it is not always a good idea and pisses some of them off. So you need to get them off guard first then get your question in.

So,

Pardon, j'ai du le fromage de pantalon. Parlez-vous anglais?

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago

I'd be roflmao if I ever heard this, please follow this guy's advice

[–] RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

[Narrator: do not actually say this]

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 2 points 4 days ago

Why not? Usually after they stop laughing or looking deeply disturbed they usually answer me in English if they had the answer.

Even worked in Paris. So... As my own narrator I'm saying "say this".

[–] IndiBrony@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

I'm sorry, I'm English and you wouldn't get [no reaction].

Meet someone like me: I'll be happy that you're attempting and try to keep my English slow and simple for you.

But it's sadly likely you'll meet someone not like me: at best they'll get frustrated, say "I can't understand you" and try to fob you off onto someone else, and at worst you'll get "fuck off back to your own country" followed by a few choices slurs depending on how white you're skin is and how you're dressed.

It fucking sucks here.

[–] iii@mander.xyz 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Ahoi!

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Ahoj.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 6 points 4 days ago (5 children)

I wonder how the Irish react if you (try to) speak Irish.

[–] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Due to cultural genocide many do not speak it.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Isn't it taught in school to everyone nowadays? I'd assume that most Irish people know at least a couple of words such as ''hello", "please" and "thank you" that allegedly make you everyone's BFF in the map's dark bluegreen area.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Yeah and pretty much all of America kids have to take multiple years of foreign language during school.

Doesn't mean they learn it unfortunately

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Lol I took 5 years worth of foreign language during high school just because I could

1 year French, 2 years Spanish, 2 years Latin. IIRC i took French 1 and Spanish 2 in the same year. And then both Latin classes in senior year (changed schools, block schedule). I'd have taken German too if it wasn't for, you know, graduating.

Languages are fun

[–] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

My understanding is it is taught like Canadian kids get taught French but that it doesn't tend to stick with most unless they make an effort.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I was taught Spanish in school, it was mostly a failure but I still know hola, por favor and gracias - and that's without having any connection to the spanish-speaking world whatsoever, neither through personal relationships nor through the state (my country doesn't have many spanish-speaking immigrants and doesn't share a border).

[–] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Do you think your handful of phrases counts as "speaking" the language? Most of the Irish people I know would know a bit of Irish but most could not have a discussion about anything significant in it.

Language skills fade if you do not use them.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I've been talking about the standard that the map applies to the dark bluegreen area, specifying it multiple times.

[–] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

And my point is many Irish people know a handful of phrases and cannot hold conversations

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 4 days ago

Who are you arguing with? I never disputed that.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 5 points 4 days ago

Slight panic at trying to remember the year they took of it at school (I'm guessing)

[–] RecursiveParadox@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Spent two weeks on the West coast back in March. Some really tiny, tiny towns in the main Irish Gaelic speaking areas. Did not hear one word of Irish.

Compare this to when I was in the same area in late 1998, and in these small towns you'd still hear it often in the pubs. It is a damn shame, IMHO.

[–] Klear@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

A friend of mine moved to Ireland for work. She told a co-worker that she'd like to learn a bit of Irish.

"Oh, great! You can teach me something after you do!"

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

I just hope they don't mind being called my friend because Mo Chara is the only Irish I know

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 4 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Is that really people's experience in France ? that's a bummer

[–] taxiiiii@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I feel that French is a rather thankless language in comparison.

if you speak french pretty well, its still not good enough. if you speak a bit of french, its taken for granted. if you speak no french, good luck getting anyone to talk to you.

meanwhile, speak three words of Arabic and people start cheering.

on the upside: Nothing helped revive my French just as much as being forced to use it (since English gets rejected). And people did seem to be patient with my attempts, which is worth a lot.

I'm German and I feel for the people trying to learn our insanely annoying language, only to get switched to English immediately. I'm fairly certain it's easier to learn French on the street than to learn German.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 2 points 4 days ago

I can't compare since I don't know a word of german...

if you speak french pretty well, its still not good enough. if you speak a bit of french, its taken for granted. if you speak no french, good luck getting anyone to talk to you.

I didn't know this was the case, that sounds terrible. I almost feel like apologizing on behalf of my peers

[–] IttihadChe@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Everyones experience in France is a bummer.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago

ah come on

[–] Blaiz0r@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

Afraid so

[–] Pnut@lemm.ee 3 points 4 days ago

Canadians: we do still have the letter "o" but good for you bud.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de -2 points 2 days ago

never understood why people get all amazed when a foreigner speaks their native language, why would you care unless it's somewhere like ireland where the native language has been supressed?

If people tried to speak terrible swedish to me with an obvious english accent i'd cringe out of my skin, like dude i can speak english, it's borderline insulting to assume i can't..