This is not a debate so please......

[TVC]

沒有錯，說普通話，TVC。

मैं नहीं बल्कि हिंदी बोलते हैं

 

[Dayvo]

I still don't agree as in my 65 years in this world, I have never heard it say by anyone. The correct expression should be:" On se fout de ta gueule." or: " On se fiche de toi."to be more polite. French lesson over now.

Yes, but how many of your 65 years were spent in France?

When I go back to England I hear a LOT of expressions and words that I have no idea what they mean. I daresay that many derive from TV shows/films/music/the 'yoof' etc.

I'm stuck (linguistically) in the past.

 

[Roadrider48]

We used to have tinned Mandarin Oranges (with Carnation) for pud on Sundays when I was a kid. Does that count as being fluent in Mandarin?

Or it means you can speak segments of it.

 

[AndyRM]

What happened to Esperanto?

I like the idea of everybody studying their own language plus one global language. That way we could keep our own cultures but could still communicate with everyone else. The problem is that English is making a play for being the global language and that annoys many people. (Obviously we could learn extra languages too if we enjoyed doing so, but there wouldn't be an actual need to do it.)

Mi estas komencanto de Esperanto!

Been learning it for a couple of months now. Seems closest to French and Spanish to me. There's only around 2 million people worldwide who use it fluently, so I don't think it will be taking off any time soon, but it is the most popular "constructed" language in the world.

 

[Katherine]

Well, to be fair , I don't like the English language being Americanized either, specially the spelling.

Americanised English is 'Americanized', English English is 'Americanised'.

 

[ayceejay]

Ah France the home of Grand Prix

 

[Dayvo]

Ah France the home of Grand Prix

Came from the English: Grand Pricks.

 

[TVC]

When I go back to England I hear a LOT of expressions and words that I have no idea what they mean. I daresay that many derive from TV shows/films/music/the 'yoof' etc.

Things like 'A decent days work'

 

[Tin Pot]

One people, one currency, one language...British, pound and English - done.

I miss the centime though, it made me chuckle.

 

[gavroche]

Americanised English is 'Americanized', English English is 'Americanised'.

Touché.

 

[Dayvo]

One people, one currency, one language...British, pound and English - done.

Et le kilogramme?

 

[Tin Pot]

Et le kilogramme?

Actually I've been metric since the early eighties. Can't figure out why people, even thick people, want a harder system.

 

[Dayvo]

Actually I've been metric since the early eighties. Can't figure out why people, even thick people, want a harder system.

Cos it's English, innit!

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Have to say I agree that the prevalence of English language and American culture in the world is depressing. I'm not terribly well travelled - (France, Spain, USA, Nottingham) but when I do travel I like to take in the local culture. When I went to visit my parent's place in Benidorm recently, I practiced and practiced until I thought I could order a black coffee in Spanish. Proud as punch I recited my handiwork, only for the bored Spanish waitress to say "Do you wanna double shot yeah?". On my first trip to France 35 years ago, the joys of helping my dad try to buy a female adaptor for our caravan's electric had to be seen. Lots of "non homme, la femme" with fairly rude and graphic gesticulations.

Let the French be French I say.

 

[Drago]

I find imperial units easy. Easy peasy. Not sure what's so difficult about it, although 144 peasants to the Penny was a bit awkward.