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

[gavroche]

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.

I have checked with my niece (41 years living in France) and she has never heard that either so safe to say it doesn't exist.

 

[Dayvo]

I have checked with my niece (41 years living in France) and she has never heard that either so safe to say it doesn't exist.

D'accord. J'abandonne (?).

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

D'accord. J'abandonne (?).

HonD'accord? Awful car.

 

[Crackle]

The trouble is, once Le Tour became a bit more international, the French turned out to be a bit shoot at it

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

The trouble is, once Le Tour became a bit more international, the French turned out to be a bit shoot at it

Bit like the English with cricket.


And football.


And rugby.


And tennis.


And...

 

[Drago]

...wars.

 

[Tin Pot]

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.

Because you were born in the reign of King Albert.

I biked 17 furlongs this marn', sank a fifth fathom of ale at evensong and I'll be up as cock'rel calls.

Nonsense.

 

[nickyboy]

It's not cycling it is in everything. Last year on holiday there were two young German couples and they spoke to each other in English, which seemed very strange.

I disagree that it harks back to colonialism. My thought is that we are all speaking American, not English. The US is the dominant force in World culture over the past 70 years. American is the standard language in International travel, films, television and music stem from there and pervade all delivered entertainment. I had a discussion with another German last year who agreed that if say the invasion of the North American continent had gone differently and the Spanish had struck out and settled in the main body of America then we would all speak fairly good Spanish and English would also be on the wane.

This

It's all about US world domination of the past hundred years or so. If it was another country dominating with a different language then that language would be the world language

Specifically cycling was traditionally a French/Italian/Spanish/Belgian sport and French was the dominant language. Now the Tour de France is a multinational affair with riders from all over the world and media to match. It's unsurprising that French is becoming less important and English more

By the way, I think Mandarin will have virtually no influence on English going forward. It's one of the few major languages that you almost cannot find in English ("char", slang for tea is Indian/Mandarin in origin and "kowtow" is Cantonese). English will dominate, there are more fluent English speakers in China that there is in UK

 

[midliferider]

To the OP.
I understand your sense of loss.
It is a pity that people like you were not there to advice the French government many many centuries ago when they wiped off and imposed French language in other parts of the world.
This is not for debate, I am just expressing an opinion.

 

[Drago]

Because you were born in the reign of King Albert.

I biked 17 furlongs this marn', sank a fifth fathom of ale at evensong and I'll be up as cock'rel calls.

Nonsense.

That's earned my 'Giggle of the Day' award.

 

[Levo-Lon]

My French teacher said I'd amount to nothing as did my science,maths,tech drawing and RE teachers..
i failed English...but speak it and understand it perfectly?? What's the problem with the TDF?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Oh, and if you think that the French are hard done by ... how about the fact that English isn't English any more? English is apparently what is spoken in the USA and we now speak British English. At least, that is according to most spell checkers!

Yes, on the continent we are taught American English.
Had the shock of my life when I got to the UK thinking I could speak English!

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.

Same here!

 

[swee'pea99]

It's not cycling it is in everything. Last year on holiday there were two young German couples and they spoke to each other in English, which seemed very strange.

I disagree that it harks back to colonialism. My thought is that we are all speaking American, not English. The US is the dominant force in World culture over the past 70 years. American is the standard language in International travel, films, television and music stem from there and pervade all delivered entertainment. I had a discussion with another German last year who agreed that if say the invasion of the North American continent had gone differently and the Spanish had struck out and settled in the main body of America then we would all speak fairly good Spanish and English would also be on the wane.

In short, American is the new lingua franca. ('French language', in latin.)

 

[ColinJ]

Came from the English: Grand Pricks.

Indeed!

 

[ufkacbln]

Is entry part of the Brexit discussions?

We may not be allowed to enter, never mind have the language used