Do French people have an "allergy" against the English language?

[Ryan-1945]

I mean this in a metaphorical sense, as in them not wanting to speak English (even if they know how) towards tourists despite France being the most visited country on earth. Is it because there are differences within their linguistic backgrounds: English is Germanic while French is a Romance language.

[Fuu]

America has a gigantic Hispanic population living in it at all times, but most white people won't get near the Spanish language with a ten-foot pole, so...

[Tonepoet]

The French and the English have a very, very complicated relationship rife with historic tension over the course of many, many wars.

English is a highly french influenced language due to the Norman conquest of 1066. So although English is usually classified as a germanic language, it has elements of a romance language through french.

The reason we have separate words for the flesh of animals used for food from the animal itself (Venison.Deer, Pig.Pork, Cow/Beef) as I recollect it is because the french upper class used a different word for the livestock, which they only saw prepared as food than the Anglicans.

English without the french influence would be a very different language.

English probably sounds somewhat like bastardized french to the french, because it kind of is in some ways.

[Mensis]

Originally posted by Ryan-1945:

I mean this in a metaphorical sense, as in them not wanting to speak English (even if they know how) towards tourists despite France being the most visited country on earth. Is it because there are differences within their linguistic backgrounds: English is Germanic while French is a Romance language.

No, I doubt it has anything to do with the languages being in two different families - especially considering just how many French and Latin words have been borrowed into English. I think it's just city people being city people in touristy areas.

[SympliKrazi]

Originally posted by Fuu:

America has a gigantic Hispanic population living in it at all times, but most white people won't get near the Spanish language with a ten-foot pole, so...

Yeah, no white guy ever said, "Hola mi amigo" cuz that would be cultural appropriation. And apparently no whities take Spanish class in school ever.

America should speak all languages cuz. It's a melting pot of people from just about every country, race, ethnicity and language if we want to look at population and diversity with that sort of logic. Or perhaps, we should all speak one of the Native American languages since they were here originally.

[Tonepoet]

Originally posted by SympliKrazi:

America should speak all languages cuz. It's a melting pot of people from just about every country, race, ethnicity and language if we want to look at population and diversity with that sort of logic. Or perhaps, we should all speak one of the Native American languages since they were here originally.

That's not really how any of this works.

Languages are just dialects with armies and navies[en.wikipedia.org]. >_>

[salamander]

when you are traveling to another country on holiday or something, be respectful and speak the language. you do not have to be perfect, and locals will appreciate your attempt and many will speak to you in english afterwards. but if you do not even attempt to converse with them in their native languages, it is rude. this is not just true in france, but all countries.

[Dracoco OwO]

No French peoples struggle to learn English or any other language because school is bad, genuinely whatever they are teaching these kids is pretty useless from my experience, i learned English on my own while barely trying because i wanted to understand ♥♥♥♥ when playing games i guess.

But for real though older generations probably were taught like ♥♥♥♥ and had some mild racism for not learning English but also Spanish and German, you're not that special.

[Dracoco OwO]

Originally posted by salamander:

when you are traveling to another country on holiday or something, be respectful and speak the language. you do not have to be perfect, and locals will appreciate your attempt and many will speak to you in english. but if you do not even attempt to converse with them in their native languages, it is rude.

That's not necessarily true in France some peoples hate it when you speak french wrong, well it's less true nowadays, but old peoples are wierd and like this.

[Raz]

I just asked a French man a question in English and he sneezed. So yes, they are indeed allergic.

[Dracoco OwO]

Originally posted by Mensis:

Originally posted by Ryan-1945:

I mean this in a metaphorical sense, as in them not wanting to speak English (even if they know how) towards tourists despite France being the most visited country on earth. Is it because there are differences within their linguistic backgrounds: English is Germanic while French is a Romance language.

No, I doubt it has anything to do with the languages being in two different families - especially considering just how many French and Latin words have been borrowed into English. I think it's just city people being city people in touristy areas.

Parisian peoples are notoriously being ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and everyone hate them including outsiders from Paris in France.

Originally posted by Fuu:

America has a gigantic Hispanic population living in it at all times, but most white people won't get near the Spanish language with a ten-foot pole, so...

It's funny that you say this considering Spanish is a white people language. Just not of Bri'ish descent.

[salamander]

Originally posted by Dracoco OwO:

Originally posted by salamander:

when you are traveling to another country on holiday or something, be respectful and speak the language. you do not have to be perfect, and locals will appreciate your attempt and many will speak to you in english. but if you do not even attempt to converse with them in their native languages, it is rude.

That's not necessarily true in France some peoples hate it when you speak french wrong, well it's less true nowadays, but old peoples are wierd and like this.

indeed, i know that in paris in particular some french peoples will legitimately just refuse to speak to you in anything but french. but i think this is definitely a stereotype, and as you say is mostly just older peoples. but old people are generally ignorant in most places, so this does not really surprise me.

i have been to paris and spoke rudimentary french and did not encounter anyone criticising me (to my face at least), and peoples were quite kind. obviously, everyones experience is different though.

[vkobe]

Originally posted by Ryan-1945:

I mean this in a metaphorical sense, as in them not wanting to speak English (even if they know how) towards tourists despite France being the most visited country on earth. Is it because there are differences within their linguistic backgrounds: English is Germanic while French is a Romance language.

well you visit france you speak french

because china or saudie or mexico are not so much friendly

[Incarnate]

Originally posted by Fuu:

America has a gigantic Hispanic population living in it at all times, but most white people won't get near the Spanish language with a ten-foot pole, so...

You must not live in the US because Spanish courses are ubiquitous in US schools.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

Cheers, OP.

[=(^ ^)=]

In France I did speak ingles everytime I need and they have been always polite to me. I think it's someone else who should learn how to behave in another country, expecially when you are not in the EU anymore.