...but this is too good not to post:
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the US, British, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks, but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop.
I like it!
ReplyDeleteThe French were similarly unimpressed by one of the new ex-east bloc EU countries. Apparently they suggested that they would arrange for their papers to be translated into (I think it was) Hugarian, to which their delegate replied, "Don't bother, I'll be quite happy with a copy in English"
Well, I think the French have only themselves to blame, at least twice over.
ReplyDeleteThey got the linguistic policy wrong, back in 1066.
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