On 6/12/05 19:15, in article ,
"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote:
snip
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have many contacts in Germany and all [under 80s] have always been
more than willing to use English. When I've visited, I'm reminded that they
didn't invite me to listen to my "Ruddy German"!! They want to hear
my English.
Try asking them to use English~ you might be surprised.
OT~~ The Scandinavians generally speak very good English. Better than
many English youths. Their films are never dubbed~~ only subtitled, so they
hear English from the nursery.
The French won't/don't understand either my French or English
unless they are bound to do so. [I use their ATC with difficulty]. I note
this week that French is reported to be such an imprecise language that the
most recent 'Harry Potter' book is 150 pages longer than the English
version!!
Best Wishes Brian.


The French never use one word where 6 will do. I speak French but have no
German and cannot ask them to use English as they clearly cannot. My
original emails to them have been in English and have had to be translated
for the head man at this garden so that we can discuss a Camellia they have
there. Then he answers me in German and that has to be translated into
English for me. They said this in their last email. It seems to have taken
them some time to find anyone who can do that. I don't really expect the
staff in a public garden to have enough English to discuss this with us when
we have no German at all!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)