The Enid Blyton Society

Courtenay wrote:Split from another topic.

Anne Henriette wrote:I have always thought that French people are very... intolerant when it comes to languages. Most of them are not ready to learn another language. And they do not really tolerate that foreigners speak to them in another language than French! It is nombrilistic (does this word even exist in English?!) and quite arrogant I think...

I have to admit — and no offence meant to Anne or any other French people here (...)

None taken, Courtenay

Very interesting stories. I think everyone can relate to those.

Aussie Sue wrote:Very stressed I went to the person on an information desk and asked "Parlez-vous Anglais" He said "non". Tears came into my eyes as I had been flying for 22 hours and was about to miss my connection to Milan. He then said very clearly in English "What do you want?"

My experience when I then reached Air Italia was the exact opposite. Boarding had closed and the plane was ready for departure. They stopped the plane and raced me on board and then fussed over me on the plane to make sure I was okay.

Cultures can be so different. Having said that I have some great French friends.

Oh yes! French people can be really frustrating when it comes to languages...
And you're so right: cultures can be *so* different!

floragord wrote:I think it was just down to the "full immersion" in the language, Chrissie, nothing like improving at the speed of light if everyone looks blank most of the time when questioned about the relative merits of St Nectaire over St Agur in best Franglais .....

I've just heard another dreadful story about French reluctance to speak English — again, no offence intended to anyone.

It seems my dad's former boss, whom we shall simply call Mr H, was travelling with his wife in France a few years ago. Somewhere — I'm not sure if this was in Paris or not — they went to buy some local wine. Not being a French speaker, Mr H asked the wine merchant in English if he had a list of all the varieties they sold. The merchant just kept saying "non, non, non" and refusing to help in any way, no matter how they asked him. Finally Mr H (being a very blunt-spoken Australian) said "**** you" and turned to go. With which the wine merchant suddenly learned how to speak fluent English: "Ah — what kind of wine would monsieur like?"

Back to Welsh (Deej, you might enjoy this especially if you haven't seen it already) — here's a Welsh comedian and cafe owner's revenge on bad English-to-Welsh translations...

Gwynedd cafe pokes fun at nonsense translations with gobbledegook English

As my dad was born in North Wales and my grandparents were Welsh and my uncle and cousins still live in North Wales, you'd think I would have quite a good grasp of the language, but my dad's parents were only 'first generation Welsh' although they were both born there - and my dad was excluded from Welsh language lessons at school supposedly because he was classed as English, due to his parentage. So he never learned to speak Welsh, although he is very good at pronunciation when it comes to place names, and has a fair grasp of the language.

A good article, Courtenay. You'd think that people running businesses in Wales would be keen to make sure their Welsh language signs were written correctly. If the signs are poorly written, it makes the company look lax and unprofessional.

What a pity that your dad was excluded from Welsh lessons, Robert. I think schools in Wales give all children the opportunity to learn Welsh nowadays.

I'm currently staying with my friend who moved to Wales in 2013. Her eldest boy who is now five has picked up a definite accent when pronouncing certain words. It's really quite sweet!

Happy St David's Day everyone!

Happy St. David's Day!

Very Happy St David's Day!!!!

A very happy St David's Day to everyone - I wonder if Enid ever visited Wales? She certainly set a few books in that beautiful country.

She probably did. Actually, I would love to visit Wales, as well as Scotland, and England. Even though I live so near, I haven't really gone there!

Head for the mountains or hill country and you will not be disappointed.

Head for the mountains or hill country and you will not be disappointed.

I don't think I will, thank you for the recommendation

Just don't head for anywhere called Doth-goth-oo-elli-othel-in, look you, whateffer, to gootness!