2006-08-19 10:07:02 · 20 answers · asked by smoke16507 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
No, I'm French from Québec and it doesn't bother me at all and never heard an other French here say that either. I actually love when an american try to speak French; I think it's the sweetest thing. I think it's normal to have a hard time with an other language you're not used to talk. I'm pretty fluent in English and use it everyday at work, but still have a little accent or I sometimes have a hard time with some words. Normal.
2006-08-19 12:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Except for a few stupid French people who will have decided that they don't like you because you are a foreigner, French people appreciate it when you try to speak French. They might start speaking English if their English is better than your French (well, few people can have a conversation in English, but it's getting better!), but it's not meant to be rude. They might just want to practise.
That being said, if they can't understand you because you totally mispronounce the words, don't expect them to stop walking and make an effort! Don't take it personally, though. It's not because you're American or because you're a foreigner: a lot of French people do that to other French people as well! We don't really help people we don't know. Which really pisses me off. But we aren't all like that.
2006-08-19 11:20:46 · answer #2 · answered by Offkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in Quebec for couple of weeks and did my best to stumble around in French. No one acted insulted or angry or put off in any manner. Rather, many people expressed their appreciation of my efforts to communicate with them in French instead of asking them to try to speak English with me. Maybe the people of France might not like foreign accents, I don't know. I think it's probably a stereotyping just as is "ugly American." People come home from traveling with war stories and they spread and spread and then the country as a whole gets a reputation for the worst parts of the war stories. Not everyone is going to be upset in France or any other French-speaking country that a non-native speaks the language with a foreign accent.
2006-08-19 10:17:17 · answer #3 · answered by quietwalker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not all native French speakers...But the main thing they don't like is when someone can't really pronounce a French R right. I'm getting ready to go into French 3, and it took me about a year and a half to really get the hang of the R.
2006-08-19 12:39:11 · answer #4 · answered by band_geek_til_2007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People appreciate other people earnest attempts- HOWEVER time constraining societies have less tolerance(time) so appear rude.
Oddly Americans win the voting(at least their country does) worldwide while at home(US) the French have the bad rep.
Probably as a result of WW2. Japanese have many ways to so thank you and they are all negative.
And every time I hear my fellow American say in a foreign country\ that they would be okay if they learned English I could scream!
Guess love is never having to say sorry or thank you.
And if at first they don't understand just scream louder!
2006-08-19 10:20:23 · answer #5 · answered by uncledad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm french hence that is frustrating to guage my own language.. what's frustrating is using tenses and noticeably the subjonctive. Even french human beings do not use it suited. even with the undeniable fact that German is a tricky language too. I easily were getting to carry close it for 8 years and the basically aspect i visit assert is 'Hallo Wie heist du? "... even with the undeniable fact that i do not consider what you reported: english is in my opinion preciser than french. and that i imagine there are more desirable words in english than in french, yet that would want to be checked
2016-11-26 02:10:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my experience that is not the case at all. They prefer that foreigners TRY to learn the language. They will correct you! They have no problems helping you if you ask! However, if you insist on only speaking your language and not theirs, they do indeed get upset about it. I think they have a right to.
2006-08-19 10:13:09 · answer #7 · answered by cyanne2ak 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everybody has that. Just get a load of the typing police on Yahoo Answers.
2006-08-19 11:38:26 · answer #8 · answered by Nerdly Stud 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, in fact, they appreciate when you try to speak French, and therefore will be mostly cool even if you make mistakes. I guess there are exceptions, but they're a minority.
2006-08-19 10:45:55 · answer #9 · answered by a_t_c_h_o_u_m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well are you annoyed when some one of another culture comes in and expects you to know thier language instead of them know yours? im sure its just a simple world wide issue.......there are diffrent forms of french so even if lets say i learned french in school k...well i went to say quebec and tryed to speak french to them they would more and likly understnad but be alittle annoyed with how "bad" my french was...same consept
2006-08-19 10:14:03 · answer #10 · answered by mommaof2girls&1onway 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋