First one to translate these phrases in different languages gets the "Best Answer" rating:
Como esta?
Ist deine Anzug neu?
Vad ski vi göra i morgon?
Merci (Bonus question: There is ONE other country in Europe where they say this, which country is it).
2007-09-06 20:32:52 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
One other country, other than France, I mean.
2007-09-06 20:33:31 · update #1
Answer to first answer:
I was talking only about the phrase "Merci". It is used to thank people in Bulgaria as well, although no one seems to know how a French word became a standard phrase there. During my time there I found that not even the people there know why that is.
2007-09-06 20:45:27 · update #2
How are you?
Is your suit new?
Hmmm. What are you doing tomorrow?
Thank you.
Merci is also used for thank you in Switzerland--in German as well as French.
2007-09-06 20:50:05 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How are you?
Is your suit new?
What are you doing in the morning?
Thank you.
In Europe,"Merci" is also used in Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland and tiny states like Monaco and Andorra. I have just returned from Turkey and it is commonly used there too.
PS.The reason why many French words seeped into other European languages is that in the 17th and 18th century French was the "ligua franca" between European countries just like English has become the dominant language for international communications nowadays.
Educated people spoke fluent French, for instance the Empress of Russia Catherine the Great corresponded with the French philosopher Voltaire in totally impeccable French and French was spoken at the Russian court.
2007-09-07 04:01:47 · answer #2 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
french is spoken (as an official language) in france, belgium, luxembourg, monaco and switzerland.
how do you get all these to be 'one other country'?
2007-09-07 03:43:07 · answer #3 · answered by synopsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋