Originally Posted by pgalore
I think you missed my first point...Well, yes my French is pretty good actually, and this is something I'm quite proud of. But what I really meant was...
The point is (which seems to have been largely missed) ...
If you don't want to be courteous, if you don't want to receive special treatment, and if you want to run the risk of being taken advantage of, by all means, speak and understand only English when travelling abroad - and don't bring a dictionary with you either!
How "presumptious" to assume that because I disagreed that meant I "missed the point". I could, however, only respond to what was actually posted, rather than what you "really meant."
I suggest you reread the original post. First you crowed about your superior French abilities and the "special treatment" this afforded you at CDG. Then you claimed this demonstrated that "knowing a few words of the local lingo is very helpful". That is an illogical conclusion since, as you admit, the incident involved quite a bit more French than could be thus described.
Personally I think the incident you cite is a prime example of the inferior service non-French speakers may encounter at CDG. Delta (an American company) should provide this level of service whether a customer speaks fluent French or nary a word.
The second part of the original post decries the inferior great unwashed Americans you encountered on your trip. Lacking your French fluency, these miserable wretches are evidently so ignorant they don't even know they should carry a dictionary.
Since I disagreed you chose (while knowing absolutely nothing about me) to lump me with these unfortunates. A final, smug rolling eyes "smiley" concludes the argument, if you can call it one.
Just for the record, when travelling abroad I always try to use the local language to the best of my ability. It would be nice if I could be fluent in all the world's languages, but that isn't possible. And in my experience, saying "bonjour Madame", "merci", etc. can be helpful many places, but at CDG (and the Gare du Nord) it counts for nada.
The French have a particular chip on their shoulder regarding English. No doubt this stems from the fact that English has completely displaced French as the international language. This change has been going on for 200 years or so, but maybe they will never get over it. I don't have to admire their attitude, just cope with it. The trend seems unlikely to reverse as French is no longer even among the world's top 10 languages spoken as a mother tongue.