Parlez-vous anglais?

~ MaryG

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

I’m a native English speaker which has facilitated my laziness in never becoming fluent in a second language. (That’s my excuse anyway.) I’m in awe of all the bi and tri linguals here on WordPress.

The closest I ever got to fluency in another language was Italian during my semester in Rome, but that’s mostly gone now. It was so long ago. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

I can also pull out some words and phrases in French and Spanish when necessary. But let’s face it, it is very rarely necessary. Nearly everyone I encounter, even when traveling, speaks English.

Exciting news! I won a free sandwich at my local convenience store & deli. The guy that called to tell me the good news is a native Arabic speaker, but his English is great, just like so many other immigrants.

18 thoughts on “Parlez-vous anglais?”

  1. Even though we have to learn French in school and electively i took it in high school, i’m far from fluent in it. I think only if you attend a French immersion school do you become fluent in the language. But i’m always in awe of people who can speak multiple languages, blows me away!

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    1. You’re right, fluency seems unattainable in regular classes, you have to immerse – or move to France.
      And so true, I just read a prompt response from a young man who speaks SIX languages! It’s like…how? But I think it’s out of necessity. When you must, you do!

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    1. That’s funny! I went back to Italy in 2009, so brushed up on my Italian, which I thought was pretty good. What happened? Everyone always answered me in English, so I guess my accent sucked. Or I’m just obviously American.

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  4. Unfortunately, I only speak English even though French was my mother’s first language, and she didn’t learn English until she went to school. My mother was born in Maine, but back then there was a huge Franco-American population were French was the main language. Through legislation and bullying, Maine stamped French out of the state. With 30 percent of the population of French-Canadian descent, we could have easily been a bilingual state. But no. On a happier note, congrats on winning the sandwich. Always a thrill to win something.

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    1. Thanks. It was a little thrill! 🥪
      Interesting history and terrible that Maine stamped out French! I know a lot of those French Canadians somehow ended up in Louisiana of all places and are called Cajuns and have a unique and fun culture down there.

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      1. So perhaps you have an Italian self who is fluent and would spring up should you visit again. 🙂 Not now, because it’s way too hot! ❤

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      2. I went back on a family vacation in 2009 and really practiced my Italian in advance, but everyone kept answering me in English. Annoying! I think 1985 was just a whole different world…my Italian self is gone 😔

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      3. Alas. But I completely understand the phenomenon, having tried to become fluent in Spanish while living in Miami. 🙂

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