Re: French

Philip Newton wrote:
> On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 20:58, Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...> wrote:
>> On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 2:35 PM, Paul Kershaw <ptkershaw@...> wrote:
>>> Problem the second: Again, recall how this issue started in the first place: Someone
>>> whose native language wasn't English was told, in barely more political
>>> words, that his English was substandard and that he ought to write in French.
>> I don't think that was elitism.  That was genuine inability to
>> understand each other, and IIRC, only after that misunderstanding led
>> to more than a little hostility on both sides did someone suggest that
>> the OP try again in French.
>
> Indeed. The feeling I got was also not "Your English sucks" but "I
> seem to have difficulty understanding your point; since that's
> possible due not to the way you present your argument but merely due
> to your level of competence in English, perhaps you could express
> yourself more clearly in French, to let us understand better what you
> are trying to express?"
As one who said "Amen" to Sai's suggestion that the OP try again in
French, may I concur wholeheartedly. Certainly I *never* intended to
imply "Your English sucks", nor would I ever say or write such a thing.
I cannot, of course, speak for Sai, but I would be extremely surprised
if he meant any such thing either.

I understood the suggestion as intending to be *helpful* - certainly
that is what I intended by supporting it.

I am genuinely sorry that this has been misunderstood.

Personally, I find no problem in a mix of English & French. We've had
IIRC the occasionally posting in Swedish. I don't recall that causing
any concern at the time.

I would agree that threads _entirely_ in French are not satisfactory,
but where the odd bit of posting in French help, I see no problem. If
one needs clarification, there are sufficient bilingual people on the
list to help out (if one is wary about causing offense, a private email
to one of our 'bilinguals' is possible).

--
Ray
==================================
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
CENEDL HEB IAITH, CENEDL HEB GALON.
(A nation without a language is a
nation without a heart)
[Welsh proverb]

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