Comments on: The most useful phrase in French http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/ Say it three times fast. In Luxembourgish. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:59:40 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Vousetes Kuntz http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/#comment-13183 Vousetes Kuntz Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:40:00 +0000 http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/?p=872#comment-13183 Hi, I live on the French side Franco-German border near Mulhouse. As you can see from my name I have mixed heritage which I cherish. I am lucky enough to speak three languages, so I appreciate your trials while settling in to a new culture. Your descriptions of life in Luxembourg are simply enthralling. I delighted in your simple example to illustrate how native French speakers might view the usual "parlez Anglais?" But rest assured that you worry too much, since nobody would really give a fuck. Hi, I live on the French side Franco-German border near Mulhouse. As you can see from my name I have mixed heritage which I cherish. I am lucky enough to speak three languages, so I appreciate your trials while settling in to a new culture. Your descriptions of life in Luxembourg are simply enthralling. I delighted in your simple example to illustrate how native French speakers might view the usual “parlez Anglais?” But rest assured that you worry too much, since nobody would really give a fuck.

]]> By: Sam Widge http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/#comment-13170 Sam Widge Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:36:13 +0000 http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/?p=872#comment-13170 I had a delightfully smooth and pleasant interaction with French girl in Bayeux once. I suppose it helped that my French is really quite good, added to which and I have a sublimely enormous...sorry, there's someone at the door. I had a delightfully smooth and pleasant interaction with French girl in Bayeux once. I suppose it helped that my French is really quite good, added to which and I have a sublimely enormous…sorry, there’s someone at the door.

]]> By: Jaime http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/#comment-13142 Jaime Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:58:27 +0000 http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/?p=872#comment-13142 Remarkable pronunciation, Ms. Anita! My French is quite limited but even I could delight in the easy way the syllables rolled of your tongue. Brava! My own experience proves that if you use this phrase often and with complete humility, travels in French-speaking regions are mostly painless. I got along delightfully in Paris with absolutely no phrasebook and almost no understanding of the language (as stated above). For the most part, saying this phrase as a preface to any conversation with a local paved the way for a smooth and pleasant interaction. Remarkable pronunciation, Ms. Anita! My French is quite limited but even I could delight in the easy way the syllables rolled of your tongue. Brava!

My own experience proves that if you use this phrase often and with complete humility, travels in French-speaking regions are mostly painless. I got along delightfully in Paris with absolutely no phrasebook and almost no understanding of the language (as stated above). For the most part, saying this phrase as a preface to any conversation with a local paved the way for a smooth and pleasant interaction.

]]> By: Will http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/#comment-13141 Will Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:49:49 +0000 http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/?p=872#comment-13141 Katherine, I use that one too, but not as much as I should. I (lazily) assume that I won't understand them the second time. Just this Tuesday, my tutor taught me an alternative to your phrase! She says that we're using the imperatif, which is a bit of an overbearing verb form. An alternative, the one which a polite French person would use, is «Est-ce que vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît?» Of course, one doesn't expect «la politesse» from someone who speaks with as bad an accent as mine. So I'm off the hook. Katherine, I use that one too, but not as much as I should. I (lazily) assume that I won’t understand them the second time.

Just this Tuesday, my tutor taught me an alternative to your phrase! She says that we’re using the imperatif, which is a bit of an overbearing verb form.

An alternative, the one which a polite French person would use, is «Est-ce que vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît?»

Of course, one doesn’t expect «la politesse» from someone who speaks with as bad an accent as mine. So I’m off the hook.

]]> By: Katherine http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/2009/08/18/the-most-useful-phrase-in-french/#comment-13130 Katherine Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:49:25 +0000 http://bakkerbugle.com/blog/?p=872#comment-13130 The one I practice a lot is: répétez plus lentement s'il vous plaît. "Repeat more slowly please." If they speak really really really slow, I can understand them in French :) The one I practice a lot is: répétez plus lentement s’il vous plaît. “Repeat more slowly please.” If they speak really really really slow, I can understand them in French :)

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