XPost: be.politics, fr.soc.politique, soc.culture.belgium   
   XPost: soc.culture.quebec   
   From: knaap@dietsland.di   
      
   Michel S. schreef:   
   > Nice try, but once again, it is your personal opinion based on your   
   > personal experience - not documented facts.   
      
   And what facts did you bring on? French #10? Is more proving my point   
   than yours.   
      
      
   > When you are travelling, if the first language *you* use to speak to   
   > local people is English, chances are that they will answer in English,   
   > even in a French-speaking country like here in Québec.   
      
   Nice try, because I always ask. English? Francais? Español? Most of the   
   times, people say English, what taal-ibans (like Mr. Fustigator calls   
   it) like you may say. Sorry kid to ruin your dreams and chauvinism...   
      
   > By the way, in how many countries were you able to speak Esperanto ? ;-)   
      
   None, but if you give up your chauvinism and start to learn English, I   
   invite you to reread this topic and show me where I say Esperanto is a   
   global language. I said Esperanto has ambitions to be one, just like   
   French, but both aren't. Be honest, the only real global language is   
   English. French is just a farmer language by comparison.   
      
   > I greatly doubt that "French speakers tend to know only their language"   
   > as you state.  I'd like you to provide some evidence of this.   
      
   Experience, my friend. Have you ever been in France or Wallonia? Perhaps   
   the Quebecois are more open minded or just forced by their minority   
   status...   
      
      
   > I'd like to add the "International Olympic Comitee" to the previous list   
   > of international organisations where French is one of the official   
   > language in use I referred to.   Actually, when the games take place,   
   > all announcements are made in English, French and the host country local   
   > language(s), if applicable.  Any idea why they use such a "non global   
   > language" ?   
      
   That´s just because 1) France is an important country 2) the French   
   can't speak another language 3) the French always make a big fuss about   
   their language out of chauvinism...   
      
   > Finally, I never said that French was the "best"/"most"/"top" global   
   > language, but that it is one among those who are - that's different.   
      
   My list:   
      
   1. English   
   2. Spanish   
   3. Portuguese   
   4. French   
      
   But in fact, only English meets the measurements. Another candidate who   
   may really become a global language is Mandarin/Chinese, but that's a   
   bit guessing. French is a language on his retour... The future shall   
   tell the tale...   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)