It seems inevitable that we will return regularly to matters of language - a big subject and one of which there are daily reminders for most expats, even if they have got to grips with the local lingo reasonably well. 'Local' is a key point, as even the French from other regions can find accents and dialects in the Languedoc difficult to understand!
Anyway, the summer usually brings its own language jolts, this area being very much a tourist destination - in the local shops, bars and restaurants, extra staff drafted in for the season who do not know us usually speak loudly (in French) on hearing our accents, even though we have used reasonably acceptable French! Some will even break into what we have dubbed Menu English in an effort to give us help that is not really needed - this generally comprises phrases relating to the dishes, cooking, etc. that a non-English speaking waiter has learned and can throw into the pot, so to speak, sometimes at relevant points. Here it is usually in a genuine effort to be helpful, rather than superior, so should be appreciated - but it can become a tad confusing, even wearing, when you are trying to focus on your second language, as well as unwind after a long week and make that key decision about which aperatif...
For those who do not have any English to offer but want to say a few friendly words, there is the ubiquitous "Are you on holiday?". Inevitable perhaps in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, but we do tend to look forward to the winter when it is just us and the locals!
The people we know on a day-to-day basis, out-of-season, have at least accepted our strange pronounciation, eating habits, etc., while we have recognised that losing one's accent is almost impossible for most of us - and also accepted that no matter how good our French may become we are probably fated to enjoy those same conversations every summer...
Anyway, the summer usually brings its own language jolts, this area being very much a tourist destination - in the local shops, bars and restaurants, extra staff drafted in for the season who do not know us usually speak loudly (in French) on hearing our accents, even though we have used reasonably acceptable French! Some will even break into what we have dubbed Menu English in an effort to give us help that is not really needed - this generally comprises phrases relating to the dishes, cooking, etc. that a non-English speaking waiter has learned and can throw into the pot, so to speak, sometimes at relevant points. Here it is usually in a genuine effort to be helpful, rather than superior, so should be appreciated - but it can become a tad confusing, even wearing, when you are trying to focus on your second language, as well as unwind after a long week and make that key decision about which aperatif...
For those who do not have any English to offer but want to say a few friendly words, there is the ubiquitous "Are you on holiday?". Inevitable perhaps in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world, but we do tend to look forward to the winter when it is just us and the locals!
The people we know on a day-to-day basis, out-of-season, have at least accepted our strange pronounciation, eating habits, etc., while we have recognised that losing one's accent is almost impossible for most of us - and also accepted that no matter how good our French may become we are probably fated to enjoy those same conversations every summer...
Photo by: Kerry A Adamo
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