Originally Posted by
crni1976
I see where you are coming from and, being a Flemish person from Belgium where we actually have no less than three official languages as you may or may not know (Flemish or Dutch, French and German), have the same experience.
Still, I work for the federal government and work with French-speaking people on a regular basis. And what usually happens, is that I switch to speaking French because most French-speaking collegues (Walloons or people from Brussels) are not capable of expressing themselves in Flemish (or Dutch), and not even in English.
Yet this is not always because of arrogance, or because they simply do not want to, but mostly because they they are not capable of it. A lot has to do with flaws in their educational or schooling system which certainly does not value other languages all that much; maybe English a little bit, but certainly not Dutch. So, it's not really much use to reproach individual people something their schooling system has not prepared them for.
Also, all things considered, you have to admit that French still is an important language in the world, that is spoken or atleast understood in a lot of countries and regions. It is not as important as Spanish or English, but certainly more pervasive than Dutch or Flemish.
Still on the other hand, I agree there is really no excuse for simply not trying, especially not when you are outnumbered. That can be considered arrogant and is lame. I consider this common sense, but have to note that I do encounter French-speaking collegues on a daily basis that agree to this and are willing to make that effort, however flawed which often results in me switching to French. But then that is okay in my book, since the issue is acknowledged.
It's all pretty complicated, and as you probably know we have had our share of linguistic issues in Begium and are still having numerous issues to this very day. Revolts have broken out because of it in the city where I live in the sixties, basically forcing the French-speaking people out and relocate.
Whereas it just takes some mutual effort and basic understanding.
Or, as someone else said it before in a much more appropriate fashion, Fuck it, let's go bowling.
