You couldn’t make it up!

[ansu]

As to German, German isn't spoken only in Germany, but also in Austria, a part of Switzerland, Italy (Southern Tyrol) and France (Alsace). They all have their own dialect. The dialect spoken in Northern Germany resembles much to Dutch, the dialect spoken in Bavaria to Austrian and we in Swabia have a special dialect - not easy to understand. So at school we have to speak "High German", but when meeting friends, we are speaking Swabian. When my family came to Swabia, we spoke a dialect similar to Austrian and my family had many problems to understand the "natives". So we quickly had to learn their dialect.
The same applies to nearly all European countries I suppose.

[JBR]

As to German, German isn't spoken only in Germany, but also in Austria, a part of Switzerland, Italy (Southern Tyrol) and France (Alsace). They all have their own dialect. The dialect spoken in Northern Germany resembles much to Dutch, the dialect spoken in Bavaria to Austrian and we in Swabia have a special dialect - not easy to understand. So at school we have to speak "High German", but when meeting friends, we are speaking Swabian. When my family came to Swabia, we spoke a dialect similar to Austrian and my family had many problems to understand the "natives". So we quickly had to learn their dialect.
The same applies to nearly all European countries I suppose.

It certainly applies to the UK.
Tha's spouting nobbut a load o' rubbish, tha kno's.  Just a typical phrase used in Yorkshire, and I've heard worse too!

And if you think that's a little difficult, you should visit Wales!  🤣

[GrannyMac]

There's a huge difference between a regional accent and an unintelligible use of dialect and strange pronunciation.  

Sithee.

[Ashy]

I understand that but the principle languages spoke here are Urdu with a London accent, Arabic and slavic. Some of the shop signs are in Arabic. It's not the country I grew up in.

[klondike]

Urdu with a London accent

It's true that if I take a walk in this town I'm more likely to hear a language I don't understand than one I do. Often at a level I'm sure makes the phone being used unnecessary.

The other thing I've noticed is there is more chance of seeing small children with foreign parents than English. I'm encouraged that at least some talk to their children in English.

[GrannyMac]

It's true that if I take a walk in this town I'm more likely to hear a language I don't understand than one I do. Often at a level I'm sure makes the phone being used unnecessary.

The other thing I've noticed is there is more chance of seeing small children with foreign parents than English. I'm encouraged that at least some talk to their children in English.

There's quite a mix in this city, not so much in the area where I live, although it's changing.  I think a lot of British people now have their children later, and only rarely more than two.  Only the very well off or those relying on benefits are likely to have more.  I know one young woman with several children, some have disability diagnoses, she 'can't' work because of her health, and her partner can't work because he's her carer.  Her health seems to improve enough to go out socially quite regularly.  No wonder the benefits system is in chaos. 

[muddy]

People  especially Europeans and those from Asia are used to being exposed to many languages .
And think nothing of speaking them 
Island people tend to be more insular.
We seem to especially lazy in the U.K. probably because  English is spoken just about everywhere .
Also the way languages are taught in our schools is not encouraging .
They are best taught in primary schools in a natural way rather than ploughing through grammar later on .

[Scrumpy]

Most countries that I have visited have spoken some form of English.. 

[klondike]

Apart from France... 

Oh and some parts of some English cities.

[JBR]

I know one young woman with several children, some have disability diagnoses, she 'can't' work because of her health, and her partner can't work because he's her carer.  Her health seems to improve enough to go out socially quite regularly.  No wonder the benefits system is in chaos. 

This has not been uncommon for many years, certainly in some inner city areas.
The concern is, what will such people do when the money runs out in Britain?

I have read about Britain in the early 20th century when, before social services and handouts, poor people starving and even dying because they couldn't get a job.  I can imagine something similar happening soon, especially if Labour continue in they way they are.  Money doesn't grow on trees, and TwoTier is determined to give away, or waste, all of our money.

November 03, 2025, 10:51:36 AM

Apart from France... 

Yes!  I'm sure that some of them pretend not to know any English because, for some reason, they don't like us.  Perhaps that's because they're embarrassed that we came across and gave many of our lives to rescue them.  They don't like to admit that we did something that they were unable to do.

[Scrumpy]

Apart from France... 

Oh and some parts of some English cities.

I didn't enjoy France at all.. 

[klondike]

True enough money doesn't grow on trees anymore. They've moved over to printing it on plastic instead of paper. Even that isn't the real explanation of where it comes from. It initially  comes from Bank of England government bonds which may still be on bits of dead tree or could be entirely digital theses days.

November 03, 2025, 10:58:39 AM

I didn't enjoy France at all..

Nor did I. They refuse to understand even slightly mispronounced or grammatically incorrect French. I think we try to help most foreigners trying to speak to us but the French seemed to me to despise us.

[Michael Rolls]

Years ago I had a Hungarian working for mee. I former army officer, he had escaped as the tanks rolled it. He said he always admired the English approach to languages 'Make bloody foreign speak English'

[Ashy]

Most countries that I have visited have spoken some form of English..

Coming to something when you're more likely to hear English spoken abroad than in England.

[klondike]

Why am I laughing?