Misunderstandings
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:06 pmHas anything happened to you because you mispronounced, or didn’t understand, a word or name in another language (like Turkey-Torquay)?
Yes, more or less. My wife and me were flying to London, with British Airways, I think. Hostesses were asking to the passengers the eternal question: coffee or tea? Tea, I answered. Then, the stubborn hostess said: “Could you repeat?” And I repeated, but my pronunciation wouldn’t be so good, because she laughed softly and, after a moment, served me. Why English speakers use to think that everyone has to speak English too, and with a good level? More, the majority of them can’t speak any other language.
Yes, more or less. My wife and me were flying to London, with British Airways, I think. Hostesses were asking to the passengers the eternal question: coffee or tea? Tea, I answered. Then, the stubborn hostess said: “Could you repeat?” And I repeated, but my pronunciation wouldn’t be so good, because she laughed softly and, after a moment, served me. Why English speakers use to think that everyone has to speak English too, and with a good level? More, the majority of them can’t speak any other language.