Re: History of French

From: Mxsmanic (mxsmanic_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/18/04 

Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 17:32:52 +0200

Jacques Guy writes:

> Until about 15 year ago I believe I spoke Japanese without
> a trace of an accent--because once, at Changi airport
> I asked a Japanese if I could take the luggage trolley
> which he seemed to need no longer. He had his back turned
> to me and answered "Doozo". Then he turned around and
> saw me, and suddenly looked completely astonished. From
> which I gathered that he had marked as Japanese, from
> my speech. Yeah, I know, anecdotal evidence.

But there are many, many anecdotes like this.

One reason that people who speak foreign languages with native fluency
seem so rare is that nobody recognizes them.

> I could
> never speak Chinese properly, although I used to read
> and write it with native fluency.

That's true for millions of Chinese, too.

> But I don't think my story is exceptional at all.

It's not nearly as exceptional as people think.

> My godfather, who spent part of WWII impersonating a
> German officer (he'd become the lover of the fellow's
> wife).

A very good example of powerful motivation. 

-- 
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

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