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| Europe |
| Jean-Claude Juncker: ‘English is losing importance' |
| 2017-05-06 |
| Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, yeah, that was a real nail biter of an election opted to deliver a speech in French on Friday morning because he said "English is losing importance" in Europe. It's quickly being replaced by Austrian. Or Hebrew. Or just possibly Arabic. He gave the comments, which are unlikely to mend fences after a war of words between Brussels and London over Brexit negotiations, at the "State of the Union" conference in Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio -- an annual event for European dignitaries. *spit* Juncker said he was opting for French because "slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe and France has elections this Sunday and I want the French people to understand what I am saying about the importance of the EU." And I will also speak loudly and use small words. In Florence, Juncker said, "[Brexit] is no small event. Of course we will negotiate with our British friends in full transparency. But there should be no doubt whatsoever about the idea that it is the EU that is abandoning the U.K. It is the opposite in fact. It is the U.K. that is abandoning the EU." I think "full transparency" means "the heathen Brits are going to leak everything we say." |
| Posted by:Matt |
| #13 Translation: My english is not very good! |
| Posted by: Seeking cure for ignorance 2017-05-06 22:06 |
| #12 If Le Pen looses, France will be Pepe Le Pew trying to get a date from now on. So second class. |
| Posted by: Nero White 3083 2017-05-06 19:11 |
| #11 The French look back to the Bourbon Dynasty when French was the international language. Was. Get over it. |
| Posted by: magpie 2017-05-06 15:53 |
| #10 When I went to school in the '60s German was considered the language of Science, French of diplomacy and English of business. Now it's pretty much English all the way around. Because there is no longer any Science or Diplomacy. Its all business. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-05-06 13:58 |
| #9 Abu, you're correct about Mandarin, but it is not a common Second Language that makes it easy for people with many different original languages. The British empire spread it widely and it has become the most common language. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2017-05-06 13:54 |
| #8 How do you say, "Don't hurt me, I surrender!" in Arabic? |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2017-05-06 13:30 |
| #7 Something closer to home, like Arabic. |
| Posted by: Thereth and Company9872 2017-05-06 12:31 |
| #6 English is only third but French is not even in the top 10 most common languages spoken on this planet. Perhaps Monsieur Le President should learn Mandarin. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2017-05-06 12:23 |
| #5 Yep, the universal second language is losing importance. When a Romanian and a Brazilian get together at a conference what language will they speak? French? Mandarin? When I went to school in the '60s German was considered the language of Science, French of diplomacy and English of business. Now it's pretty much English all the way around. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2017-05-06 12:00 |
| #4 Pissy little bimbo, ain't he? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2017-05-06 11:52 |
| #3 Then he said "Neener neener". The Ruling Class is made up of bitchy sixteen year old girls. |
| Posted by: charger 2017-05-06 11:05 |
| #2 Juncker: "Nous avons besoin de plus de subventions, vous porcs anglo-américaine." Trump: "Eh? No capisce..." |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2017-05-06 10:02 |
| #1 opted to deliver a speech in French on Friday morning because he said “English is losing importance” in Europe. Of course he would do and say this. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2017-05-06 09:41 |