"Go on...I dare you!" Fateful last words.

[AdminAssistant]

Yes, Jean Reno plays the police officer who is also a member of Opus Dei in The Da Vinci Code. Several great French actors in that movie.

Except, of course, Gerard Depardieu.

Hmmm...I can't remember French impartif....sooooo...lesseee.... Ne fumez pas, s'il vous plait? That might work.

[Mike Taylor]

This story must be archived. It MUST!

[Geek King]

No Fumes (FOO-mess) would be even better--command form, second person familiar takes out all possible "respect"

I've always liked the even more universal way to indicate that smoking is not welcome.

1) Lick Thumb and forefinger.

2) Quickly apply moist fingers to the lit ash and pinch.



Those of a particularly nasty bint may choose to pinch the cig just above the filter.

Only ever had to do that twice. It doesn't hurt at all (thanks Mr. Physics!), but looks cool, and the hsss of the heat on moist fingers creeps people out.

[tamezin]

No Fumar Por Favor.

Problem solved

Seriously faking that you don't speak the local language just to get away with something. This is one of the reasons I want to try and learn a few simple phrases in a couple different languages so I can try to call people out on things like this.

I think I would have snatched the cigarette out of the twits hand and thrown it and then her out the door. What ginormous a$$es.

[Mark Healey]

Federal prison? For a minor theft and an assault? Chance is zero.

There are actually very few crimes that ARE federal in nature, to be honest.

I realize that. I was just making a joke referring to Office Space and things that are called "Federal" in the U.S. are usually "Royal" the U.K..

[Rapscallion]

Just got to this thread.

Can we calm down on the French bashing, please?

Rapscallion

[Jester]

Sorry, my bad.

I was just making a joke. I actually have a few friends that are very much French and are some of the sweetest people I know.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to sheepishly slink away......

[Record Store Tough Guy]

There's something wrong with the fact that I can barely speak any German, get maybe a quater of what I hear spoken, but I could read all of that.

Not really. German and English are more similar than people realize.

[Voldine]

Not really. German and English are more similar than people realize.

Especially when you consider that English is, by nature of not having Latin as a root, primarily a Germanic language. It's the redheaded stepchild though and has been so poorly mistreated that it has turned to other languages for the support it needs and has thus forgotten the original words that were used for rendezvous and reconnoiter.

Of course, a small bit of credit for many non-German-speaking people's understanding of limited German phrases must be given to the wargames industry for making so many absolutely necessary reiterations of famous battles of WWII, many of which vastly overplay the influence of America in the final outcome in Europe and downplay the actions of every other country......except France which did nothing.



I KID! Don't hurt me!

[Record Store Tough Guy]

^^ Old English sounds even more like German. I remember watching a documentary on the History of England, and the presenter read an Old English inscription regarding Alfred the Great. I understood a good bit of it before I realized it wasn't Modern English or German. Actually sounded a bit like German with a Scots Gaelic kind of an accent.

English is pretty much German with Latin Grammar, I've heard.

[Deceptitech]

Yes, Jean Reno plays the police officer who is also a member of Opus Dei in The Da Vinci Code. Several great French actors in that movie.

Except, of course, Gerard Depardieu.

Hmmm...I can't remember French impartif....sooooo...lesseee.... Ne fumez pas, s'il vous plait? That might work.

This IS the nation that worships Jerry Lewis.

That right there makes them an enemy of good taste.

[Broomjockey]

This IS the nation that worships Jerry Lewis.

That right there makes them an enemy of good taste.

I believe it was already mentioned once to move on from the France tangent. It won't be again.

[Deceptitech]

I believe it was already mentioned once to move on from the France tangent. It won't be again.

My appologies, a case of SPS(Stupid Poster Syndrome).

[Teskeria]

Lol @Jester. I assumed you played Do*us when I read your posts.
If I recall my history correctly, English is such a weird language, because so many other languages have a bit of influence in it. We take words from here and there and they become a regular part of the language. No wonder it's one of the hardest languages to learn as an additional language if you don't learn it as a child.

[Jetfire]

Lol @Jester. I assumed you played Do*us when I read your posts.
If I recall my history correctly, English is such a weird language, because so many other languages have a bit of influence in it. We take words from here and there and they become a regular part of the language. No wonder it's one of the hardest languages to learn as an additional language if you don't learn it as a child.

As an old quote goes (whose origins I have no idea, but it's one of my favorites)

"English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and goes through their pockets for loose grammar."

So does that make English a SC of languages?