Can I ask you a question in English? a reporter asks Chabal

Funny reply by Chabal when a reporter asks the question above.
Babymechsays...

It'd be a respectable principle if you didn't know from experience that they tend to be idiots about it, as well as refusing to speak anything but French outside of France.

cheesemoosays...

Not sure... I know that to "take a shower" is to "prendre une douche", so they've sort of already used "douche" for that purpose.

For all I know, they just call douchebags some sort of sterile politically correct name like "feminine cleaning device".

aaronfrsays...

gotta cut him a little slack. it WAS a stupid question. the reporter should have known he spoke english and just asked.

of course, if you think about it, the reporter did get to ask him a question in english, to which chabal replied in english, so the reporter should be satisfied.

Grimmsays...

I think the reporter was just trying to be polite. It's like when they ask "Can I ask you one more question?" I guess he wasn't planning on the guy being an a-hole.

kronosposeidonsays...

I'm all for being a smartass, but I think this dude was a little rude too. If a Dominican reporter asked Sammy Sosa if he could ask a question in Spanish and Sammy said "No", I'd think Sammy was an a-hole.

I'm kind of a 'global village' dude, so I figure if you can communicate in another language then you should if the circumstance arises. Don't be a jingoistic prick just to make a trite point. For God's sake, reach out to your fellow man by any means necessary, even if it's only about meaningless sports. Unless you think the world is perfect the way it is (a show of hands, please?), do something positive if at all possible.

Upvote solely for the discussion.

qualmsays...

Except Sosa's first language is Spanish...did you mean to type English, kronos?

It's just common decency to make a small effort when in non-anglophone countries to learn at least a little bit of the language. But what's more is the fact the guy asking the question isn't just some obese tourist in a Hawaiian shirt, he's a journalist. Obviously he has some proficiency in French or his employer wouldn't have sent him to the interview. He's too lazy to apply his knowledge.

What we have seen here is an anglophone's sense of cultural entitlement.

8756says...

Well, the french for douche is a subject of discussion here, in France. I translate it as "blaireaux" (Blair-O : badger in english) but some others claim that it has a stronger meaning by the word "connard" (which is a common insult).

And that's true, "douche" means "shower" in France. But when employed in a pejorative manner, it takes an awful meaning ... (something golden, or whatever, eeeek)

Grimmsays...

qualm wrote:

But what's more is the fact the guy asking the question isn't just some obese tourist in a Hawaiian shirt,
You say that as if he was that would be excuse enough to act like a dick to this person. Nice stereotype BTW.


qualm wrote:
Obviously he has some proficiency in French or his employer wouldn't have sent him to the interview. He's too lazy to apply his knowledge.
Did you ever stop to think that because he speaks English that he works for a media outlet with an English speaking viewers/readers and knowing this guy speaks English wanted to get a direct quote or sound bite in English for those people? I mean really...where was the harm in answering the question?


qualm wrote:
What we have seen here is an anglophone's sense of cultural entitlement.
So why is this guy interviewing Jodi Foster in French?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImVlS5HOzZo

Is it due to some "cultural entitlement"? I can't believe that his boss would send someone to interview am American actress that did not speak English. Is he just being lazy?

qualmsays...

@Grimm

I didn't say that a loud shirt and gormlessness are grounds for mistreatment. But then I don't think Chabal mistreated the reporter at all.

He has a legitimate view and stated as much. In fact Chabal was rather generous to elaborate a little... in English.

The rest of your interogation makes no sense.

K0MMIEsays...

Ok guys listen, he made a joke, after he said it he clearly looked at the reporter giving him a window to ask his question, he didn't. So since there were no more questions, he left. Try not to freak out guys.

conansays...

I've had my time with the French. When i moved to Ireland, i crossed through all of france (i went by car and ferry). The thing is: They only talk French. Inside France and outside. Even though most of them learn German in school (which is my native language) they will never ever use it. I tried that in several previous visits. But hey, that's alright. I knew and i prepared for that: "If i am in France, i'm going to talk French" i thought. But: As soon as i tried to communicate (i only know most basic French), people ignored me. I was ignored in cafes, i was being cheated with bills etc. Generalizing is not a good thing to do, but meanwhile i came to the conclusion to never visit France again.

...which is somewhat a pity because of the excellent french cuisine ;-)

rottenseedsays...

wait who is this guy? a soccer player?

OOOOH SOCCER! some sport that everybody makes fun of America for not watching/understanding yet for some reason don't welcome the opportunity by making it accessible to us.

ps: soccer=hockey=basketball why hasn't anybody said anything about that out yet? yea, different field; yea different ball; yea, different nuances, but come on really?!

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