Why English?
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2004 8:03 pmAn officer in the U.S. Naval reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French Navy.
At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies. The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English.
He then asked: 'Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?'
Without hesitating, the American admiral replied: 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Americans arranged it so you would not have to speak German.'
At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies. The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English.
He then asked: 'Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?'
Without hesitating, the American admiral replied: 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies, and Americans arranged it so you would not have to speak German.'
