New Secretary-General Ban: I like the reform rhetoric, at least (and then there’s the French…)
If you listened to my most recent podcast, you’ve probably noted that I’m neither a Kofi Annan fan nor a UN fan. Whether I’ll be a Secretary-General Ban fan (couldn’t resist the rhyme) remains to be seen, but at least in his initial UN address he paid rhetorical lip service to the fact that corruption is rampant there and reform is sorely needed. We’ll see whether there’s any way for that to actually happen.
But Ban apparently has flunked his first French test, which was–a French test. Yes, you heard me right; apparently France requires all Secretaries-General to speak French. Although Ban has been burning the midnight oil and brushing up his skills in honor of the big day. he flubbed some questions at a recent French news conference.
Chirac might hold it against him. But I promise I won’t.
Burp.
[This post seems to have given troll stevie indigestion.]
Edited By Siteowner
France *requires*?
Pardonnez moi as I retrieve my lower jaw, which has just dropped to the floor and bounced across the room.
Maybe Ban should “require” the rest of those nosepickers to speak Korean. I’d throw in for a set of Berlitz tapes if it would help.
corruption is rampant there and reform is sorely needed.
They need to reform it so that corruption is harder to find. Whether corruption actually goes lower, that is something else, Neo. Doublespeak words, galore.
Yes, you heard me right; apparently France requires all Secretaries-General to speak French.
Remember Neo, the French think we are arrogant in America. Just remember that, next time you are in Paris. (which I hope to be never)
Bugs, you didn’t hear about Chirac walking out of a cabinet meeting because one presenter was speaking English instead of French in France?
French has been the diplomatic language for a few hundred years. That’s what this is about.
Should it be supplanted by another language, like, say, English? I would think so.
Ah, facts. Facts are good. They make this not outrageous anymore – just a little bit sad for proponents of French.
Whatever happened to Esperanto?
bugs: the whole part about France requiring Ban to speak French comes from the linked Slate article. I put it in there somewhat tongue-in-cheek–I probably should have made it clear the phrase was from the article.
I myself recall learning back in my school days that French was the language of diplomacy. I also recall that in recent years English has been making encroachments. That may be the origin of the “require” phrase–France is probably reluctant to let go of this trace of its former glory.
Probably? France banned the word e-mail and came up with a french word to officially replace it.
Are they still torching cars over there, or did they run out of Renaults?
Its probably not a coincidence the international language of diplomacy is Fwench. It makes for elegant surrender documents.
When its time to talk to Iran, that’s the language our guys should be speaking.
Officially, the French have an academe that certifies all new words in the French language. Problem is they can’t actually do it fast enough. ‘Le e-mail’ comes into common usage before they even know what it is to come up with a ‘purely’ French term. It’s hubris to the nth degree.
French WAS the official language of diplomacy. Before WWII, at best. Since then it’s de facto English. Just try and travel somewhere and use the native language. Those in tourist areas inevitably WANT to speak to you in English to practice it more, and because it’s easier than hearing you butcher their language. It also serves as the moderator between people of differing languages, but who both speak a little english (pretty much the whole educated world).
A little side anecdote- it’s been said that in the German speaking world, if you ask ‘Do you speak English?’ you’ll get one of two replies- “a little” which means they are fluent, or “yes” which means their English is better than yours!