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From: hinsenk@cyclone.ERE.UMontreal.CA (Hinsen Konrad)
Subject: Re: Languages in the EC
In-Reply-To: livesey@solntze.engr.sgi.com's message of 6 Feb 1995 23:44:02 GMT
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References: <3gtddp$crg@bambi.zdv.Uni-Mainz.DE> <791945488snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk>
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Date: Tue, 7 Feb 1995 17:30:21 GMT
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In article <3h6c82$16m@fido.asd.sgi.com> livesey@solntze.engr.sgi.com (Jon Livesey) writes:

   |> Probably it was not a coincidence, but a consequence of the fact
   |> that you have been to places where there are many tourists.

   How do you know, and so what?

I don't know, but I do know Germany, and so I made an educated guess.

   As it happens, you are dead wrong, but even if you were, what
   would it show?   Do you think European countries set up areas
   where "tourists go" and then ensure that all natives in that
   area speak English?

Such areas are not "set up", but develop in regions of interest
for tourists. And what ensures that people speak English there
is simply their own economic advantage.

In all the cities in Germany where I used to live (all of them
hardly visited by foreigners), you would have a hard time
finding someone who speaks English reasonably well.

   A large number of Germans speak pretty good English.   Fact.
   Why are we trying to 'disprove' this?

I won't argue about "a large number", but it is nevertheless a
small minority.

--
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