I’ve been addressed in English in Quebec, Canada (Montreal Airport), though it may not apply because English is an official minority language there. Perhaps they figured I was Anglophone because I had a US Passport out? I didn’t think much of it, really.
Every single word of this post rings true to me. Time and time again I listen to Anglophones butcher the language, then claim that someone somewhere told them their French accent was great and people are just pretending not to understand them, like that’s how people get their jollies here. I don’t expect anyone’s French to be perfect unless they’re French; just don’t kid yourself about how great your accent is, please. Also, tourists who refuse to learn “Parlez-vous Anglais?” are just fucking rude. Learn those three words, and merci, don’t walk up to people and just start yammering on in English and be surprised when the response is cold and unfriendly.
I switch to English nearly instantly when North American tourists ask me questions in halting French; I’m not a tour guide, I’ll help you get to where you want to be, but I’ve got somewhere to be myself and I want this interaction to be as short as possible.
When I travel I make no attempt to disguise the fact that I’m an American tourist. I’m a middle-age guy who wears a t-shirt and shorts and has a big ol’ camera hung from around my neck. I overheat easily, so this is the clothing that’s most comfortable for me. People consistently speak English to me, even if I begin the conversation in their language. No problem.
Also . . . When I’m traveling with my partner, who is 6’10", he is constantly asked “How tall are you?” in English. The same as at home, except he has to answer in centimeters (208).
It’s just as true to say there isn’t. There’s a Bronx accent, and a Manhattan accent, and a Queens accent. . . and Brooklyn is just a dialect.
I once told a Chinese friend that it’s a pity that I couldn’t logically say hullo to him (being a restaurant owner) in his own language, but he just laughed and said that nobody cared about the actual meaning (Have you eaten?).
This made me look to see if there’s a “meaning” for hello. Nope, just an exclamation of greeting. But check this out:
1877? I thought it would be much older than that. Really surprising.
So exactly what are you saying? That because there’s a Manhattan accent, a Queens accent, and the Brooklyn [dialect], there’s no New York accent? That it’s dead? That it’s all Default American accent?
Or are you arguing about one tree when we’re discussing a forest?