you wonder why it is that British and American tourists abroad speak to the locals first in fast english like they would at home, and then when the locals don't understand, the british or american tourist believes the best way to remedy the situation is to simply speak LOUDER AND...

+348 you wonder why it is that British and American tourists abroad speak to the locals first in fast english like they would at home, and then when the locals don't understand, the british or american tourist believes the best way to remedy the situation is to simply speak LOUDER AND SLOWER....as if that will magically give the local people an English language ability, amirite?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Sorry, you're wrong. There are loads of British people in Spain in summer and they all know some Spanish. All of them.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

You can't speak for every single tourist in a foreign countries.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I said what British people visiting Spain do, the OP said what he thinks all American and British tourists do, he's wrong, not all of them do that.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I should have written my comment better and made it more specific. I meant that you can't speak for every English tourist in Spain. I'm certain there are some that can't speak Spanish when they visit.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yeah, well, not all of them, but many of them.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I went to the Costa del Sol, tried to speak spanish to a shopkeeper, who replied in a cockney accent "Eh, don't you speak English?". There are so many poms in spain that tourists like I that actually do try to use the language can't.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i think it make sense if you don't know the language and have some reason to think they might - after all if i can't understand someone speaking a language i only sorta know, having them slow down helps me understand it

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Because when you ENUNCIATE, people understand better.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

i think you have missed the point somewhat - the point is that it's when the locals DON'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH that this still occurs, how does a volume increase and a speed decrease help? you might not speak swahili but if i shout it slowly at you will you undersstand me? if i enunciate my korean at you will you understand me?

by Anonymous 13 years ago