Well the English you were taught was not that of Shakespeare. It's a feature of the shrinking world - all languages have and will evolve more rapidly - until they all become English - maybe not as we know it but it will be English I'm certain.

I think your standpoint is a bit Little Britain. The reason that English became so widely spoken was because of our global domination of international trade over three centuries.

After the conquest of William everyone in England spoke French or Latin or a combination of both because it was necessary for commerce. Using that analogy the most likely consequence in light of the growth in world commerce of the Chinese - is that Mandarin will become the dominant world language eventually.

Saw it before. Made me laugh loads.

Yep English is largely based on other languages.
But Mandarin will never become a world language principally because it is extremely difficult to write in the pure form and open to massive misinterpretation in the condensed form, and as you say China is growing in the world of international commerce - what language do you suppose they conduct their business in?

After the conquest of William everyone in England spoke French or Latin or...

Not very good Spanish...

At a school age when I was susceptible to French and Latin, it was far easier! having the learning head on.. so I learn't it by the blackboard.. and text books etc..

Then I went to Germany later on and learnt what I needed to get 'ein beir und ein wurst'

Now I am in Spain, I am a mixture of Veni Vide Vici! Amo Amas Amat! Voulez vous couchez avec moi Ce Soir? Mit jaegerschnitzel! And ! LO SIENTO!


Hey, whats a girl to do!

Leighbloke! New Avatar?

Quest que c'est?
Que?
Was ist es?
Che l'è?

It's the family coat of arms.

Going back to Mike's post at the start of the thread. I think the problem with some Brits abroad is that they expect everyone to speak English, act English and sell English food and other goods. Whether that is down to arrogance, ignorance or some kind of misguided elitism, I'm not sure, but it certainly isn't a mindset that I wish to adopt and am looking forward to the day when I have the confidence to start a sentence to a Spaniard without resorting to ¿Habla Ingles?.

There's a thread running concurrent with this one on the main Spain forum where someone has moved 2,000 miles only to be obsessed with where the nearest Primark is, for god's sake.

In the Swedish national colours too. How appropriate.

My problem with people wanting to find certain shops near to where they live is that all of european shopping areas could end up looking like all of the shopping centres in the UK. What happened to visiting different places to find the different shops and enjoying each shopping centre for their differences, why does everywhere have to be a clone of another area.

Surely if people move to a different country they want to enjoy the differences within that country. Why does everywhere have to become a 'Little Britain'? If someone wants to shop in these places then they can in the UK.

Rosemary

Just a thought but, I wonder if there are any Spanish expat sites on the internet. If so I wonder if they have threads about missing Spanish shops and Spanish food? I`d like to bet that if there were any Spanish forums they would be asking about Spanish shops and products in other countries!

I dont miss much at all from the UK, but the odd time I do wish I could have a bit of a treat from the UK which I cannot get here.

It's a good point Sam, but I don't think the would because they aren't as brand led as we are. I can't imagine they worry that the detergent isn't Persil, the brown sauce isn't HP or the beans aren't Heinz.

BTW Tesco now stock a great range of tapas.

I have read some messages yours for to notice a certain aversion to the spaniards, and I don't still know which is the reason (if some bad experience, problem of adaptation, maybe something pathological...I don´t know). And don't worry about english, it won't disappear. It is only necessary to navigate for internet or to see the quantity of apparatuses that there is with written english

Only are some examples

Don`t worry about him, he has an aversion to everybody not only Spaniards.