• SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    Germany’s 2nd most spoken language is English, by 32% of the population.

    Germany’s 3rd most spoken language is French, by 9% of the population.

    France’s 2nd most spoken language is English, by 24% of the population.

    France’s 3rd most spoken language is Spanish, by 9% of the population.

    UK’s 2nd most spoken language is French, by 16% of the population.

    UK’s 3rd most spoken language is German, by 5% of the population.

    Source: https://languageknowledge.eu/

    While you could say that France is a bit behind the curve in comparison with most other Northern European countries, native English speakers are far worse at learning any other language. I’m not even French, but the circle-jerk English speaking communities have about French people sometimes gets pretty embarrassing.

    • EnderMB@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      As someone from the UK, I absolutely do not think that 13% of the population can speak French to an acceptable level. I’d go as far as to say that 13% of the population can barely speak English to an understandable level…

    • Randelung@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      The point is precisely that they are very capable and do speak the language, but they sometimes refuse to.

      And yes, it’s also a meme.

      • Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        The simplest fact is, it’s xenophobia, not racism

        Edit - I don’t mean the comment is xenophobic, I mean it’s not racism if it’s about nationality