"If you would be so kind as to answer English."

[Brighteye]

If a BBC reporter can't speak German, why send him?

If the BBC reporter can't understand the rest of the conference, what is the point of him being there?
The BBC and the reporter just wasted time and money and deserved to be told off.

 

[pau17]

That apparently wasn't enough, though, he also insisted on being asked the question in German.

The reporter might have been disrespectful, depending on how you look at it, but it surely didn't warrant the German foreign minister being an donkeyhole.

His being asked the question in German = the translator speaking it in German not only for him but for the audience as well. It's rude for the reporter to exclude everyone else that way, even if most of them speak English.

 

[Kerozine]

His being asked the question in German = the translator speaking it in German not only for him but for the audience as well. It's rude for the reporter to exclude everyone else that way, even if most of them speak English.

I don't see how the audience and whatever interactions between members of said group is of any relevance to this matter.

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

I don't see how the audience and whatever interactions between members of said group is of any relevance to this matter.

The conference could have been broadcasted to Germany, perhaps? I don't think Germans or anyone for that matter have to be able to speak English.

 

[civ_king]

If English was good enough for Jesus English should be good enough for Deutsche Bags!

 

[bhsup]

There is a slight flaw in your argument, civ_king...

 

[civ_king]

There is a slight flaw in your argument, civ_king...

oh yeah, it ain't deutsche but douche

 

[scherbchen]

BS. Joschka Fischer had a slight German accent but his English was quite good otherwise, as to witness from his speeches at the UN. And that guy used to be a taxi driver. Westerwelle's accent is worse than that of the terrorists in Die Hard, and he stutters and inserts German words and sentences. Considering we all learn English from 5th grade on in Germany, he could really be better at that if he wasn't a moron.

well, some people have a knack and an ear for other languages, others don't. *shrug*

 

[Kerozine]

The conference could have been broadcasted to Germany, perhaps?

Sure, but why would it matter still?

I don't think Germans or anyone for that matter have to be able to speak English.

Not even the German foreign affairs minister? How is this incident somehow perceived as an affront to the German, iono, identity anyway?

 

[mrt144]

I thought I recognized the foreign minister.

 

[mrt144]

If a German reporter did this to a British minister, can you imagine their reaction?

The Brits would crap themselves so hard with bloody stool?

 

[Aquila SPQR]

Omg! Agressive foreign policy from Germany we hadn't seen that for like 60 years. Get ready Poland!

Don't worry, people of England, we'll send you our pilots

 

[pau17]

I don't see how the audience and whatever interactions between members of said group is of any relevance to this matter.

Because it is a public press conference. Say you had a minister of some country that just happened to speak an obscure language. A reporter from that country might rattle off a question in the language and they could have an exchange without anyone knowing what they were talking about. Now that would be just rude.

The fact that "most Germans speak English" doesn't change anything. It's a German press conference and in the interest of the attendees and the public audience, the means of the German state (the minister) should be responsible to the German people and it's his right to politely give the answer in German, as he did. I'm not saying it should be a law or that it's such a grave offense; it was just rude, is all.

 

[Labtec600]

I think he's absolutely right; English-speakers seem to take it for granted that their language can, is, and should be spoken everywhere, and sometimes we need to be reminded that there are, in fact, other languages out there.

Unless of course you're a mexican in America.

 

[uppi]

BS. Joschka Fischer had a slight German accent but his English was quite good otherwise, as to witness from his speeches at the UN. And that guy used to be a taxi driver. Westerwelle's accent is worse than that of the terrorists in Die Hard, and he stutters and inserts German words and sentences. Considering we all learn English from 5th grade on in Germany, he could really be better at that if he wasn't a moron.

A taxi driver needs better English and should have more opportunities to practice than a regular lawyer.

Studying law is one of the very few studies left, where you can get away with knowing no English.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I thought I recognized the foreign minister.

/thread

Of course if it were really him, he would have begun to answer in French and ended in Italian.

 

[Kerozine]

Because it is a public press conference. Say you had a minister of some country that just happened to speak an obscure language. A reporter from that country might rattle off a question in the language and they could have an exchange without anyone knowing what they were talking about. Now that would be just rude.

The fact that "most Germans speak English" doesn't change anything. It's a German press conference and in the interest of the attendees and the public audience, the means of the German state (the minister) should be responsible to the German people and it's his right to politely give the answer in German, as he did. I'm not saying it should be a law or that it's such a grave offense; it was just rude, is all.

Rude to the minister, sure, but to everyone else? Still don't get it. Press conferences are about some guy making an announcement and answering whatever questions members of the press might have, not some public discussion involving all parties involved.

No doubt that the reporter should've used the translator that was at his disposal, no doubt he was rude to the minister, but it surely didn't warrant the latter to get all pissy about it.

 

[gangleri2001]

I prefer the unbeatable thank you of Zapatero:


Link to video.

 

[bhsup]

Rude to the minister, sure, but to everyone else? Still don't get it. Press conferences are about some guy making an announcement and answering whatever questions members of the press might have, not some public discussion involving all parties involved.

No doubt that the reporter should've used the translator that was at his disposal, no doubt he was rude to the minister, but it surely didn't warrant the latter to get all pissy about it.

What about for all the OLD german citizens who are watching? I am sure there are some who do not speak English. Do you know how insulting it would be for their very own foreign minister having to accomodate a reporter too rude to use an available translator just for his own personal convenience? That denies these older non-English speaking Germans the chance to hear their minister speak in his native tongue IN HIS OWN COUNTRY.

 

[pau17]

Rude to the minister, sure, but to everyone else? Still don't get it. Press conferences are about some guy making an announcement and answering whatever questions members of the press might have, not some public discussion involving all parties involved.

No doubt that the reporter should've used the translator that was at his disposal, no doubt he was rude to the minister, but it surely didn't warrant the latter to get all pissy about it.

It is actually more rude to the public than to the official. That "some guy" is a public official and represents the German state in this instance. He is the instrument of the German people and accountable to them (his official persona, not his biological person).