Amid shouts of “c’est très good” and “at longue last,” Franglais has become the 24th official language of the European Union. Franglais, a blend of French and English, has been spoken for centuries by the upper echelons of both francophone and anglophone societies, usually by those wishing to seem educated and worldly even as they’re […]
Dog better at languages than you
Confirming suspicions that you are linguistically challenged, a team of researchers from the University of Wiltz have determined that a dog from the middle of the country has a much greater fluency in languages than you. “Despite her pea-sized brain, a memory reinforced only by dog biscuits, and a tendency to lose interest after 30 […]
How to not cringe when your partner tries to speak French
You’re having a nice lunch out with a romantic partner. The waitress approaches and suddenly your partner begins to choke, only he’s not choking. He’s trying to speak French, and even though no one understands him, he presses on. Your face breaks into an expression of equal parts sympathy and shame. Here are five tips […]
Help! Which local language should I learn?
French, German, Luxembourgish, Portuguese … I don’t know which one to choose! By Wise Expat Sage Dear Wise Expat Sage, I recently moved to Luxembourg when my partner got transferred here. Before I begin working, I’d like to take a language course to feel more comfortable in social situations. My question: which language should I […]
Man who claimed he mastered all local languages forced to admit he was lying
An anglophone who for years claimed he had mastered the local languages has been forced to admit that he can only really speak English after what one witness described as a “disastrous” telephone conversation with a hospital receptionist. On Tuesday, teacher Alan Rooney, 47, attempted to make a medical appointment over the phone while several […]