Video German foreign minister: 'speak German'

Guido pops a fuse: future German foreign minister agitated by English

‘In Great Britain people are expected to speak English and it is the same in Germany, people are expected to speak German,’ says Westerwelle , by (Image: @webwombel/ Youtube)

‘We’re in Germany here,’ Dr. Guido Westerwelle coolly told a BBC reporter, before snubbing his English-language question. The openly gay leader of the free democrats (FDP), 47, has mortified some German expats abroad with the comments made at his first press conference in Germany

by Lilian Maria Pithan @ Translation: cafebabel.com

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30/09/09

Tags : Guido Westerwelle, multilinguisme, Politique, deputy foreign minister, humour, langues, foreign office, Allemagne, élections, FDP, politique étrangère.

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Nabeelah
Nabeelah - 2009-09-30 12:07:30
Reminds me of when French rugby star Sébastien Chabal reminded a reporter that he was in France ... but Guido seems a lot scarier http://www.cafebabel.com/eng/article/27151/videos-sportsmen-foreign-languages-chabal.html
Sh4man
Sh4man - 2009-09-30 17:01:34
Bin, c'est pas faux.... Il a raison d'une manière. Quand je vais en Espagne, je parle espagnol. Je n'attend pas des autres qu'ils parlent français.
Picon
Picon - 2009-09-30 17:37:58
He is right! It is true that English has unofficially become the 'international' language, which doesn´t mean that we are obliged to speak it, above all in an official event as this press conference. I wouldn't dare to ask a question to the future german foreign affairs minister in Spanish, demanding politely to have the answer in Spanish too. I would at least try to ask 'permission' first in german. Who is not open minded? The german who speaks german in Germany or the Englishman who DOESN`T speak german in Germany? I think this guy has some qualities to be a good Foreigns Affairs minister... I bet he will speak English at the right moment.
Katha
Katha - 2009-09-30 17:46:41
Dear Mr. Westerwelle, Congratulations, that you as our future Minister of Foreign Affairs could fulfill the stereotype of the narrow-minded German and thus demonstrate an open-mindedness that especially us - the young Germans - can be proud of. Seriously bravo, continue like that!
Macsen - 2009-10-02 22:20:22
As a Welshman I say good on Dr Westerwelle. Shame on Katha - what's so open-minded about showing self-respect for your language in your own country? Obviously being open-minded for you means us all becoming English-speaking and keeping our languages for ethnic ghettos. English-speakers should never have to learn another language eh? 'Cos they are be definition of speaking English open-minded see. Is that right Katha? The journalist should either learn German, or show respect and the media should get used to using quotes in other languages other than English from time to time. Dr Westerwelle's decision shows that German is a language which demands respect and by doing so it will be a multi-ethnic language. As Picon says, I'm sure Dr Westerwelle will speak English when he wants/needs to. But good on him for not disowning his language. Macsen Cymru | Wales
Katharina Kloss - 2009-10-05 16:01:58
@Welshman Shame on me...Mr Westerwelle - if he will be the next German minister of Foreign affairs - will be obliged to speak foreign languages from time to time. And by the way I agree that German is one of the official European languages and should be spoken during public events or press conferences in Germany. My comment was not so much about the predominance of the English language in Europe but more about the egocentric tone Mr Westerwelle used to bawl the BBC journalist out. He kind of ridiculed himself by falling into the trap. A snappy reply in English would have been a lot more clever reaction … And let’s be honest, Westerwelle isn’t the finest speaker of the English language: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLYGPWQ0VjY Would he have reacted the same way if his English was something close to perfection? I doubt that!
Nabeelah Shabbir - 2009-10-06 13:44:58
@Macsen :'self-respect for your language in your own country' I didn't realise there were outspoken rules laid out in black and white about speaking Polish only, exclusively in conferences in Poland, or whatever the relevant language may be in Germany or Finland or Holland, whatever. There was a reason a translator/ interpreter was there, no? In this case I'd argue it was a far more personal situation than a professional one. We're ideologising a little too far. What will amuse me to see from now on is how Westerwelle will receive all future questions in a language other than German!

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