The German minister acted very correctly. Germans always act very correctly.... That's why they go round the world making complete wankers of themselves.... but very correct wankers of course ;)
The main issue here everyone is that it is common knowledge that he speaks english and has answered questions outside Germany in english. Why not just answer if he can? Because others Wont understand him? I'm sure that guy who didn't speak German just wanted a quick answer from him in english as they both speak it. Obv if he spoke German or he didn't speak english it would be a problem - what an arrogant foreign minister
And English people do show respect for other cultures and languages.. we are one of the most diverse countries out there and i myself can speak German because my father is German and i have a lot of German family...its only a minority of English people that don't show respect towards other cultures and languages
I agree with him it should be German in Germany because we would be the same if he wanted a German response in England but was there any need to be that ignorant to the English reporter by saying that question had already been asked in German in case he hadn't noticed the reporter doesn't speak German so he wouldn't have had the foggiest clue what questions had been asked however i do agree that he should have been able to have spoke German or at least have had a translator at the ready
What a sad and discourteous fool Westerwelle is. The British reporter merely wanted the reply in English for his English speaking audience at home, and Westerwelle can speak English perfectly well. This was just a pathetic display of nationalistic pettiness and rudeness. Most Germans would not have behaved like this.
How peculiar. On the opposite side of the spectrum we have actress Salma Hayek who will always refuse to speak in her native spanish language in press conferences while promoting her films, even when she actually is in Mexico. Makes you think about how different mindsets of european and latin american people are. I'm mexican by the way.
@luevas Yes, peculiar indeed. The impact of Hayek's decision is a different one though because she's not running for the spot of a foreign minister(which he was at the time of this video). But thanks for this insight. :)
when in the U.K.you speak English-when in Germany-you speak German-kind of like when in Rome-do as the Romans do.Guido Westerwelle gave the right answers to the British reporter.
How is he making a fool of himself? The only person making a fool of himself is the English person asking him a question and expecting him to answer in English, at a German press conference, in Germany! He just assumes that he can speak English.
Why can't he ask the question in German, and then translate the answer for the English press?
Amazing this guy!!! This is Germany and here we speak German, like in Great Britain you speak English......Why the F....?? English speaking people learn other language or at least show some respect for other languages and culture.....
Good arguments from top comments, but when are all politicans, and the rest of the world, going to understand that without english, you're basically fucked? Learn english god dammit, dosen't matter where you're from.
if someone has to serve as a foreign minister of his country,he has to speak english.............after all lets not forget that this is the language of your masters....germans.as twice you have lost (and always will!!!!!!!!there's always be an england!!!!!)
Well, I'm sorry, but the international language is English, just as Latin and French were in times past. If he speaks English, he shoudl have no problem answering a question in English. I speak four languages and if someone wants me to answer in one of them, that's perfectly fine and acceptable. I would never be the prick this german asshole was.
@TheEmpowered787 It's not about whether he speaks English, it's about whether everybody in that room and everyone watching it on TV can speak English. The reporter really should be able to speak German.
@menglinhai The reporter can speak German, but his television audience in Britain cannot, and Westerwelle was discourteous to refuse, because he can speak English, as he admitted in his reply.
What shall be wrong, when people have to learn german or to understand german, if they want to live and work in Germany ? In England Pakis dont need to lern english, because it makes the political correctness happy and would upset the common sense. Of course I had to lern english and have upset the political correctness but make the common sense happy. For me, it is normal to lern the language, where you wanna live and work but, not so in England, because Pakis would be upset ...
Was soll falsch sein ? In England brauchen Pakis kein englisch lernen, weil das die politische Korrektheit so will, nun, ich musste in England english lernen und habe die dortige Gesellschaftsform anerkannt und werde damit die politische Korrektheit verletzt haben und wer in Deutschland arbeiten und leben will, muss deutsch lernen, weil Deutschland eine burgerliche Grundordnung hat, die das so selbstverstandlich regelt und die politische Korrektheit, wie das in England gelebt wird, aushebelt ...
@procrast When foreign minister from Japan have a press conference in London. He speaks Japanese. If he or she has not been study at St-Andrews, Oxford, LSE or Cambridge. Foreign ministers from Brazil speak Brasilia. And former foreign minister from USSR, the famous Eduard Shevardnadze, always spoke Russian. In Brussels at NATO HQ, In UN HQ in Geneva or NY! Any dumb foul knows this!
Really pathetic - I'm sorry I know I have a lot of privilege here being a speaker of English which happens to be the universal language but the fact is just that.... It's the universal lang - we cant all learn everyone else's language to appease people like this. for a foreign minister to not want to speak English just for the point of not speaking English is childish
I agree that it would be far more appopriate if the reporter made the question in german.
But i think the minister's attitude was a little overreacted, since english is no longer a language of Britain's property. It belongs to the world now. And the world is the BBC audience.
A little bit of good will would have avoid a lot of fuss.
@haggisman1971 If I may answer your question with a question. Is German the international language of the world in general and of Europe in particular? I don't think so.
@sanatorium3 But this wasn't an international event. It was a German press conference. Therefore the working language is German. To demand a reply in English was a bit arrogant.
IM english and we english are surprised when we go to another country and people dont speak english, its very strange I agree but hey we all weird in our own ways
Completely agree. Unbelievable that a FOREIGN MINISTER would not understand that he has an international audience and should be rather keen to express his opinions to that audience. Has he not been briefed by civil servants in any way?
If he wanted to just speak German to German interviewers forevermore, so be it. I doubt that makes for a good foreign minister. Is he still in post? I certainly hope not.
I'm right behind Westerwelle here. An English reporter can't just swan into a German press conference and demand an answer in English. If the roles were reversed, would a top British politician take a question in German? I think not.
In Germany, people speak German. So why did the BBC send somebody who was unable to speak that language?
@uwed100 First of all, I think we can agree that the reporter was fully aware that German press conferences are held in German, the way he went about asking clearly suggests that. He was hoping Westerwelle could make an exception to a routine that I doubt the reporter intended to change. I think what happened here is that the BBC reporter who was meant to participate in this press conference wasn't able to participate(sick?) and was then replaced with someone who doesn't speak German.
@uwed100 The question asked by the reporter also suggests that he does not speak any German as - according to Westerwelle - the question was asked beforehand. That leads to the conclusion that the reporter had no other choice than to speak English, otherwise he wouldn't have asked a question already asked in German. Why he doesn't speak German? I said that in the other post and it's been said in another post here beforehand as well. Westerwelle clearly blew this out of proportion.
@uwed100 I used to be part of an international community at the time that I created this subtitled version, my sole intention was to share this situation with them. It just so happened to go somewhat viral. I enjoy immersing myself in discussions, so I went to discuss with the people who commented on this video. I am German and German is my first language, I just choose to speak English on the internet primarily. To me the only possible scenario seems to be that the original reporter was replace
@uwed100 d. I cannot believe a renowned news channel like BBC would send in a reporter who doesn't speak German to a German press conference. I recommend you read the comment on this video by DSVOP, he's describing the case that I assume took place here. Just for clarification: It's perfectly fine to refuse to speak English, but there's a polite and an impolite way to go about it. The reporter obviously didn't understand German, inviting him to tea in German was just mockery.
@uwed100 I did not intend to talk you into this and convince you of what I believe but I'm glad you now have a better understanding of my stance on this matter.
well, i do agree with the foreign minister's principal but maybe he can just act more softly, that's a bit rude i think. the BBC reporter himself is not prepared (with an interpreter or translator) as well, so i think it's neither the minister's fault or the reporter's fault.
anyway, dont be so ashamed by him. he's done a simple effort to preserve the german language, tho the way is a bit unpleasant.
I live in California. I get tired of people expecting me to speak another language because foreigners are either too lazy, too disrespectful, or too stupid to learn English. The same goes for English speakers abroad. If you are going to report on German matters in Germany, you should either know German or get a personal translator. I think that he did the right thing by explaining why he won't answer in English or accept an English question. I wish American politicians were as transparent.
As an American, I support the German Foreign Minister for taking a stand! It wasn't as simple as answering a question in English, but an important political stand! Germany is one of world's largest Econ and the backbone of EU! Why the hell should he have to oblige to one English reporter's willful ignorance? Report has the audacity to be in a German press conference in Germany with a room full of Germans and dictate terms of the conference? If he wants hospitality, he should check into a hotel!
Yeah this is Germany butprovided you know english you can answer it - it's not a class-room so everyone needs to understand it ( most reporters probably do anyway ).
He made a fool of himself indeed and these moronic thumbed-up comments on this video show how deep the problem goes.
@cr4yv3n Wow, thanks for your understanding, I had just been considering the last couple of days to disable comments because only the same shit came up over and over again. Although I disagree that he should necessarily have talked english, by all means he just could have been a nicer person.
If he is in Germany, why shouldn't he be speaking German? I live in the U.S., and I would be upset if somebody just expected me to speak a language other than English. If I traveled to another country, the same applies. If I went to Germany I would expect people to speak German.
Ich stimme Westerwelle zu. Man soll im Deutschland stolz auf seiner Kultur und Sprache sein und so eine Unhöflichkeit von einem englischen Reporter nicht erlauben.
And BTW, does the reporter already know that the minister speaks fluent English, fluent enough to answer a question related to foreign policy at a press conference. If he wasn't sure of that, how could he ask him (even politely) to answer in English? If you are smart enough to be a reporter, use some web translation, translate into German and say it. It's hard to screw up English to German translation. It was anyway very gracious of the lady to quickly translate.
"If you would be so kind as to answer it in English" is not really a polite way if you look at it closely; a phrase like "if you would be so kind as to " is rude in this context. There's a better way to say it, "I'm sorry I'll have to ask in English because my German is not good; please feel free to reply in German". And then, the minister might even replied in English. All in all, it's stupid of the reporter, and that really irritated the minister who didn't handle it the best way then on.
@lemaindeuday That's not nice either. That's begging for sympathy due to an inability to speak German. The point is that it's a German conference and the minister had every right to demand the reporter to speak German.
Even though English is now a world language, I agree that the reporter shouldn't just assume he can ask a question in English. The conference, as cited, was in Germany and so if he wanted to pose a question, he should've asked for a translator instead of just talking. I respect this German foreign minister, he's standing up for German culture and is probably sick of how widely English is now understood in Germany.
@NiklasWalendy Ja der Reporter hat den Außenminister gefragt, ob er englisch sprechen konnte aber dies ist ein größeres Problem. Englische Menschen denken dass sie Englisch-kentnisse bei anderen übernehmen können, die ich respektlos und arrogant finden.
@NiklasWalendy I don't see anything foolish about his position ( to speak only german in german press conference ). You should be proud that there is at least a bit of nationalistic feelings within your government ... and not be ashamed of it.
@StMindaugas I don't like his arrogant attitude. He's doing it on principle, I get that, German press conference, German, makes perfect sense. He just made an unnecessary big deal out of it. He doesn't want to speak English, fine. Just ask someone to translate, JUST ASK SOMEONE TO TRANSLATE, without the bitchy attitude and stupid fucking remarks.
@pulsengine many Germans can't speak English that well, even though they usually try to, he's just an arrogant prick, in Holland and Norway every farmer or OAP can speak English.
@TheEmpowered787 This is a German-specific press conference in Germany, not some chat on the street. If the BBC are going to send a reporter to cover a German press conference they should at least make sure he speaks German. All he would have to do is make notes and then translate them for the British press, it's not too much to ask. If he can't speak German then the whole conference must have been a waste of time anyway seeing as he wouldn't have understood a word.
Westerwelle's arrogance here is disgusting, and I would feel the same way if this was the other way around (a German reporter who can't speak English asking a question of a British politician he knows for a fact speaks German and expecting him to answer in German). If you speak someone else's language and they don't speak your language, you should be willing to speak the other language regardless of where you are.
Then I am a GERMAN HATER. ARROGANT A**HOLES that they are, have been , and will continue to be. Proud of what? Starting wwl and wwll and the massive damage destruction and loss of lives it produced? Really? German "pride" is what got Hitler into office. This foreign minister reminds me of the Hitler gang, Goebbels, Goring, Himmler, et al........................................And English IS the international language. We are the only country who does not raise their children to be bi lingual.
It is Germany, he should speak German. Maybe Obama should speak German when asked a question by a German journalist? Nonsense, I see nothing wrong with him speaking in german, in his OWN country!!
I agree with the German Minister. The arrogant English prick needs to realise that he is currently in Germany and the national language of that nation in German.
Germany seems to be the only nation in Europe fighting to preserve it's culture, religion, traditions and values.
@222macgregor France too. Quiet the contrary, German youth has a preference for English n Germans care abt precisions. If you aint speaking it rite, they'll switch to the language ur most comfy with.
Even though I do not speak German, I totally agree with his response. I believe it's a must for a journalist to be able to speak, or at least understand the native language of the country you are going to. Besides, it was disrespectful to ask him to answer in English on German television. I'm French Canadian and I get the same feeling from some English Canadians that assume that we have to speak English to "accomodate them". Canada is a bilingual country, some seem to forget that.
Hmm very nationalistic to say the least :P and to the above comment, I have been studying German for 3 years and our teacher says we are around a 2nd-3rd grade german child's level of proficiency. It is NOT an easy language! I am bilingual already, so i already had a better understanding of the differences between languages such as word order/tense changes/noun articles..and still find this language very challenging
@DARR0Y German is a pain in the arse. Not even Germans can speak it very well, most of them just talk/write guided by a feeling for what's right and wrong, very few people have a concept as to why something is correct and why it isn't. In many cases the incorrect things are believed to be correct because they're used so widely/quantitively. If many people say something a certain way it's deemed to be correct. There's even books about the most famous mistakes in German that are used frequently.
i dont kno that i wouldnt hav bin rude to somebody comming to me and expecting mi to talk to them in englisch, he clearly had a translator ja? so then thats rude most people dont speak english and the idea that most english speaking people dont bother to learn another language seems, disturbing i liv in the US und VERY few people kno anything about another language, theyre under this impresion that theh kann go anywhere und just speak english, thats extremely unrealistik und unhealthy
The Kohl government assisted Saddam Hussein in dropping chemical bombs on Halabja-Kurdistan 1988 by sending 3 german experts to Baghdad. Günther Grass put it well when he in connection to Halabja massacre said: " German politicians are well-dressed nazis."
He was right. The only difference between Hitler and the other german chancellors is the moustache, the other chancellors were all clean-shaven..also Merkel!
Why germans like to see childern being gassed off?!!!
@schwebbs84 I personally find German to be a very very difficult language. However, if you haven't read the below comments I should inform you that the reporter was very likely a freelancer to replace the original BBC reporter in charge of the Berlin area. I'm sure the original BBC reporter does speak German, however if he was replaced, that would explain why English was spoken.
I´m from germany and I think that it's possible that he doesn't wanted to answer in english because he spoke english in public yet but it wasn't a very good english and so many people were laughing about him. it was very embarassing and not ok. it is absolutely ok to refuse talking english if you don't want to.
But it is also possible that he just doesn't wanted to answer english questions because he's in germany and in germany you speak german :)
Just very rude. He could have at least answered the question in a full and proper fashion. A foreign secretary really should act in a more dignified and mature way. Most unimpressive.
What an idiot. As a FOREIGN minister that represents his country in the ENTIRE world he should have the capacity to answer in english, that's what diplomacy and dialog is built on, PEACE.
You know what's really sad, is if you look at what German people have to say about this guy, they're ashamed that he stuck to his native language. When really, it was the reporter who was being disrespectful.
I understand German people exspecting foreigners to speak German in Germany, but many German people are exsposed english at an early age, and where as other cultures like americans simply are not. one other thing what if Westerwelle was at a Swedish news conference wanting to ask a swedish official some questions, would he ask the questions in swedish i doubt it he would ask in english or german
As a freelance reporter myself, the main BBC reporter in various nations have a command of that nations tongue, but, sometimes, a freelance is drafted in because the BBC man is in a different part of the territory, or covering a different story. Sometimes, the BBC man is on the same story, but asks a freelance to cover the PC, and this appears to be the case here. The reporter was apologetic for not being able to speak in German, so, I think he was a freelance, like myself.
It was disrepectful for the British guy to expect the minister to answer in English. According to diplomatic protocol, it should only happen with the dignitary wishes. Otherwise, translation is warranted. Furthermore, the reasons cited by the minister should be considered valid - they are in Germany.
All too often, British feel that because of the Global dominance of English, "people should just speak English." This, of course, is a fallacy.
@Stferdinanddhalifax Maybe you didn't pay attention, but the reporter said "If I may ask a question in English, if you would be so kind as to answer in English...", that's not expectant, it is more likely to be considered begging for it.
@Stferdinanddhalifax I would assume he had no other chance but to do it that way because to my understanding he probably didn't understand German, which is why he asked Westerwelle to respond in English. That would also explain why he repeated a question that was already asked before. It's out of the question that it would have been better if he had learned German. My personal problem is not that Westerwelle didn't respond in English, my problem is how he reacted to the request
@LeonSkottKennedey Not the common man, but most certainly the foreign minister in spe.
I said it before and I can say it again: For me personally, this isn't a language issue, it's merely about showing respect to a sincere, modest and most polite request. The reporter had asked in the most polite way if Westerwelle could make an exception.
I'm merely assuming here, but I believe that Westerwelle was afraid to speak English and thus reacted so cowardly and rude. So accordingly that would lead to
@LeonSkottKennedey ...to the conclusion that Westerwelle would have reacted more nicely if he had better English communication skills. Following that interpretation one might say that his English abilities were the key to and cause of all of this.
But that's not my main argument here.
All I'm saying is: Do not be rude to someone requesting something politely, especially when his request is something you should be capable of anyways(which is speaking English for the foreign minister).
@NiklasWalendy Again..., translation is warranted. Why do anglophones always go places in the world assuming they are going to be served in their own language? He went to Germany - its his responsibility to have this facility available (i.e. an interpreter).
As for Westerwelle's response, it probably reflects a frustration that many Germans, French, etc feel in the face of of the UK at the level of the EU and other organizations. British are usually the last to learn foreign languages.
@Stferdinanddhalifax As another user pointed out on this video, chances are he was replacing the BBC representative for Germany. It is out of the question that the original representative of the BBC for Germany speaks German. I have no doubts and thinking he wouldn't sounds irrational to me. Now given the circumstance he was just replacing the original one... And even not knowing that circumstance, can it be so hard to make a quick exception? Was a good chance to show his english skills wanting
@Stferdinanddhalifax to become the foreign minister of Germany anyway. I can only repeat myself, the reporter was literally begging for an expection, not for a new rule. It was rude and uncalled for to make a huge deal out of it and react all sassy.
Bravo! I approve of this 100%! The English speakers are so arrogant. Look how they mistreat the Welsh. Good to see this gentleman refusing to speak English. Mann spricht deutsch in deutschland!
@Ancupola Why should any English-speaking person have to learn any other language than the globally dominant language of English?
The only German words most people will ever learn are: die endlösungchtung, raus, verbotten, juden, schweinhund, Scutzstaffel, sonderkommando, der Fuhrer and konzentrationslager.
@PresidentZod with that attitude youll never get anywehr, many people dont speak english und are NOT interested in learning, besides its extremely unhealthy to think that way, soon the "dominance" englisch has wont be around its basik society, German was and to somm extent still ist the lingua franca of Europa englisch ist dominent largely due to the amerikans economy which as im sure your aware ist not so good, and the Euro will trumph soon enough ^^
oh shut the german mouth up :))) Germany is the last country to have any rights to talk about nationalism.....as there will always be Nazi feelings in that country... well if so Russia's always there to get germany in the ass again :))
Germany has many rights. We are the only country, where you are not allowed to draw the "Hakenkreuz" and you are not allowed to say "Nazi". We only are allowed to say:" Rechtsradikale". So we have NO Nazi feelings in our country xD. Sry 4 bad english!
@NiklasWalendy Ihre Antwort ist hochnaesig. Vom Blick der Amerikaner ist ein englisch sprendender deutscher nicht so eindrucksvoll, weil das immer noch normal geworden ist. Deswegen sollen die deutschen ihre sprachliche Bewunderer pflegen und sie nicht beleidigen. Die deutschen sollen deshalb stolz auf ihre Sprache sein. Und wenn die deutschen einen deutsch sprechenden Amerikaner in Deutschland treffen, sollen sie es benoetigen, dass die folgende Konversation auf deutsch gefuehrt wird.
Der Nachsatz sagt alles!! Die FDP ist nicht nur eine Partei die eine Minderheit repräsentiert sondern auch rechtslastig ist. Es ist eecht krank nur Deppen die das Land regieren!! Gilt für alle Parteien & die Leute die ganz vorne im Medieninteresse stehen!!
@scuster45 I personally find English to be a wonderful language, I literally embrace the language and speaking it, haha. Anyways, for German: practice, practice, practice! :D
I personally think it's not about speaking english or not. It's about the fact a FOREIGN reporter asks the FOREIGN minister in a very friendly and polite manner for SOMETHING(It really doesn't matter what it is)and instead of either just speaking 2 sentences in english OR friendly explaining that he'll answer in German and someone's gonna translate, he decides to get all cocky and giving the whole country a bad reputation. That is the problem here if you ask me.
This press conference took place after the elections in Germany. Officially he wasn't the foreign minister when this took place, he was giving the press conference as leader of his party(It was the FDP's press conference on the results of the elections), which has formed a coalition with CDU to form a government. But it was already clear that he was going to be the foreign minister, it was part of the coalition agreement.
(CDU is the stronger party of the 2, together they have around 50% of the votes). I believe that the elections for the government of a leading country like Germany are important over the national borders, so by the presence of international reporters you can tell it was not a domestic press conference. As I said above, it doesn't matter to me if he can speak english or not or if he does it or not. Just read above. ;)
It's only about his cockiness really. And I believe that in those videos he wasn't speaking freely. Angela Merkel can speak english, not tooo bad from what I've seen.
Thing is, he only refused it because he cant speak proper english at all. Look at the first related video called "Westerwelle Talking English". Seriously, even I would fit better into his position and I'm only 18...
Then he defends the position with his expression "Es ist Deutchland hier" that when a german goes to a foreign nation,where english is not spoken,nor his english,nor his german,should be accepted.
I think that german minister is just deffending what his origins mean. The german background is supposed to be showed more proudly in the land where he was born. If you go abroad, then it's right to speak english as a way of communicating with other people, but if you're in germany, in a german conference with many german reporters, then answer in german (like he does) and translate what he says to the foreigners. That's correct.
@xxcliickxp0px I think thats right. In Germany though, there is a problem with fewer people speaking Deutch (German). Its not at an overly alarming rate, but there continues to be fewer people who speak German.
Its mainly being replaced with either English or Dutch (Netherlands).
@beutelkompost: du regst dich über denglisch auf, benutzt aber das wort "abgefuckt".
xD wie kann man nur so geistig umnachtet sein..aber erklär mal den leuten hier weiterhin wie die welt funktioniert. du kennst dich ja scheinbar total aus...
The German minister acted very correctly. Germans always act very correctly.... That's why they go round the world making complete wankers of themselves.... but very correct wankers of course ;)
fantaengland 3 days ago
@fantaengland Haha, I laughed at this.
NiklasWalendy 3 days ago
@NiklasWalendy And believe it or not, I could have written that in German. But as I am on an English speaking website.....lol
fantaengland 3 days ago
The main issue here everyone is that it is common knowledge that he speaks english and has answered questions outside Germany in english. Why not just answer if he can? Because others Wont understand him? I'm sure that guy who didn't speak German just wanted a quick answer from him in english as they both speak it. Obv if he spoke German or he didn't speak english it would be a problem - what an arrogant foreign minister
jimmye15 1 month ago
And English people do show respect for other cultures and languages.. we are one of the most diverse countries out there and i myself can speak German because my father is German and i have a lot of German family...its only a minority of English people that don't show respect towards other cultures and languages
yuflungdung94 1 month ago 3
I agree with him it should be German in Germany because we would be the same if he wanted a German response in England but was there any need to be that ignorant to the English reporter by saying that question had already been asked in German in case he hadn't noticed the reporter doesn't speak German so he wouldn't have had the foggiest clue what questions had been asked however i do agree that he should have been able to have spoke German or at least have had a translator at the ready
yuflungdung94 1 month ago 2
What a sad and discourteous fool Westerwelle is. The British reporter merely wanted the reply in English for his English speaking audience at home, and Westerwelle can speak English perfectly well. This was just a pathetic display of nationalistic pettiness and rudeness. Most Germans would not have behaved like this.
karakorak 1 month ago 2
What a poor... guy..
Superblutone 1 month ago
How peculiar. On the opposite side of the spectrum we have actress Salma Hayek who will always refuse to speak in her native spanish language in press conferences while promoting her films, even when she actually is in Mexico. Makes you think about how different mindsets of european and latin american people are. I'm mexican by the way.
luevas 2 months ago
@luevas Yes, peculiar indeed. The impact of Hayek's decision is a different one though because she's not running for the spot of a foreign minister(which he was at the time of this video). But thanks for this insight. :)
NiklasWalendy 2 months ago
Einverstanden mit minister, deutsche in Deutschland.
prunni94 2 months ago
when in the U.K.you speak English-when in Germany-you speak German-kind of like when in Rome-do as the Romans do.Guido Westerwelle gave the right answers to the British reporter.
sburgcrew2 2 months ago
much ado about nothing really. A top diplomat could be more diplomatic.
baphithi 2 months ago
@baphithi wonderful comment.
NiklasWalendy 2 months ago
I don't understand why this is such a big deal, they found a translator in about 20 seconds....
wranglers575 2 months ago 2
How is he making a fool of himself? The only person making a fool of himself is the English person asking him a question and expecting him to answer in English, at a German press conference, in Germany! He just assumes that he can speak English.
Why can't he ask the question in German, and then translate the answer for the English press?
menglinhai 2 months ago
Amazing this guy!!! This is Germany and here we speak German, like in Great Britain you speak English......Why the F....?? English speaking people learn other language or at least show some respect for other languages and culture.....
juron76 2 months ago
Aber.... Es ist Deutschland hier :-)
Westerwelle hat echt kein Plan, aber wo er Recht hat, hat er Recht :-)
JAK0690 2 months ago
Good arguments from top comments, but when are all politicans, and the rest of the world, going to understand that without english, you're basically fucked? Learn english god dammit, dosen't matter where you're from.
TheLordHodne 2 months ago
ains zwei drei vier funh... heyyy.. i can speak german. ooppss i accidentally speak in english. ahh i did it again. oh no. fuck english.
PashaZafar 2 months ago
if someone has to serve as a foreign minister of his country,he has to speak english.............after all lets not forget that this is the language of your masters....germans.as twice you have lost (and always will!!!!!!!!there's always be an england!!!!!)
arsadams 2 months ago
Comment removed
menges70 2 months ago
@arsadams watch?v=j617mImHVvk
menges70 2 months ago
Well, I'm sorry, but the international language is English, just as Latin and French were in times past. If he speaks English, he shoudl have no problem answering a question in English. I speak four languages and if someone wants me to answer in one of them, that's perfectly fine and acceptable. I would never be the prick this german asshole was.
TheEmpowered787 2 months ago
@TheEmpowered787
Totally agreed.
TheLordHodne 2 months ago
@TheEmpowered787 It's not about whether he speaks English, it's about whether everybody in that room and everyone watching it on TV can speak English. The reporter really should be able to speak German.
menglinhai 2 months ago
Comment removed
karakorak 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@menglinhai The reporter can speak German, but his television audience in Britain cannot, and Westerwelle was discourteous to refuse, because he can speak English, as he admitted in his reply.
karakorak 1 month ago
typical english knob
GriefTourist 2 months ago
I totally understand his position on this. But his attitude was appaling!
gianderosa1990 2 months ago
so typisch deutsch....
VigEuth 2 months ago
What shall be wrong, when people have to learn german or to understand german, if they want to live and work in Germany ? In England Pakis dont need to lern english, because it makes the political correctness happy and would upset the common sense. Of course I had to lern english and have upset the political correctness but make the common sense happy. For me, it is normal to lern the language, where you wanna live and work but, not so in England, because Pakis would be upset ...
walesrhondda 2 months ago
Was soll falsch sein ? In England brauchen Pakis kein englisch lernen, weil das die politische Korrektheit so will, nun, ich musste in England english lernen und habe die dortige Gesellschaftsform anerkannt und werde damit die politische Korrektheit verletzt haben und wer in Deutschland arbeiten und leben will, muss deutsch lernen, weil Deutschland eine burgerliche Grundordnung hat, die das so selbstverstandlich regelt und die politische Korrektheit, wie das in England gelebt wird, aushebelt ...
walesrhondda 2 months ago
I would have asked the minister a question in Chinese and demand that he provide a response also in Chinese.
procrast 3 months ago 6
@procrast When foreign minister from Japan have a press conference in London. He speaks Japanese. If he or she has not been study at St-Andrews, Oxford, LSE or Cambridge. Foreign ministers from Brazil speak Brasilia. And former foreign minister from USSR, the famous Eduard Shevardnadze, always spoke Russian. In Brussels at NATO HQ, In UN HQ in Geneva or NY! Any dumb foul knows this!
rattenjagerjunior 1 month ago
@rattenjagerjunior In Brasilien spricht man portugisisch
croown2 3 weeks ago
Really pathetic - I'm sorry I know I have a lot of privilege here being a speaker of English which happens to be the universal language but the fact is just that.... It's the universal lang - we cant all learn everyone else's language to appease people like this. for a foreign minister to not want to speak English just for the point of not speaking English is childish
sethwright 3 months ago 3
English is a disgusting language anyway (Even though I speak it....).
Amish234 3 months ago
Westerwelle could've refused politely instead of coming across as a bit of a twat :p
LeonardosMuse 3 months ago
FUCK NAZI GERMANY
BobInGreek 3 months ago
I agree that it would be far more appopriate if the reporter made the question in german.
But i think the minister's attitude was a little overreacted, since english is no longer a language of Britain's property. It belongs to the world now. And the world is the BBC audience.
A little bit of good will would have avoid a lot of fuss.
Might1789 3 months ago
@haggisman1971 If I may answer your question with a question. Is German the international language of the world in general and of Europe in particular? I don't think so.
sanatorium3 3 months ago
@sanatorium3 But this wasn't an international event. It was a German press conference. Therefore the working language is German. To demand a reply in English was a bit arrogant.
haggisman1971 3 months ago
IM english and we english are surprised when we go to another country and people dont speak english, its very strange I agree but hey we all weird in our own ways
highnine9 3 months ago
Are you all mad? He is the FOREIGN minister of Germany! If he shouldn't be able to answer in English, who should?
sanatorium3 3 months ago
@sanatorium3 Does the foreign minister of Great Britain answer in German? I don't think so.
haggisman1971 3 months ago
@sanatorium3
Completely agree. Unbelievable that a FOREIGN MINISTER would not understand that he has an international audience and should be rather keen to express his opinions to that audience. Has he not been briefed by civil servants in any way?
If he wanted to just speak German to German interviewers forevermore, so be it. I doubt that makes for a good foreign minister. Is he still in post? I certainly hope not.
lonelysymphony 3 months ago
I'm right behind Westerwelle here. An English reporter can't just swan into a German press conference and demand an answer in English. If the roles were reversed, would a top British politician take a question in German? I think not.
In Germany, people speak German. So why did the BBC send somebody who was unable to speak that language?
haggisman1971 3 months ago
I love this guys pride.... he is in germany,,, speak german.... in Usa speak english...
I japan speak japanese.... unless you can't ....
stimmty001 3 months ago
WHY DO YOU DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHY DO YOU DIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDD
Hippopotas2000 4 months ago
As soon as English press-conferences in London or New York will be done in German,
we will be ready to do them in English in Germany....
Just to show the absurdity of the situation....And I would like to kick every German
who stated that Westerwelle should have answered in English into his
ignorant ass.
I have no sympathies for the man at all ,btw, but here he reacted correctly.
uwed100 5 months ago
@uwed100 Why's someone who wanted him to answer in English ignorant? Might want to look up ignorant in the dictionary.
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
@NiklasWalendy Since German is the language on German press conferences in Germany....It is
ignorant not knowing or ignoring it and expecting everybody - not only the minister but everyone else
who is participating in that press-conference -to speak English.
Is it so hard to understand ?
If someone,who does not speak German,asks me to speak English that would not be a problem at all
(that is what the minister also stated btw).
I recommend you to try this in Paris....:) :) :)
uwed100 5 months ago
@uwed100 First of all, I think we can agree that the reporter was fully aware that German press conferences are held in German, the way he went about asking clearly suggests that. He was hoping Westerwelle could make an exception to a routine that I doubt the reporter intended to change. I think what happened here is that the BBC reporter who was meant to participate in this press conference wasn't able to participate(sick?) and was then replaced with someone who doesn't speak German.
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
@uwed100 The question asked by the reporter also suggests that he does not speak any German as - according to Westerwelle - the question was asked beforehand. That leads to the conclusion that the reporter had no other choice than to speak English, otherwise he wouldn't have asked a question already asked in German. Why he doesn't speak German? I said that in the other post and it's been said in another post here beforehand as well. Westerwelle clearly blew this out of proportion.
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
@NiklasWalendy I have a tendency to believe that Westerwelle blew this out of proportion since
I do not like this man at all, although I have never heard this version of what happened before.
Btw,why is it so important to you ? You said in your profile you live in germany,do you speak
German,are you here to learn it or are you German (writing English so that more people world-wide can understand it) ?
uwed100 5 months ago
@uwed100 I used to be part of an international community at the time that I created this subtitled version, my sole intention was to share this situation with them. It just so happened to go somewhat viral. I enjoy immersing myself in discussions, so I went to discuss with the people who commented on this video. I am German and German is my first language, I just choose to speak English on the internet primarily. To me the only possible scenario seems to be that the original reporter was replace
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
@uwed100 d. I cannot believe a renowned news channel like BBC would send in a reporter who doesn't speak German to a German press conference. I recommend you read the comment on this video by DSVOP, he's describing the case that I assume took place here. Just for clarification: It's perfectly fine to refuse to speak English, but there's a polite and an impolite way to go about it. The reporter obviously didn't understand German, inviting him to tea in German was just mockery.
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
@NiklasWalendy OK,so I have learned something.And one more reason to dislike Westerwelle.
uwed100 5 months ago
@uwed100 I did not intend to talk you into this and convince you of what I believe but I'm glad you now have a better understanding of my stance on this matter.
NiklasWalendy 5 months ago
learn german
swedisse 6 months ago
What a complete dick. The BBC reporter obviously knew Westerwelle speaks English, Westerwelle was just being unnecessarily awkward.
Völlige Dummheit! Der Journalist klar wusste, dass Westerwelle Englisch sprechen kann. Westerwelle war einfach unnötigerweise unfreundlich.
Quelle stupidité! Le journaliste savait clairement que Westerwelle parle l'anglais. il était à mon avis inutilement obstinée.
jakaroo94 6 months ago
Comment removed
FrontierzOfficial 5 months ago
a bit rude :(
Edwardjsa 6 months ago
well, i do agree with the foreign minister's principal but maybe he can just act more softly, that's a bit rude i think. the BBC reporter himself is not prepared (with an interpreter or translator) as well, so i think it's neither the minister's fault or the reporter's fault.
anyway, dont be so ashamed by him. he's done a simple effort to preserve the german language, tho the way is a bit unpleasant.
EvanC0912 6 months ago
I live in California. I get tired of people expecting me to speak another language because foreigners are either too lazy, too disrespectful, or too stupid to learn English. The same goes for English speakers abroad. If you are going to report on German matters in Germany, you should either know German or get a personal translator. I think that he did the right thing by explaining why he won't answer in English or accept an English question. I wish American politicians were as transparent.
cstarr3 6 months ago
As an American, I support the German Foreign Minister for taking a stand! It wasn't as simple as answering a question in English, but an important political stand! Germany is one of world's largest Econ and the backbone of EU! Why the hell should he have to oblige to one English reporter's willful ignorance? Report has the audacity to be in a German press conference in Germany with a room full of Germans and dictate terms of the conference? If he wants hospitality, he should check into a hotel!
CristoMonti 6 months ago
English people are so arrogant, why do not they learn different languagesin a host's country??
Sach1stistheverybest 6 months ago
A bit over the board reaction from the official.
Yeah this is Germany butprovided you know english you can answer it - it's not a class-room so everyone needs to understand it ( most reporters probably do anyway ).
He made a fool of himself indeed and these moronic thumbed-up comments on this video show how deep the problem goes.
cr4yv3n 6 months ago
@cr4yv3n Wow, thanks for your understanding, I had just been considering the last couple of days to disable comments because only the same shit came up over and over again. Although I disagree that he should necessarily have talked english, by all means he just could have been a nicer person.
NiklasWalendy 6 months ago
If he is in Germany, why shouldn't he be speaking German? I live in the U.S., and I would be upset if somebody just expected me to speak a language other than English. If I traveled to another country, the same applies. If I went to Germany I would expect people to speak German.
1978atcarroll 7 months ago
Ich stimme Westerwelle zu. Man soll im Deutschland stolz auf seiner Kultur und Sprache sein und so eine Unhöflichkeit von einem englischen Reporter nicht erlauben.
Glarfugus 7 months ago
He has a point.
Zayrina 7 months ago
Der soll mal nach China gehen viel spass willi
Ps3Robert1 8 months ago
And BTW, does the reporter already know that the minister speaks fluent English, fluent enough to answer a question related to foreign policy at a press conference. If he wasn't sure of that, how could he ask him (even politely) to answer in English? If you are smart enough to be a reporter, use some web translation, translate into German and say it. It's hard to screw up English to German translation. It was anyway very gracious of the lady to quickly translate.
lemaindeuday 8 months ago
"If you would be so kind as to answer it in English" is not really a polite way if you look at it closely; a phrase like "if you would be so kind as to " is rude in this context. There's a better way to say it, "I'm sorry I'll have to ask in English because my German is not good; please feel free to reply in German". And then, the minister might even replied in English. All in all, it's stupid of the reporter, and that really irritated the minister who didn't handle it the best way then on.
lemaindeuday 8 months ago
@lemaindeuday That's not nice either. That's begging for sympathy due to an inability to speak German. The point is that it's a German conference and the minister had every right to demand the reporter to speak German.
votumseparatum1 7 months ago
Even though English is now a world language, I agree that the reporter shouldn't just assume he can ask a question in English. The conference, as cited, was in Germany and so if he wanted to pose a question, he should've asked for a translator instead of just talking. I respect this German foreign minister, he's standing up for German culture and is probably sick of how widely English is now understood in Germany.
pulsengine 8 months ago 19
@pulsengine He wasn't assuming he could ask his question in english, he was asking or almost begging if it was ok, if he did.
NiklasWalendy 8 months ago
@NiklasWalendy Ja der Reporter hat den Außenminister gefragt, ob er englisch sprechen konnte aber dies ist ein größeres Problem. Englische Menschen denken dass sie Englisch-kentnisse bei anderen übernehmen können, die ich respektlos und arrogant finden.
pulsengine 8 months ago
@NiklasWalendy I don't see anything foolish about his position ( to speak only german in german press conference ). You should be proud that there is at least a bit of nationalistic feelings within your government ... and not be ashamed of it.
StMindaugas 7 months ago
@StMindaugas I don't like his arrogant attitude. He's doing it on principle, I get that, German press conference, German, makes perfect sense. He just made an unnecessary big deal out of it. He doesn't want to speak English, fine. Just ask someone to translate, JUST ASK SOMEONE TO TRANSLATE, without the bitchy attitude and stupid fucking remarks.
NiklasWalendy 7 months ago
@NiklasWalendy i get your point.
StMindaugas 7 months ago
@pulsengine many Germans can't speak English that well, even though they usually try to, he's just an arrogant prick, in Holland and Norway every farmer or OAP can speak English.
talara18 2 months ago
@pulsengine He asked if he could answer in English, and if the guys speaks English, there should be no problem.
TheEmpowered787 2 months ago
@TheEmpowered787 This is a German-specific press conference in Germany, not some chat on the street. If the BBC are going to send a reporter to cover a German press conference they should at least make sure he speaks German. All he would have to do is make notes and then translate them for the British press, it's not too much to ask. If he can't speak German then the whole conference must have been a waste of time anyway seeing as he wouldn't have understood a word.
pulsengine 2 months ago 2
daaam!!that prime minister has balls. He owned that reporter, and made him go back to school..lol
s7427beast 8 months ago
Westerwelle's arrogance here is disgusting, and I would feel the same way if this was the other way around (a German reporter who can't speak English asking a question of a British politician he knows for a fact speaks German and expecting him to answer in German). If you speak someone else's language and they don't speak your language, you should be willing to speak the other language regardless of where you are.
ggweb1919 8 months ago
@ggweb1919 Nicely put, it's about making an exception, not changing a standard.
NiklasWalendy 8 months ago
I think he has done the right thing. Actually his last sentence was totally unnecessary.
vampierkill 8 months ago
Then I am a GERMAN HATER. ARROGANT A**HOLES that they are, have been , and will continue to be. Proud of what? Starting wwl and wwll and the massive damage destruction and loss of lives it produced? Really? German "pride" is what got Hitler into office. This foreign minister reminds me of the Hitler gang, Goebbels, Goring, Himmler, et al........................................And English IS the international language. We are the only country who does not raise their children to be bi lingual.
6lizzie 9 months ago
"Westerwelle refuses to SPEAK ENGLISH ON A GERMAN PRESS CONFERENCE"
really??????
thursday315 9 months ago
@thursday315 The title showcases what basically can be seen in the video, it doesn't display what my personal problem with this video is.
NiklasWalendy 9 months ago
@NiklasWalendy I think someone's pointing out that it should be 'at a German press conference'.
pulsengine 8 months ago
anybody who has a problem with this video is a German-hater
coolstuffplus 9 months ago
It is Germany, he should speak German. Maybe Obama should speak German when asked a question by a German journalist? Nonsense, I see nothing wrong with him speaking in german, in his OWN country!!
phantomsuccour 9 months ago
I agree with the German Minister. The arrogant English prick needs to realise that he is currently in Germany and the national language of that nation in German.
Germany seems to be the only nation in Europe fighting to preserve it's culture, religion, traditions and values.
Well done Germany from Scotland.
222macgregor 10 months ago 32
@222macgregor You all fail to understand the problem here.
NiklasWalendy 10 months ago
@222macgregor France too. Quiet the contrary, German youth has a preference for English n Germans care abt precisions. If you aint speaking it rite, they'll switch to the language ur most comfy with.
Ethan890206 3 months ago in playlist Ethan890206's favorites
@222macgregor The BBC is broadcast all over the world. Just in case you didn't notice, not everybody speaks german.
falafelhotdog 3 months ago
Even though I do not speak German, I totally agree with his response. I believe it's a must for a journalist to be able to speak, or at least understand the native language of the country you are going to. Besides, it was disrespectful to ask him to answer in English on German television. I'm French Canadian and I get the same feeling from some English Canadians that assume that we have to speak English to "accomodate them". Canada is a bilingual country, some seem to forget that.
ubuntuforever 10 months ago
Hmm very nationalistic to say the least :P and to the above comment, I have been studying German for 3 years and our teacher says we are around a 2nd-3rd grade german child's level of proficiency. It is NOT an easy language! I am bilingual already, so i already had a better understanding of the differences between languages such as word order/tense changes/noun articles..and still find this language very challenging
DARR0Y 10 months ago
@DARR0Y German is a pain in the arse. Not even Germans can speak it very well, most of them just talk/write guided by a feeling for what's right and wrong, very few people have a concept as to why something is correct and why it isn't. In many cases the incorrect things are believed to be correct because they're used so widely/quantitively. If many people say something a certain way it's deemed to be correct. There's even books about the most famous mistakes in German that are used frequently.
NiklasWalendy 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@NiklasWalendy "There's even books about the most famous mistakes in German that are used frequently."
Full marks for grammar and syntax in English then!
Corrections:
1. Grammar: "There *are* books".
2. Syntax: "mistakes in German that are used frequently". Why would someone "use" a mistake?
KarenMalone 10 months ago
i dont kno that i wouldnt hav bin rude to somebody comming to me and expecting mi to talk to them in englisch, he clearly had a translator ja? so then thats rude most people dont speak english and the idea that most english speaking people dont bother to learn another language seems, disturbing i liv in the US und VERY few people kno anything about another language, theyre under this impresion that theh kann go anywhere und just speak english, thats extremely unrealistik und unhealthy
LeonSkottKennedey 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
The Kohl government assisted Saddam Hussein in dropping chemical bombs on Halabja-Kurdistan 1988 by sending 3 german experts to Baghdad. Günther Grass put it well when he in connection to Halabja massacre said: " German politicians are well-dressed nazis."
He was right. The only difference between Hitler and the other german chancellors is the moustache, the other chancellors were all clean-shaven..also Merkel!
Why germans like to see childern being gassed off?!!!
soranB55 11 months ago
Natzi
romikm1 11 months ago
I think the man doesn´t speak English at all. What a shame!
Mark007123 11 months ago
how about he learn some GERMAN?
Es ist nicht zu schwer, Deutsch zu lernen :)
schwebbs84 1 year ago
@schwebbs84 I personally find German to be a very very difficult language. However, if you haven't read the below comments I should inform you that the reporter was very likely a freelancer to replace the original BBC reporter in charge of the Berlin area. I'm sure the original BBC reporter does speak German, however if he was replaced, that would explain why English was spoken.
NiklasWalendy 11 months ago
I´m from germany and I think that it's possible that he doesn't wanted to answer in english because he spoke english in public yet but it wasn't a very good english and so many people were laughing about him. it was very embarassing and not ok. it is absolutely ok to refuse talking english if you don't want to.
But it is also possible that he just doesn't wanted to answer english questions because he's in germany and in germany you speak german :)
would be interesting to know.
ElvisLockE1 1 year ago
Just very rude. He could have at least answered the question in a full and proper fashion. A foreign secretary really should act in a more dignified and mature way. Most unimpressive.
LDN235 1 year ago
What an idiot. As a FOREIGN minister that represents his country in the ENTIRE world he should have the capacity to answer in english, that's what diplomacy and dialog is built on, PEACE.
SuperIllustrious 1 year ago
You know what's really sad, is if you look at what German people have to say about this guy, they're ashamed that he stuck to his native language. When really, it was the reporter who was being disrespectful.
C3P0meetsData 1 year ago
I understand German people exspecting foreigners to speak German in Germany, but many German people are exsposed english at an early age, and where as other cultures like americans simply are not. one other thing what if Westerwelle was at a Swedish news conference wanting to ask a swedish official some questions, would he ask the questions in swedish i doubt it he would ask in english or german
mike5846 1 year ago
As a freelance reporter myself, the main BBC reporter in various nations have a command of that nations tongue, but, sometimes, a freelance is drafted in because the BBC man is in a different part of the territory, or covering a different story. Sometimes, the BBC man is on the same story, but asks a freelance to cover the PC, and this appears to be the case here. The reporter was apologetic for not being able to speak in German, so, I think he was a freelance, like myself.
DSVOP 1 year ago
lol A bitter kraut who's jelous that English has become the world language.
Edgey1988 1 year ago
Poderia ter respondido em português :)
forcadelta5 1 year ago
westerwelle ist so ein scheisskerl! zur hölle mit diesem bastard!
fairgehtauch 1 year ago
Er hat einen sehr "intelligenten" Gesichtsausdruck -_-
blio24 1 year ago
It was disrepectful for the British guy to expect the minister to answer in English. According to diplomatic protocol, it should only happen with the dignitary wishes. Otherwise, translation is warranted. Furthermore, the reasons cited by the minister should be considered valid - they are in Germany.
All too often, British feel that because of the Global dominance of English, "people should just speak English." This, of course, is a fallacy.
Stferdinanddhalifax 1 year ago 23
@Stferdinanddhalifax Maybe you didn't pay attention, but the reporter said "If I may ask a question in English, if you would be so kind as to answer in English...", that's not expectant, it is more likely to be considered begging for it.
NiklasWalendy 1 year ago
@NiklasWalendy I'm afraid you are splitting hairs here.
Its obvious the British reporter was trying to invoke some sort of English-speaker's priviledge. There is no way to sugar-coat it.
Stferdinanddhalifax 1 year ago
@Stferdinanddhalifax I would assume he had no other chance but to do it that way because to my understanding he probably didn't understand German, which is why he asked Westerwelle to respond in English. That would also explain why he repeated a question that was already asked before. It's out of the question that it would have been better if he had learned German. My personal problem is not that Westerwelle didn't respond in English, my problem is how he reacted to the request
NiklasWalendy 1 year ago 2
@NiklasWalendy how do you think he should hav responded? o.o
LeonSkottKennedey 10 months ago
@LeonSkottKennedey Cut the fuss and answer the question in English quickly?
NiklasWalendy 10 months ago
@NiklasWalendy so if you go to Russia or Japan ect you expekt theh speak englisch? o.o
LeonSkottKennedey 10 months ago
@LeonSkottKennedey Not the common man, but most certainly the foreign minister in spe.
I said it before and I can say it again: For me personally, this isn't a language issue, it's merely about showing respect to a sincere, modest and most polite request. The reporter had asked in the most polite way if Westerwelle could make an exception.
I'm merely assuming here, but I believe that Westerwelle was afraid to speak English and thus reacted so cowardly and rude. So accordingly that would lead to
NiklasWalendy 10 months ago
@LeonSkottKennedey ...to the conclusion that Westerwelle would have reacted more nicely if he had better English communication skills. Following that interpretation one might say that his English abilities were the key to and cause of all of this.
But that's not my main argument here.
All I'm saying is: Do not be rude to someone requesting something politely, especially when his request is something you should be capable of anyways(which is speaking English for the foreign minister).
NiklasWalendy 10 months ago 2
@NiklasWalendy Again..., translation is warranted. Why do anglophones always go places in the world assuming they are going to be served in their own language? He went to Germany - its his responsibility to have this facility available (i.e. an interpreter).
As for Westerwelle's response, it probably reflects a frustration that many Germans, French, etc feel in the face of of the UK at the level of the EU and other organizations. British are usually the last to learn foreign languages.
Stferdinanddhalifax 9 months ago
@Stferdinanddhalifax As another user pointed out on this video, chances are he was replacing the BBC representative for Germany. It is out of the question that the original representative of the BBC for Germany speaks German. I have no doubts and thinking he wouldn't sounds irrational to me. Now given the circumstance he was just replacing the original one... And even not knowing that circumstance, can it be so hard to make a quick exception? Was a good chance to show his english skills wanting
NiklasWalendy 9 months ago
@Stferdinanddhalifax to become the foreign minister of Germany anyway. I can only repeat myself, the reporter was literally begging for an expection, not for a new rule. It was rude and uncalled for to make a huge deal out of it and react all sassy.
NiklasWalendy 9 months ago
Bravo! I approve of this 100%! The English speakers are so arrogant. Look how they mistreat the Welsh. Good to see this gentleman refusing to speak English. Mann spricht deutsch in deutschland!
Ancupola 1 year ago
@Ancupola Why should any English-speaking person have to learn any other language than the globally dominant language of English?
The only German words most people will ever learn are: die endlösungchtung, raus, verbotten, juden, schweinhund, Scutzstaffel, sonderkommando, der Fuhrer and konzentrationslager.
PresidentZod 11 months ago
@PresidentZod People like you are the reason, that Americans are so hated worldwide today. Reread your post ignorant fuck.
OkurkaBinLadin 10 months ago
@OkurkaBinLadin You from Sudety, are you?
Your type always loved kissing German arse and swallowing Kraut cock.
P.S. Who said I was an American? People like you are the reason that Czechs are so ignored worldwide today.
PresidentZod 10 months ago
@PresidentZod
Mandarin will soon be the dominant language! He is correct NOT to speak in English I support him as the English speakers are arrogant.
Ancupola 10 months ago
@Ancupola In that case why not be a true pioneer and confine your observations to Mandarin, you stupid cunt?
PresidentZod 10 months ago
@PresidentZod
How ignorant, Please refrain from swearing
Ancupola 10 months ago
@Ancupola Mandarin fucking only please.
PresidentZod 10 months ago
@PresidentZod with that attitude youll never get anywehr, many people dont speak english und are NOT interested in learning, besides its extremely unhealthy to think that way, soon the "dominance" englisch has wont be around its basik society, German was and to somm extent still ist the lingua franca of Europa englisch ist dominent largely due to the amerikans economy which as im sure your aware ist not so good, and the Euro will trumph soon enough ^^
LeonSkottKennedey 10 months ago
oh shut the german mouth up :))) Germany is the last country to have any rights to talk about nationalism.....as there will always be Nazi feelings in that country... well if so Russia's always there to get germany in the ass again :))
7Rezy7 10 months ago
@7Rezy7 your komment displays the simplicity of your unbound ignorance ^^ good day sir
LeonSkottKennedey 10 months ago
@7Rezy7
Germany has many rights. We are the only country, where you are not allowed to draw the "Hakenkreuz" and you are not allowed to say "Nazi". We only are allowed to say:" Rechtsradikale". So we have NO Nazi feelings in our country xD. Sry 4 bad english!
KaiDollSSBB 10 months ago
I think it is great that Westerwelle has pride in Germany, but English is the world's lingua franca. There is no disrespect by speaking English.
JohnRhysMusician 1 year ago
How is this controversial? If your in Germany you need to speak German. The same thing goes with every other country as well.
abama84 1 year ago
Recht hat er. Hier in Brasilien wird auch in portugisisch gefragt und geantwortet und nicht in englisch oder deutsch
serratop 1 year ago
Sehr Gut im Deutschland sprecht auf Deutsch! im Russland Russisch, Japan Japanisch ^^ kein mehr englisch bitte ^^
LeonSkottKennedey 1 year ago 2
@LeonSkottKennedey Your German isn't very good.
NiklasWalendy 1 year ago 2
@NiklasWalendy Ihre Antwort ist hochnaesig. Vom Blick der Amerikaner ist ein englisch sprendender deutscher nicht so eindrucksvoll, weil das immer noch normal geworden ist. Deswegen sollen die deutschen ihre sprachliche Bewunderer pflegen und sie nicht beleidigen. Die deutschen sollen deshalb stolz auf ihre Sprache sein. Und wenn die deutschen einen deutsch sprechenden Amerikaner in Deutschland treffen, sollen sie es benoetigen, dass die folgende Konversation auf deutsch gefuehrt wird.
broney25 1 year ago
@LeonSkottKennedey
Kapai! Tena Koe!
Ancupola 10 months ago
Der Nachsatz sagt alles!! Die FDP ist nicht nur eine Partei die eine Minderheit repräsentiert sondern auch rechtslastig ist. Es ist eecht krank nur Deppen die das Land regieren!! Gilt für alle Parteien & die Leute die ganz vorne im Medieninteresse stehen!!
Xaroel 1 year ago
@scuster45 I personally find English to be a wonderful language, I literally embrace the language and speaking it, haha. Anyways, for German: practice, practice, practice! :D
NiklasWalendy 1 year ago
OMG not only he refuses to answer in english but also he refuses to answer the whole question . this is arrogant
ariane83 2 years ago
But isn't he a foreign minister?
However for society as a whole I must agree - we should learn to try to attempt to learn the language spoken in a country we are visiting?
And yes I am obviously a English speaker LOL
NeoFalcon69 2 years ago
I personally think it's not about speaking english or not. It's about the fact a FOREIGN reporter asks the FOREIGN minister in a very friendly and polite manner for SOMETHING(It really doesn't matter what it is)and instead of either just speaking 2 sentences in english OR friendly explaining that he'll answer in German and someone's gonna translate, he decides to get all cocky and giving the whole country a bad reputation. That is the problem here if you ask me.
NiklasWalendy 2 years ago
Could you give me some information on the background on the reason of the news conference?
Was this for "domestic/internal" German issues? If so - I would understand why he would want the conference to remain in German.
I thought the translations you given on your video was some-kind of quick summary of what he said - which yes.. did sound kinda cocky.
From other videos of him I have seen - he does speak decent English.
BTW does your Chancellor speak English? I heard she can speak Russian.
NeoFalcon69 2 years ago
This press conference took place after the elections in Germany. Officially he wasn't the foreign minister when this took place, he was giving the press conference as leader of his party(It was the FDP's press conference on the results of the elections), which has formed a coalition with CDU to form a government. But it was already clear that he was going to be the foreign minister, it was part of the coalition agreement.
NiklasWalendy 2 years ago
(CDU is the stronger party of the 2, together they have around 50% of the votes). I believe that the elections for the government of a leading country like Germany are important over the national borders, so by the presence of international reporters you can tell it was not a domestic press conference. As I said above, it doesn't matter to me if he can speak english or not or if he does it or not. Just read above. ;)
NiklasWalendy 2 years ago
It's only about his cockiness really. And I believe that in those videos he wasn't speaking freely. Angela Merkel can speak english, not tooo bad from what I've seen.
Hope this helped, regards,
Nik
NiklasWalendy 2 years ago
I wish all politicians did the same!
All english people expect other to make an effort....neve theselves!
TZAVELENA 2 years ago 6
Thing is, he only refused it because he cant speak proper english at all. Look at the first related video called "Westerwelle Talking English". Seriously, even I would fit better into his position and I'm only 18...
dasWombat01 2 years ago
Der Schwachmat beutelkompost hat übrigens mittlerweise seinen account geschlossen. xD
War auch bitter nötig, denn selten ist dergestalt hanebüchener Unsinn über D auf YT geschrieben worden.
Und das von einem imbecile, der noch nicht mal weiß, dass Vergewaltigungen überall auf der Welt stattfinden, auch in der Türkei.
Dort werden sie indes bei weitem nicht so offensiv thematisiert wie hier - die Herren werden eher als "Schürzenjäger" entschuldigt.
MBBonn 2 years ago
Then he defends the position with his expression "Es ist Deutchland hier" that when a german goes to a foreign nation,where english is not spoken,nor his english,nor his german,should be accepted.
Interesting,for a foreign affairs minister.
StellandBlood 2 years ago
Comment removed
StellandBlood 2 years ago
I think that german minister is just deffending what his origins mean. The german background is supposed to be showed more proudly in the land where he was born. If you go abroad, then it's right to speak english as a way of communicating with other people, but if you're in germany, in a german conference with many german reporters, then answer in german (like he does) and translate what he says to the foreigners. That's correct.
xxcliickxp0px 2 years ago 18
mehr oder weniger - aber der Ton macht die Musik.
Westerwelle hätte auf Englisch sagen können: "Please speak German, or ask a translator", aber so war es nur unhöflich und peinlich.
zensorship 2 years ago
100% agree
chmul123 2 years ago
@xxcliickxp0px I think thats right. In Germany though, there is a problem with fewer people speaking Deutch (German). Its not at an overly alarming rate, but there continues to be fewer people who speak German.
Its mainly being replaced with either English or Dutch (Netherlands).
newguyout 1 year ago
ich war noch nie auf mallorca und will da auch nicht hin. beutelkompost du machst dich hier lächerlich, merkst du das überhaupt?
naja, wenigstens kann ich zu deinen beiträgen herzlich lachen, das ist doch schon was^^ ich lache gerne :D
georgzwei 2 years ago
@beutelkompost: du regst dich über denglisch auf, benutzt aber das wort "abgefuckt".
xD wie kann man nur so geistig umnachtet sein..aber erklär mal den leuten hier weiterhin wie die welt funktioniert. du kennst dich ja scheinbar total aus...
georgzwei 2 years ago
ich hab auch schonmal geschrieben, "das deutsche Volk hat nur noch Schrottwert" - - was meinst du wie sie mich da beschimpft haben!
beutelkompost 2 years ago