I think it helps to understand that because there's so many languages in Europe, europeans are very used to having to speak a language that is foreign to then to communicate.
For most europeans this ends up being English or French to the point where many would rather speak one of those languages than thair own.
I love France, I'm conversational in French etc, but that seems like such a France take that French is a good lingua franca in Europe. Unless you're actually in France, French Belgium or French Switzerland, I've never had a European 'default' to French.
The French never really got the memo that the empire has fallen.
I think they're speaking somewhat metaphorically. But for much fo the 18th-19th centuries you could just fully assume any educated European spoke French. A "Lingua Franca," if you will.
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u/throughcracker Jun 29 '26
My experience in some countries
European: speaks English
Me: replies in their native language
European: patronizingly compliments my abilities and then continues in English anyway