The common tongue (TCT) On a recent visit to France when I asked, do you speak english,the reply came ,Do you speak french !
Since as for most whose native tongue is not “English” they cannot tell if one is from Ireland ,the US ,Canada ,New Zealand ,Australia or any other Country where English is the common tongue .Such a comment is not ,I believe directed to “us” but to “the English” most of whom do not speak French ,so as in retort ,why should the french speak english .
If the above is true, then in the interest of spreading a common tongue (tct) for the benefit of all ,perhaps a more french friendly term for “English” as a language would be the common tongue . e.g. So next time before you ask someone if they speak English you could ask they speak the common tongue (tct). be jensen c- 2011