Marc.
Fortunately most of the world doesn't have to, since English is the
official language of aviation and de facto the language of international
commerce: and since my primary interest is gliders and other things
technical, I'm expending a bit of effort to learn a little German.
Cheers!

Marc Ramsey wrote in article
. ..
Jack wrote:

"Robert Ehrlich" wrote:
...people of other countries don't always master your native
language....

A young French tourist recently
spent 20 days in jail for such a reason.


Cite?

Do you mean Ali Al-Maqtari, the Yemeni (who speaks French and English)?

No, he means Franck Moulet, who spent 20 days in Rykers Island, because
an American Airlines flight attendant trying to roust him out of the
head just before landing, mistook some common French words for a
terrorist threat. See:

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,...-351256,0.html

but of course, like most of us, you probably can't read French.

Marc