WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH?

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a Naval conference that included admirals from the U.S., British, Canadian, the Australian and French Navies.

At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a group of half dozen or so officers, that included personnel from most of the countries.

Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks, but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many different languages, Americans learn only English. This then prompted him to ask, "Why is it that we always have to speak English at these conferences rather than speaking say, French?"

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans

together, all arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."

Suddenly the group became very quiet...