Why does Werner Herzog refuse to speak French?

Werner Herzog does not necessarily "hate" the French people or culture, but he has a well-documented, extreme aversion to speaking the French language. He considers it "the last thing [he] would ever do" and famously stated he would only speak it under extreme duress, such as having a gun pointed at his head. Reddit +1
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Why won't Werner Herzog speak French?

And I do speak some Italian and I do understand French but I refuse to speak it's the last thing you I I would ever do you can only get some French out of me with a gun pointed at my head or something like that then I would speak French it actually happened to me I was taking prisoner in Africa and drunk soldiers on a ...
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What are the problems with Werner Herzog?

The five charges against Herzog can be summed up as follows: exploiting people with disabilities, manipulating material for dramatic effect, beautifying horrific acts or events, looking at the world through a colonial gaze and, finally, the collaboration with Kinski; a mentally disturbed man who, some would say, should ...
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What is the 80/20 rule in French?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in French learning means focusing on the 20% of vocabulary and grammar that gives you 80% of comprehension and communication; you achieve this by learning high-frequency words and essential structures first, using lots of listening/reading (input) for the majority of your time and speaking/writing (output) for the rest, enabling faster progress and practical conversation skills.
 
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Why did the English stop speaking French?

Decline of French as prestige language in England

Throughout the late 11th and 12th centuries, the Norman nobility ruled over both England and Normandy. In 1204, Normandy was lost to France and so the aristocracy began to associate more with an English identity.
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Werner Herzog on Languages ...

What is the #1 hardest language?

There's no single "hardest" language, but Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic are consistently ranked at the top for English speakers due to their vastly different writing systems, tones (Mandarin), multiple scripts (Japanese), or complex grammar and guttural sounds (Arabic). The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) groups these, along with Cantonese and Korean, as Category IV languages, requiring the most time for English speakers to learn.
 
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Do the French actually say "je ne sais quoi"?

Yes, the French say "je ne sais quoi," but it literally means "I don't know what," and while it's used in French, it's often for its literal sense (like "and I don't know what else") and is considered more formal or old-fashioned for describing an indefinable charm, a meaning English speakers use it for constantly, where French speakers might use "un certain charme" or "un petit truc en plus". 
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Do the French actually say "je voudrais"?

Yes, the French absolutely say "je voudrais" (I would like) and it's a fundamental, polite phrase used daily for requests, ordering food, and expressing desires, serving as the softer, more courteous alternative to the direct "je veux" (I want). It's common in restaurants, shops, and general interactions, softening requests like "Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît" (I would like a coffee, please). 
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What is the hardest tense to learn in French?

The hardest aspect of French tenses is generally considered the Subjunctive Mood (Le Subjonctif), used for doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty, along with understanding the nuances between the Imperfect (Imparfait) and Passé Composé for past actions, plus mastering irregular verbs like être. While the subjunctive isn't a tense but a mood, its complex usage and distinct conjugations make it a significant challenge for learners, often requiring learning specific phrases and conjunctions.
 
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What is the 5 to 7 rule in France?

The "5 to 7 rule" in France, known as le cinq à sept, refers to the traditional time after work (5 PM to 7 PM) when someone might meet a lover for a tryst before returning home, symbolizing a discreet extramarital affair, though traffic and modern work schedules have made it less common, with variations like happy hour in Quebec. It represents a cultural acceptance, or at least pragmatism, regarding infidelity, contrasting with more Puritanical attitudes elsewhere, though it's now more a historical concept than a rigid practice.
 
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Why was Werner Herzog shot?

In 2006, Herzog was shot in the abdomen while on Skyline Drive in Los Angeles. He had been giving an interview on Grizzly Man to Mark Kermode of the BBC. Herzog continued the interview without seeking medical treatment, stating "it's not significant". The shooter later turned out to be a crazed fan with an air-rifle.
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Did Klaus Kinski have a relationship with Werner Herzog?

The relationship between director Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski was a famously volatile, yet creatively fertile, bond of mutual obsession, described by Herzog as "brotherly" and essential for their groundbreaking films like Aguirre and Fitzcarraldo, despite extreme on-set battles, threats, and even plots to murder each other, culminating in Herzog's documentary My Best Fiend.
 
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What was Werner Herzog's famous quote?

Civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of chaos and darkness.
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Can Johnny Depp speak French fluently?

From Hollywood charm to Parisian flair, Johnny Depp surprised many by speaking fluent French in interviews—and it's a reminder that learning another language opens global doors.
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Is Timothee Chalamet 100% French?

Chalamet is bilingual in English and French, and holds dual United States and French citizenship through his French father. Growing up, Chalamet spent summers in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, a small French village two hours from Lyon, at the home of his paternal grandparents.
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What are the criticisms of Werner Herzog?

Werner Herzog faces criticism for his demanding, potentially exploitative filmmaking style, seen in accusations of cinematic sadism, manipulating disabled individuals (like in Land of Silence and Darkness), and enduring controversies like the Kinski collaborations and animal abuse allegations (e.g., boiling rats for Nosferatu). Critics also point to his "hit-and-run" appropriation of reality, a colonial gaze, and questionable ethics in blurring fiction and documentary, though supporters defend his pursuit of deeper truths and authenticity.
 
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What is the 80 20 rule for learning French?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) for French language learning means focusing on the 20% of vocabulary and grammar that yields 80% of your communication ability, prioritizing high-frequency words, essential phrases, and comprehensible input (listening/reading) over niche terms, with 80% of time on input and 20% on output (speaking/writing) for efficient progress and rapid conversational skills.
 
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What is the top 3 hardest language to learn?

The top 3 hardest languages for English speakers are generally considered to be Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, and Japanese, due to their vastly different writing systems (logographic/three scripts), tonal nature, and complex grammar/pronunciation, requiring significant time (around 2,200+ hours) for English speakers to reach fluency, according to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) rankings.
 
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What tense is "je suis"?

In the present tense, être is conjugated as follows: Je suis. Tu es. Il/Elle/On est.
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Is it polite to say "de rien"?

Yes, "de rien" (it's nothing/no problem) is polite in casual French settings with friends, family, or even strangers for small favors, but it's considered less formal and can sometimes come off as dismissive; more polite and gracious alternatives for formal situations or to show more warmth include "je vous en prie" (formal) or "je t'en prie" (informal), or "avec plaisir" (with pleasure). 
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What does "je ne sais quoi" mean literally?

In French, je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It's used to capture an indescribable, special distinguishing feature, or to name some unnamable quality.
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Why do French say ouais instead of oui?

Let's be honest: if you only use “oui,” you'll sound like a textbook. “Ouais” is to “oui” what “yeah” is to “yes” for English speakers. It's casual, easygoing, and used constantly in real-life conversations and informal settings. Friends use it.
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What does the French phrase "sacre bleu" mean in English?

First of all, let's take a closer look at what sacré bleu actually means. It's a French expression that translates to holy blue, and is often used to express surprise or shock. The phrase has become so popularized in Western culture that it's often used as a shorthand for anything remotely French.
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Do the French actually say "comme ci, comme ça"?

No, French speakers generally do not say "comme ci comme ça" anymore; it's considered outdated textbook French, understood but sounds like a tourist, with modern alternatives being "bof," "ça va," or "pas mal" for "so-so". While it was popular in older learning materials, native speakers in France rarely use it now, though some regional variations (like in Quebec) or specific contexts might still use it. 
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