Educated person Quote by Graham Robb
““highly codified and formal foreign language known as French – a language which, according to many French-speakers, almost no one speaks correctly. In the land of a thousand tongues, monolingualism became the mark of the educated person.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Story of French, Graham Robb, 2002
French is often seen as a prestige language, yet many speakers admit they rarely master it fully, making monolingualism a status symbol among the educated.
In simple terms: French is prized but rarely spoken perfectly; monolingualism signals education.
Key Takeaway
Value linguistic humility and diverse communication.
Themes
language
education
status
culture
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- academic settings
- multilingual workplaces
- travel
- language learning
- social gatherings
Key Concepts
sociolinguistics
prestige language
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language prestige affect real communication?
- Do you prioritize fluency over status?
A Different Perspective
Prestige may mask practical communication gaps.
