Linguistic Security
As I was passing through the security check at Stansted the other day, I over-heard the following conversation at customs:
Police Officer: Excuse me sir. May I see your passport and boarding pass?
Customer/Smartly dressed business man: Of course [gives the officer his documents]
Police Officer: Swedish. Are you Swedish sir?
Smartly dressed business man: Yes, I’m Swedish.
Police Officer: What is the purpose of your visit?
Smartly dressed business man: Business.
Police Officer: Do you speak Swedish, sir?
Interesting linguistic security check-point at Stansted.
This happens to me quite often. When I say “I’m French”, people ask afterwards “Do you speak French?”