When we go abroad 5 June 1988

Trevor Leggett was head of the Japanese Department of the BBC.

This is one of his broadcasts to Japan

Zubari for 5 June 1988

Hello listeners!

When we go abroad we may sometimes think, “What does it matter what I say? No one will understand.” 100 years ago this was usually true. But now it is quite different, and we should be careful.

A taxi-driver told me the other day that he had lived six years in France when a boy, so he knew French well.

Late one evening, he picked up a French husband and wife. They talked together in French. When they had come nearly to the hotel, the taxis’ meter showed £2.00. The wife said to her husband, “Don’t give him £2.00, give him two five penny pieces. They are very like pound coins and probably he won’t notice as it is so late.”

The five penny piece is in fact rather like a one pound coin. The husband did this. The taxi driver said in very fluent French: “No, sir, you must pay £2.00. The coins are not the same.” Then he added to the wife: “That was very naughty of you. It gives France a bad reputation for dishonesty.”  She turned as white as a sheet.

© Trevor Leggett