French-speaking Canadian DUers - a question

[Book Lover]

I have occasional contact with a printer in Louiseville, QC (I am in SF, CA). They answer the phone in French, and I reply in English. They mail back printing proofs with French and English paperwork, and I reply in English. If I started replying and speaking in French, would that be seen as silly or unprofessional? English and Italian are my first languages, and I have studied French formally, so I don't think I'd make *too* much of an ass of myself, but I know I don't know about the local business culture. Thanks!

[Book Lover]

1. Kick

[Lautremont]

2. I think they'd appreciate it.

I have pretty good French skills, but not perfect. When I'm in Quebec I speak French, and it's up to the person I'm talking to to decide if their English is better than my French, and they act accordingly.

Give it a try. They'll be talking about "the American who spoke French" for weeks.

[Book Lover]

5. LOL!

At least they won't be talking about how late the cover files were :-)

[HEyHEY]

3. Oh my god I know that town from personal experience

They have a rodeo there I went too. You could drink beer and walk down the street and into stores.

Anyway, speak the french it would be VERY well received. Just don't try for a parisien accent, they'll spit on you.

[Book Lover]

4. It would probably be with an Italian accent!

Seriously, I think that when my father was speaking Italian to me, my brain put all that info into a box labelled "Other Languages" and now when I go to speak in, say, French, it has to go through an Italian filter :-)

Thanks!

[gizmo1979]

6. I'm an english speaking french canadian american

Oh nevermind.