Of course Swedes can speak very good English, but they often don’t unless you’re in a small group with other non-Swedish speakers, you are very good friends with someone involved in the conversation, or if you ask. In large group situations that I’ve experienced (choir rehearsals and lab department meetings), Swedes also toss out small English sound-bites to make something funnier. I think they think it’s funny but I haven’t asked… yet… Anyhow, I think this is strange. Why speak a foreign language when you’re with your own countrymen who speak your mother tongue? Here are things brainstormed up that apply to all people, not only Swedes:
-to be pretentious/sound smart (eg. Americans throwing in French words)
-to briefly reach out to those foreigners present
-they prefer the foreign language because it sounds funnier, more beautiful, cooler, or more sexy (eg. Americans faking a British accent)
-certain words do not exist in their own language (eg. Swedes swearing in English because the words are stronger)
Please add others if you think of any!!
