French is still the official language of diplomacy. Therefore people who think diplomats are civilized think French is civilized. English has become the language of the global economy because of the size and strength of the Victorian British empire and that has been reinforced by the power of the American economy. People who aspire to sophistication tend to think crass commercialism is so gauche. English, itself, derives from a combination of German and French (in their ancient forms). Before 1066 the English in power were descended from Germanic tribes. Then William (who was a cousin that came from a branch of the family in Normandy) felt slighted and invaded to prove a point and conquered England. Because the Normans spoke French, the nobility used more French words. Words used by the lowly are derived from German. Think about the words used in farming. But when the food hit the table you can see French derivation. Think "beef" and how close it is to the French word.
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I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing.
Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"
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