Language Log: schild en vriend: "Those suspected of being Walloons or Frenchmen who could speak Dutch were asked to say schild en vriend "shield and friend", an expression regarded as particularly difficult for those who were not native speakers. Those who did not pronounce it correctly were determined to be the enemy and killed."
Indeed. And the test has stood the test of time. Native French speakers still can't pronounce "schild en vriend" correctly. Neither can native Spanish or English speakers.
# Feb 6, 2004