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star trek - Why did Data call the French language "obscure"?


In the video below, Data refers to the French language as "obscure". Picard objects to this and Data is about to make a remark as to why the French language was indeed obscure. Is there any indication given in any other materials as to why Data considered French to be an obscure language?


Jean-Luc Picard insulted by Data - YouTube




Answer



I keep going back to the Writers Guide again and again, as well as in this case. The description of Jean-Luc Picard states among other things:



Born in Paris, France, Picard betrays a gallic accent only when deep emotions are triggered. Otherwise, since ethnic accents are no longer common, he carries only a touch of French phrasing in his speech. In discussions with friends, he pretends to believe that France represents "the only true civilization" to appear on Earth -- and that it delights him when a witty companion wants to prove the same for England, Italy or China. He is definitely a 'romantic' and sincerely believes in concepts like honor and duty although on issues that affect the safety if his crew and starship he can be completely pragmatic and tough as hell.



"Federation Standard" is the common tongue for Starfleet and Data, who not only know this and French but also a huge range of other languages, presumably classify languages with fewer then N users to be obscure. If we take the first definition of obscure from Merriam Webster:



  1. not well-known : not known to most people


it is fair to assume this is a direct cold fact way of presenting it from Data's fact-ridden way of thinking.




When it comes to the particular clip it is clear that they intended it to be a humorous awkward moment precisely because of Picards love of France. This is further underlined by the reaction of the crew. A situation we all know; when someone unknowingly is stepping on someone else's toes ;)


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