Change in what is fashionable never bothers me overly much (not even the American habit of turning nouns into verbs) - there’s nothing really wrong with “reach out” and the mental image that it conjures is quite consistent with what is going on.
As for flowery and genteel language - again it’s just a fashion (and " Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux" must really grate if you don’t like flowery genteel language).
I do get annoyed by “verbal ticks” - such as “like” as a filler (though arguably not actually worse than err or umm it always sounds more annoying), actual incorrect use tends to get me though (affect vs effect, their/they’re/there, less vs fewer) but even then ultimately I think we have to accept that usage shifts.
Which is the point, really, language changes and evolves as changes in the world shape it - and it shapes how we look at the world and that evolution is driven by all of the actual users. The custody of English is not in the hands of the British, much as we’d like to think that it is. It is in the hands of every speaker whether British, American or any other nationality using it as a 2nd language.
French has fewer speakers but it is no more the sole preserve of L’Académie for that, however much they would prefer it to be.
Just add “quand même” to every sentence and the French will think you are fluent. Add a few “bahs” and “ooh la las” for good measure. I always assumed “ooh la la” was only said by French maids in Brian Rix farces so I was somewhat startled to hear it said by elderly French farmers!
I made an appointment over the phone for a meeting with my Chambre de Métiers advisor. To end the conversation in an amicable tone, to answer the confirmation of the appointment, I said “Au plaisir” ( de vous revoir)
He replied formally “Au-revoir Madame”
You wouldn’t really say that on the telephone, especially for something administrative, I wouldn’t even say it in person - it is the sort of thing your village épicier might say jocularly to a customer they know.
