Looks like the French are up in arms – that doesn’t happen very often.
An official from the august custodian of all things Francais – the French Academy, is all excited about the intrusion and adoption into the French language of English words and phrases – not for the first or probably the last time.
He/she has taken issue with English words used for advertising and marketing purposes and says that they should be replaced with words of pure Gallic ancestry. They’ll have a job with that and having left their pied a terre could find themselves down a linguistic cul de sac while singing “Three German Officers crossed the Rhine – Parlez-Vous”.
By: trumper - 27th October 2013 at 13:35
I too did French at school but actually learnt more in 2 weeks in France with my parents who couldn’t speak any french so my sister and i had to do it.To me ,if it’s not going to be intensively learnt and used it is a big waste of time that could be used in school for me useful subjects.
By: charliehunt - 27th October 2013 at 13:18
Oh yes I have had similar experiences there. And there is no better way to alienate visitors. But if they wish to remain in the backwoods that’s their choice.
And as for all the signage in English and Welsh……what does that achieve?
By: AlanR - 27th October 2013 at 12:57
Many years ago we went to Wales, went in a shop and 2 women were speaking in English,
as soon as my wife spoke, the 2 women then spoke to each other in Welsh.
Not an unusual thing to happen. We first noticed that about 50yrs ago, mainly in the North of Wales.
I mentioned this on a forum some years back and was told ..”it’s a myth, it doesn’t happen”… Certainly did with us !
By: Lincoln 7 - 27th October 2013 at 11:20
As cheeky as ever John….:eagerness:
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: John Green - 27th October 2013 at 10:45
Re 24
Snafu
When answering a question from his Mum !
By: Lincoln 7 - 27th October 2013 at 08:03
Same three fingers as the Germans use I.I.R.D.?
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Moggy C - 27th October 2013 at 07:27
”2 biers” accompanied by a ‘victory’ V sign 😀
It pays to remember that the French start counting from the thumb. Holding up the two Churchillian fingers can often get you three of whatever you require.
Obviously not an issue buying beer.
Moggy
By: bazv - 27th October 2013 at 06:46
Yeah saw a couple of strippers with pasties ; )
Pernod 51 was nice (not the cr@p they sell here ; )
By: snafu - 27th October 2013 at 00:04
Do they do pasties in France?
I met a couple of Yanks who were enthusiastic enough to ponder importing them to Oregon, but never a Frenchman…
By: bazv - 26th October 2013 at 23:48
”Deux pastis sil vous plais” used to work well and also ”2 biers” accompanied by a ‘victory’ V sign 😀
By: snafu - 26th October 2013 at 23:40
When exactly would you use Jean Paul est dans le jardin in normal conversation?
By: AlanR - 26th October 2013 at 22:34
I was taught French at school, used it once in my life whilst in Paris. What a waste of my eduicashun……………..:rolleyes:
Jim.
Lincoln .7
Yes, I too spent time learning French at school. Four years in fact. I’ve never used it, even when in Paris.
By: Moggy C - 26th October 2013 at 20:42
Interesting that this crops up now.
I have a meeting in Paris on Wednesday with a French communications agency who have been offered the e-learning work for a large company on the proviso they have a native English speaker in from the start of each module.
Moggy
By: John Green - 26th October 2013 at 10:51
Re 13
I thought that he was writing in it. Either that, or he’d been gargling !
By: Lincoln 7 - 26th October 2013 at 10:41
Exactly what I said Gary……….:) but I recon Chas has some French blood in him…..
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: trumper - 26th October 2013 at 10:29
My wonder has always been why the British can never do foreigners the courtesy of at least trying to speak their language.
Yes but WHICH one,French,German,Spanish,Urdu,Norwegian ? surely it makes more sense to speak one language that people general around the world have a basic understanding of.
By: Lincoln 7 - 26th October 2013 at 08:37
Precisely Linc – some are still “little Englanders” in 2013!
I just wonder, when in Boston Lincs there are 1 in 5 who are foreign, the local Council has stated that , that is the ones they know about, and there are many more there they don’t know about.
The Bostonians are up in arms about it, inasmuch as they are taking the Council Houses, from the Council, ahead of locals born and bred in Boston.
We have a Car wash just up the road, where for a fiver one can get your car washed, they are all Muslims, long beards etc, I take the wifes car there when I can’t be ars** to do it myself, friendly, and chatty guys, but every time I go, there is always a different group there. Where do the ones that were there two weeks previously gone to?. Several weeks ago, I was present when the Border Control, assisted by the Fuz paid the car wash a visit, and 4 out of the 6, were carted away in handcuffs.I just wonder how many more there are in the same situation.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Lincoln 7 - 26th October 2013 at 08:26
I thought the native tongue in your area Jim was Polish(sorry my hands just made me write it):D
Polish, Ukranian, Lithuanian, Jamaican, Chinese, Russian, You name it, and i’ll sing in it. Sfunny realy, they speak English when in a shop, then revert to their own language as soon as they leave the shop. Many years ago we went to Wales, went in a shop and 2 women were speaking in English, as soon as my wife spoke, the 2 women then spoke to each other in Welsh.
Funny ole world, innit.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: charliehunt - 26th October 2013 at 05:38
Precisely Linc – some are still “little Englanders” in 2013!
By: paul178 - 26th October 2013 at 00:15
I thought the native tongue in your area Jim was Polish(sorry my hands just made me write it):D
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October 25, 2013 at 12:54 pm