The French Hit Back! (1 Viewer)

[pyro]

I would never wish to be controversial, but perhaps the willingness of the English language to assimilate other languages contributes to it's popularity

Au revoir I am just off to rendezvous with my family at a cafe

 

[Popeye]

Au revoir I am just off to rendezvous with my family at a cafe

I'm sure you said that before; Deja vu.

 

[pyro]

A quote from the script of only fools and horses, that will hopefully give our French cousins something to smile about the English attitude to the French language. Certainly made me laugh

Strangers On The Shore (2002)
Del and Rodney are in France on their way to Uncle Albert's reunion.


Del One of my most favouritist meals is Duck à l'Orange, but I don't know how to say that in French.
Rodney It's canard.
Del You can say that again bruv!
Rodney No the French word for duck is canard.
Del Is it? I thought that was something to do with the QE2?
Rodney No that's Cunard. They're the ones with the boats and what have you. The French for duck is canard.
Del Right lovely jubbly. Right, so how do the French say à l'Orange then?
Rodney A l'Orange!
Del What, the same as we do?
Rodney Yes
Del Oh dear, it's a pity they don't use more of our words innit eh?

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[wizzer59]

There used to be a committee in France, and there may still be, which used to fight to preserve the French language from English influence. They were obviously having a day off when camping-car was adopted.

We need one of those to preserve the English language from Americanisms

Have a nice day

 

[Popeye]

Have a nice day

"Missing you Already"

 

[WSandME]

Michel Thomas (excellent relaxing language courses) says that 60% of the words in the English language are of French origin.

...and the other 60% are German, leaving 49% Latin.

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[rangi]

...and the other 60% are German, leaving 49% Latin.

Hey up fellas! @Jim hasn't told us Diane Abbot has bought a M/Home and joined

 

[robrace]

Didn't know rendezvous vous meant love Meet!will have to be very carefull who I say that to when in France

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

The word I don't understand is "talkie-walkie". Can anyone help?

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[yodeli]

Deja vu.

Quite funny that "déjà vu" . I had to say it with an English accent so the people I was talking to could understand me! Déjà vu pronounced by a French has no tonic accent by all means, and so an English person will just look at me this way: !!!

French has no tonic accent at all! Remember this when you want to try your French!
Go on google translation, type comfortable in the English box and ask for translation in french (which is confortable). Then click on the speaker in the english box, and then in the french one. You will hear both pronounciations. When you'll hear the difference , you might understand how French must be spoken

 

[pyro]

Oh, no, no, no, non

If we have to tolerate English bastardised by the Americans, then you have to expect us to muck about mispronouncing your own lovely language

A very good French friend (my legal mentor as a student) once told me that she loved to hear the English speak French, that it was like listening to the sing song accent of the Welsh. Mind you, she also accused Ireland of being to England what Poland was to the rest of the world, so she was no diplomat

The Portuguese just laugh at my English mispronunciation of their language, especially if I use a (clean) kiddy slang word (e.g. slang "acabo", instead of acabado, meaning "finished"). Never fails to make them laugh, and that's never a bad thing. And most English love to hear a French accent. Well, I do