Musings
Some people say that watching TV in the language you wish to learn is a great idea… although very few actually do it 😉
Going without subtitles is the best way… but it’s like climbing the Himalayas… VERY difficult. And disheartening. Except if you watch a film you’ve already seen in your own language.
According to the film, you have to take the accents into account… another potentially tricky difficulty.
Now, with subtitles… you will never ever get in writing what is actually said so you have to operate a subtle contortion between hearing a language you don’t master and subtitles that are sometimes not very close to the spoken words. And yes, avoid the news with subtitles… they aren’t reflecting what is said at all.
Some people advocate watching shows for kids… be realistic, you’re going to be fed up in less than 5 minutes !!!
So what is best?
I would go for an un-subtitled film that you’ve already see in a dubbed version. You will know what it’s all about (important) and then you can concentrate on listening to a story you already know… just in another language.
Not easy… but who said it was easy too orally understand a foreign language, whichever it is?
Musings, Vocabulary
It started as a conversation about spelling.
And, more precisely, about spelling mistakes.
And it drifted onto the word “FAUTE”… oh yes, it was all in French 😉
This is what a lady, an English teacher, said (I translate) :
“Many people mistakenly speak of “FAUTES D’ORTHOGRAPHE” (for faults) while a fault has a strong moral value. And in this context, the person who makes it feels guilty. I think, unsure of it, that it is a legacy of the time when the clergy was engaged in education.
As teachers, we are asked not to speak of fault, for what has been mentioned above, but “error” because an error is repairable. Exit the guilt. Moreover, whoever can repair it comes out grown.”
So let’s put things straight :
Fault in the sense of “sin” if it’s a moral error
Musings
The French must keep their hands on the table during meals. Not the elbow/s… the hands. It is considered inappropriate to keep your hands on your knees or under the table. Planting your elbows or leaning your whole elbow and forearm on the table are both impolite and sloppy for a French.
I understand that it’s the contrary (for the hands, I mean) in the UK… I don’t know for the other major anglophone countries… maybe you can tell us? I’d love to know!
Nobody will fine you… but it’s one of the little things you can think of… to be better considered 😉
Musings
Today, I’m going to quote Ravin Hurloll, an anglophone journalist, about what he thinks of the French… interesting… and another good reason to get to know them somewhat more closely. I found these few words on Quora. Here it goes :
“I am a non-French person, but I have known several French persons.
I must say that the French often have a poor image around the world. The French are often accused of rudeness and cowardice, but this is very unfair.
Those who know French people, their history, their culture and their language know them to be very friendly, courteous, and generous.
I have found them to be genuinely interested if you are from another country. They also seem to me to be very lucid and rational people. Unlike the English-speaking peoples, I have found them much more ready to show the same sort of respect whatever your social class is.
As a professional journalist myself, I must say they have a very bad press in the Anglo-Saxon media.
And those stories about the French being ready to surrender is just nonsense, from those who know their proud military history.”
Thanks, Mr. Hurloll, from the heart 🙂
Musings
Or should I say “soundalikes” !
Râper is not to rape, don’t even think of making the mistake.
Râper means to grate like in “grate some cheese over your macaroni”
Now… if you hear that someone “râpe du fromage” – even if you find it incredibly funny… you must realize that it’s a perfectly normal – and tasty – activity 😉
Anther one, in the same field, is the word “fac,” short for “faculté,” synonym of university. It’s very much used in French. When you hear it, you might perceive “fuck” which is not very far in pronunciation, especially if you perceive the “u“ more like an “a” that an actual “u”.
Of course, this only happens in the spoken language as the spelling would make the difference… but… hey… it’s Dare SPEAK French, here 😉
Musings
When a French native tries to speak English to an English speaking person, it happens something that is called a French accent.
A French accent is, in reality, just a French person pronouncing English words as best they can but with the rules of speaking French that they have known their whole lives.
When an English speaking person tries to speak French it’s just the opposite… they have an English accent… that can be American, British, Australian… or even more regional… you name it!
Some find it sexy… and truly, a hint of a foreign accent is often really sexy… within the limits of comprehension.
Mind you, there are some French who can’t understand other French autochthons coming from regions where the accent is really thick!
What it the moral of this post? Do you best and forget it… it will come with habit and repetition.
My husband’s grandmother, arrived from Virginia and married in France at age 18… was still VERY American sounding at age 88, 70 years later… and she was the most adorable old lady you could think of.
That gives you some leeway 😉
