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Did Inspector Cluseau live here?
October 17, 2006, 20:59
<Asa Lovejoy>Did Inspector Cluseau live here?
While searching for a French bookstore, I stumbled upon a street in the Paris suburb of Billancort: La Rue de Silly.
Yeah, yeah, I know it's not pronounced the English way, but still...
October 18, 2006, 20:52
KallehOh...no...I am sure it isn't. Having just studied French for our trip, I imagine it's pronounced "ycht" or something.
They do have a lot of "Rues" though!
October 19, 2006, 02:13
arnieHow did you get on in France, Kalleh? Were you able to understand the locals, and
vice versa? Did your study of French pay off?
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
October 19, 2006, 20:29
KallehAs happened when I was in Italy, no one understood me, and either they spoke English or Shu saved me or I walked away not being understood. I am not sure what I do wrong. In Italy, my European friends (I was there at an international conference) saved me, even though they didn't know Italian. It must be my confidence level or my demeanor or something. Shu, on the other hand, was amazing. He had major conversations, told jokes in French, and did beautifully.
The other thing that happened in France (and when I was in Italy, too) was that I'd get all mixed up with my English, French and Spanish. Once I said to the waiter, "Si," no "Yes," no "oui." At least he laughed and thought it funny.
October 20, 2006, 21:27
KallehOne of my French books gave this as an example of "tricky" pronunciations in French:
Qu'est-ce que c'est? - pronounced: kehs kuh say.
Many of the points my books made were correct. For example, people did dress up more than they do in the U.S. Sneakers were very rare. However, a few books said the "magic word" in French is:
S'il vous plaît ("please"). In fact, I think the
real magic words are:
Bonjour ("good day") or
Bonsoir ("good evening") and
Monsieur ("mister") or
Madame ("Mrs.") When you got those right, you got a smile, even from the most surly.
October 21, 2006, 07:38
<Asa Lovejoy>quote:
you got a smile, even from the most surly.
Which is why the English coined the phrase about French curmudgeons, "Surly, you jest!"
October 21, 2006, 08:44
neveuquote:
However, a few books said the "magic word" in French is: S'il vous plaît ("please"). In fact, I think the real magic words are: Bonjour ("good day") or Bonsoir ("good evening") and Monsieur ("mister") or Madame ("Mrs.") When you got those right, you got a smile, even from the most surly.
This is true. The real magic words, however, are
Excusez-moi de vous deranger, Monsieur (or Madame) whenver you initiate a conversation with strangers.
October 21, 2006, 08:52
<Asa Lovejoy>That's a fine example of a false cognate. If a Frenchman is "deranged," he is not (necessarily) crazy.
October 21, 2006, 21:59
KallehWhat is the difference between
pardon and
excusez-moi in French? Can you use
pardon to get attention, as you can with English, or is that just to be used when you pass someone?
October 23, 2006, 16:39
CaterwaullerIf I remember correctly,
pardon means something closer to "sorry". Pardonnez-moi would be sort of like "forgive me" but is also used very similarly to
excusez-moi and is often shortened to simply
pardon. Just like I often hear people here saying
sorry? when they want you to repeat yourself. So you could use
pardon to mean "excuse me" when you bump into them, or "excuse me" when you interrupt them or "I'm sorry" for any number of reasons.
*******
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
~Dalai Lama