From : http://canadianspanish.com/post/16006886987/french-vs-spanish |
Hello folks,
I think languages are a gift. As you read in my post about the languages influencing English, English has been influenced and shaped by a great deal of languages, including Spanish. Thankfully, I speak several languages, some better than others. One of the languages I speak is French and, though I do not love French as much as I love English, I happen to find French an interesting language. There is a cliché stating that the English and the French don't get along too much, so I thought it would be a great idea to analyze this cliché in purely linguistic terms. Let's begin :
From : http://www.witslanguageschool.com/Services/TranslationandInterpreting/English-FrenchTranslations.aspx |
Historically, French became a dominant language in the twelfth centuries. That was due to the fact that a Norman king, William the Conqueror, became the ruler of England and brought the French language with him (although the French language had already 'invaded' the English language before). French was spoken for three centuries until the English regained its status. The French influence was so vast that it has spread to current English. French is now linked to sophistication, its use being considered formal, exquisite and even pedantic. To illustrate this example, have a look at the word in bold I used at the beginning of the post: 'cliché'. Isn't it more sophisticated than stereotype ? I really think so.
Firstly, I will show you a very appealing video stating French influence in English:
Here you have a list of French words and expressions currently existing in the English language.
The influence of French in the English language :
English words
|
French words
|
Decoration
|
Décor
|
Stereotype
|
Cliché
|
Naivety
|
Naiveté
|
Place
|
Venue
|
Liquor
|
Liqueur
|
Majestic
|
Grand
|
Small
(short)
|
Petite
|
Dark-haired
|
Brunet
/ brunette
|
Majesty
|
Grandeur
|
Underwear
|
Lingerie
|
Castle
|
Château
|
Disciple
| Protégé |
Candle / candelabrum (the latter from Latin)
|
Chandelier
|
Mask
|
Masque
|
Check
|
Cheque
|
Sheep
|
Mutton
|
Pig
|
Pork
|
Deer
|
Venison
|
Friendly
/ nice
|
Pleasant
/ agreeable / amiable
|
Perfume
|
Cologne
|
Smell
/aroma
|
Bouquet
|
Single
|
Bachelor
/ bachelorette
|
French expressions
|
English equivalence
|
Bon
appétit
|
Have
a nice meal
|
Enchanté
|
Nice
to meet you
|
Femme
fatale
|
Seductive
woman
|
Enfant
terrible
|
Incorrigible
child
|
Savoir
faire
|
Elegance
/ cultivation
|
Coup
d’état
|
Revolution
|
Comme-ci
comme ça
|
So-so
|
Chef
d’oeuvre
|
Master piece (opera prima in Latin)
|
Café-au-lait
|
Coffee with milk / White coffee
|
Déjà
vu
|
Something that you think has happened before
|
En
garde
|
To be on your guard, attentive.
|
En
route
|
On
the way
|
À la
|
In
the way of
|
À
la mode
|
In
fashion / fashionable
|
Entrée
|
Starter
|
Ménage
à trois
|
Threesome
|
Lait-motif
|
Symbol
|
Vis-à-vis
|
Face-to-face / visit in prison
|
Voilà
|
Here
it is
|
The influence of English in the French language
English is everywhere and it has become a lingua franca. It has clearly invaded French and many other languages. Here you have some examples:
- Football /footballeur / basket / basketball
- stopper = s'arreter
- week-end
- OK = d'accord
- Cool = chouette
- kidnapper / kidnappeur / kidnapage = kidnap / kidnapper / kidnapping
- Last but not least = pour en finir
- Coach = entraîneur
- Job = travail / boulot
- Un mail = courrier electronique / courriel
- Footing /jogging / marketing / meeting / brainstorming / parking / le living(-room)
Did you like the post ? Can you add more words to my list ? Anyway, despite their differences both English and French are really interesting cultures with very curious -and quirk- languages. I hope this post has helped you to realize their similarities rather than their differences
As a musician the word 'repertoire' comes to my mind. Very interesting post Miguel ��
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely comment, Arthur. I forgot the word 'repertoire' in my list and I think is a a really good example.
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