Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

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  • LMcD
    Full Member
    • Sep 2017
    • 8410

    Whenever we had a French vocabulary test at school, the only verb I regularly forgot was 'oublier' (honestly!)

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    • Eine Alpensinfonie
      Host
      • Nov 2010
      • 20570

      Originally posted by LMcD View Post
      Whenever we had a French vocabulary test at school, the only verb I regularly forgot was 'oublier' (honestly!)
      And now it's the only one you remember?

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      • Padraig
        Full Member
        • Feb 2013
        • 4226

        Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
        And now it's the only one you remember?
        C'est le vie!

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        • LMcD
          Full Member
          • Sep 2017
          • 8410

          Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
          And now it's the only one you remember?
          Well, there's at least ONE more, since I often find myself joining in with the first line of the 'Marseillaise' whenever there's a 6 Nations match on the telly in which France are involved. (How can they possibly LOSE a match after an anthem like that?)

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          • Serial_Apologist
            Full Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 37602

            Originally posted by Padraig View Post
            C'est le vie!
            Non ce n'est pas!

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            • french frank
              Administrator/Moderator
              • Feb 2007
              • 30250

              Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
              Non ce n'est pas!
              I was surprised to be handed a Christmas card from la patronne of the salon de thé which I fréquente, addressed to 'Cher S').
              It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

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              • vinteuil
                Full Member
                • Nov 2010
                • 12793

                Originally posted by french frank View Post
                I was surprised to be handed a Christmas card from la patronne of the salon de thé which I fréquente, addressed to 'Cher S').
                ... wot with the Académie française thinkin' of abandonin' the circumflex in some cases - and someone in le Figaro questionin' the need for the imperfect subjunctive - hell in a handcart, I tells 'ee, wrack an' ruin, we're all doomed, I tells 'ee...

                .

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                • Padraig
                  Full Member
                  • Feb 2013
                  • 4226

                  Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
                  we're all doomed, I tells 'ee...
                  Quelle dommage.

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                  • Serial_Apologist
                    Full Member
                    • Dec 2010
                    • 37602

                    Originally posted by Padraig View Post
                    Quelle dommage.
                    Shouldn't that be damage?

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                    • french frank
                      Administrator/Moderator
                      • Feb 2007
                      • 30250

                      Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                      Shouldn't that be damage?
                      Doom and damnation.
                      It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                      Comment

                      • Eine Alpensinfonie
                        Host
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 20570

                        Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
                        ... wot with the Académie française thinkin' of abandonin' the circumflex in some cases
                        .
                        I thought they'd already done that.

                        Comment

                        • ahinton
                          Full Member
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 16122

                          Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
                          ... wot with the Académie française thinkin' of abandonin' the circumflex in some cases - and someone in le Figaro questionin' the need for the imperfect subjunctive - hell in a handcart, I tells 'ee, wrack an' ruin, we're all doomed, I tells 'ee...
                          "Rack and ruin", surely? Not to mention "onion" instead of "oignon". The one that gets me most, however, is the pretty much wholesale abandonment of accents on capital lettres. Someone should do their Duti and rescue la langue from these solécismes, n'est-ce pas?...

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                          • Serial_Apologist
                            Full Member
                            • Dec 2010
                            • 37602

                            Originally posted by ahinton View Post
                            "Rack and ruin", surely? Not to mention "onion" instead of "oignon". The one that gets me most, however, is the pretty much wholesale abandonment of accents on capital lettres. Someone should do their Duti and rescue la langue from these solécismes, n'est-ce pas?...
                            As long ago as the 1950s, when I was so-to-speak "educated" at school, we were told that capital letters never take accents.

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                            • french frank
                              Administrator/Moderator
                              • Feb 2007
                              • 30250

                              Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                              As long ago as the 1950s, when I was so-to-speak "educated" at school, we were told that capital letters never take accents.
                              Me too, but the Ancient Academy of French saith:

                              "On ne peut que déplorer que l'usage des accents sur les majuscules soit flottant. On observe dans les textes manuscrits une tendance certaine à l'omission des accents. En typographie, parfois, certains suppriment tous les accents sur les capitales sous prétexte de modernisme, en fait pour réduire les frais de composition.

                              Il convient cependant d'observer qu'en français, l'accent a pleine valeur orthographique. Son absence ralentit la lecture, fait hésiter sur la prononciation, et peut même induire en erreur. Il en va de même pour le tréma et la cédille."

                              De la bouche du cheval.
                              It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                              Comment

                              • oddoneout
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2015
                                • 9145

                                Are floating majuscules a variation of floating islands? Do they taste as good?

                                fait hésiter sur la prononciation, et peut même induire en erreur
                                Some presenters manage that without the excuse of missing accents etc....

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