language

M Sheffield

Message 10004 · 4 Jan 1998 16:51:02 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

> In fact, I believe we should emulate the French
>speakers when we use the French words, like tourbillon...

Try telling the British to do that !!!

I remember how long it took me to work out how "lah b@ RET" ('@' as in
'down th@ middle @nd up @gain') could be spelled, when I was first taught
that figure (in Old Friends meet, I think). Vowel for vowel, consonant for
consonant, it's all there and pretty close to the original French word, but
from British lips, it just did not conjure up the word for a butter churn
-- la baratte.

Many English speakers think they can frankify a word by putting stress on
the final syllable, whereas French has no stressed sylables at all.

> ... within the regiment it was known as "Paddy Ba"

which is probably the usual pronunciation of pas de basque in SCD circles,
and reflects the other English method of frankifying a word -- don't
pronounce the final consonants.

Martin,
Grenoble, France.
------------------ http://perso.wanadoo.fr/scots.in.france
This web site has been revised:
...in.france/scd.htm -- Scottish Country Dance items,
...in.france/cycle.htm -- cycling, and urban transport items (mainly links),
...in.france/dances.htm -- a sampler of new dances,
...in.france/books.htm -- list of SCD booklets,
...in.france/CDlist.htm -- a selection of SCD recordings,
...in.france/calendar.htm -- SCD events in France,
...in.france/groups.htm -- SCD clubs in France.