letrangere

as Gilles Ah, another excellent example of a name that is so much sexier in French than English.  Come on girls, who would you go out with Gilles or Giles?  M  (with apologies for all Giles...)

The first time I heard "cagibi" I thought someone was talking about the KGB I'm pretty sure I first came across it in Flaubert and it's been one of my favourite words ever since.  But I'm very concerned that it may be overtaken in everyday usage by "debarras".   Though the latter is surely much larger than a "cagibi" and lacks the charm and delicious smell of old dusters and polish. And whilst I'm here I would like to make a formal retraction of my suggestion that Outcast be allowed to return.    My logic at the time was "better the nasty troll we know than the one we don't know" but it was flawed and I can see that now. M      

Good friends of ours (French) are toying with selling their Bordeaux apartment now that the children have left home and buying a good sized property in 24 for the holidays and family reunions.  They've been out several times with Sarlat based immobiliers but have been horrified by asking prices locally.  Despite their generous budget, they're now saying they're going to wait until next winter before looking again, convinced that prices will drop.  As he says, "they have to".  They also commented that as usual French sellers were quite happy to sit it out and wait but that one or two British owners they met were keen to sell up quickly.  M

I hope to write a glossary of 'colloquial/everyday' English<>French WITH an indication of frequency of use, maybe by a system of stars, I personally think that the market is crying out for such a thing. It most certainly is.  I searched high and low for such a book and drove successive profs crazy asking for recommendations.  No one in Paris could come up with anything suitable (surprisingly) but eventually on a trip back to London I found a Cambridge University Press book in Dillons entitled "Using French, A Guide to Contemporary Usage" written by Batchelor & Offord.  As it says in the forward, "It not only clarifies points of usage and grammar, but shows the circumstances in which words, expressions, grammatical constructions, and so on, are most appropriate."  Until Vraititi's work is published, I can thoroughly recommend this!  M

We really need dictionaries that would indicate the frequency of use of such phrases ! But don't even the most learned French often refer to a dictionary?  It's something that comes as bit of a shock to us students initially.  A native French teacher friend told me that she always carries her Larousse le Verificateur d'orthographe in her bag and regularly consults her Bescherelle too. You mention "register".  I had a teacher in Paris who placed considerable emphasis on this and it's something that's remained with me ever since.  Most of us were working towards the DALF, many towards French university entrance.  He repeatedly reminded us that R2 was the minimum accepted standard of French for an examiner in the oral exams, R3 preferably for the written papers.  Any hint of R1 and we were finished.  (For those who are new to this:  R1 would include polite colloquial, plus less polite, slang, etc., R2 would be the equivalent of what used to be known as "BBC English" (tho' arguably no longer the case), R3 is much more scholarly.)  Was this teacher an exception or is register still regarded as important today in France, even away from academic and/or professional circles?  I suspect it is but stand corrected. M

If I were being perfectly honest, I would admit that much of the time I don't actually understand what Mr O is saying.  In fact, I remember once posting "translation please?" after one particular outburst of gibberish.  But he does add a certain something to the discussion.  Can't he be allowed back under strict probation?  M

Depending on your viewpoint of course - that doesn't sound enough for the whole World, surely George, my thought precisely but the article said this figure was based on a 1999 US study.  Started me thinking, who counts them?  I thought I had a boring job.  M  ps: I've never been to Swindon, is that why I don't get the sunflower/seedless grape reference???

you could use j'hâte de +verb which is sort of I am in a hurry / eager to I picked this up from a French teacher years ago and have used it ever since.  But it isn't that commonly taught, is it?  In fact, only yesterday I used this phrase in writing to a French educated Lebanese national who wrote back asking what I meant by it.  M

Yes, you're definitely Leenda and I'm Mar-gar-rette and I'm married to a Reechar', which is so much nicer en francais.  Actually most names are more attractive in French, think:  Agnes, Patricia, Henri, Marthe, Mathilde, Georges, the list is endless...  M

Isn't it ironic that there still seems to be some confusion about how to get round one of the things? Absolutely.  Although there's a mini-giratoire in St Malo pictured on the web site that's crying out for someone to simply drive right over it, which I would be inclined to do.  Haven't had time to look at them all, but Pons 2 must be, IMHO, one of the worst.  Saintes has a couple of nice ones, as does Frejus.  Perhaps people should check the list before buying a house?  Perhaps living in a town endowed with several good ones could add value to your home?  And do anyone of them compete with Swindon? M

No, not art or literature, wine or food, I’m referring to roundabouts.  Did you know the French invented them?  No, I didn’t either but apparently they did and they continue to build them at the rate of 1,000/annum, accounting for 50% of the world’s total of 35,000.  An architect called Eric Alonzo has just written a book on the subject and there’s even a web site recording the most artistic and historic ones.  Sounds absurd but take a look at www.sens-giratoire.com  it’s an absolute hoot.  If LF is ever short of articles to fill their pages, perhaps they could invite readers to send in pix of their favourite French ronds-points or most loathed minis-giratoires?  

Fully concur with the French Property News suggestion.  Their website is excellent and I would suspect much visited.  It includes a good number of private sales.  M

"Ce Non francais est un non du a l'ignorance , a l'esprit etroit des francais , a leur incapacite a regarder au-dela de leurs frontieres , a leur arrogance , a leur nombrilisme."   That's a university educated French girlfriend writing to me yesterday.  Love the reference to their "nombrilisme"...  M  

If the EU did not exist you wouldn't be able to just decide to live in France would you? That is if you do of course. We'd be in exactly the same position as so many other nationalities.  We'd still be able to live there, we'd just have to provide sound evidence that we were either financially self-supporting or gainfully employed, plus had adequate private health insurance, etc.  I know several non-EU nationals who've lived in France for years.  M

Why did the north west vote yes? Afraid of being invaded again?  (But then you'd think the NE would vote the same way.)  One American commentator said last week that a no vote could mean the risk of another European war within the next 50 years.  M

Although unlike JC I know what a mouse is, I don't know the first thing about "links".  Could someone explain how I can incorporate Gay's link to this article in an e mail please?  I'd like to send it to the couple of French I know who read English (of sorts).  Thanks.  M

What a fascinating article, thanks for posting this Gay.  Have to disagree with some of the author's statements for it's certainly not taboo amongst my French friends to discuss all the points he raises, especially the "fact" that the French elite has recklessly seized all the levers of power...etc. isn't that a generally accepted truth? And many alas now fully acknowledge that their children will automatically join the long line of over-educated but unemployable youth upon leaving university yet do not rally to change this.  (Perhaps because they recognise that change is impossible in France?) Is the media timid?  Not always the case with some of the writing in Liberation and I'm sure there's much more that I'm unaware of.  Hundreds of French leaders don't speak English?  We have several in Britain that don't (our new Defence Minister, Deputy PM...) and that's before we take into account foreign languages.  Certainly true about vulgar technical skills, anyone capable of wielding a spanner is viewed as an untouchable by some French people I know.  And I agree that many of the French abroad are remarkable in a way (sorry everyone) that the British abroad are not.  You know we often talk about integration and definitions of it here, could it be a sign that you are pretty well integrated when you can talk to your French neighbours, friends, colleagues about the points raised in this article and enjoy a good honest discussion?  M

over several months I have enormous respect for Mrs O's posts but I think it's only fair to say that hubby has been winding some people up for quite a bit longer than several months.  My memory is long and I'd say it's more like a couple of years, and in that time there have been some undeniable nasty ones.  I've always felt the best approach is to simply ignore him but now we don't have his illiterate rantings I rather miss them.  More importantly though is what has he done with CJB?  It's not school holidays yet, is it?   (sorry Chris...)  M

The no vote came from the alliance of Le Pen and De Villiers supporters who have never wanted anything to do with the EU, combining with many of the (Old Labour?) socialists who want more French style social protection. The above represents a sizeable body of support in France.  But surely to get 55% of the vote, a lot of people in the middle must have shared their views on this issue?  M

Tom/anyone else, did you read Fred Vargas in French or in translation?  I only ask because one of the reviewers on Amazon felt the translation of the one set in Paris didn't feel right/help set the tone so I may read it in French.  Also, Tom you mention another writer and the Pyrenees.  Fred's written one in the same setting, sorry didn't note title.  M

Half asleep this morning whilst placing an order at Amazon, on reflection not the best time to do it.  Was just about to click "add to shopping basket" when I noticed that the book I was about to buy was "One Step Backwards, Two Steps Forwards: Soviet Society & Politics in the New Economic Policy".  You can imagine how disappointed I'd have been to unwrap that...   M

(I think the French figures are higher). I posted on the subject a couple of months back. French females have the highest life expectancy in Europe and almost the world.  French men on the otherhand were, if I remember rightly, a couple of years below their British counterparts.  M

I've never seen anything like those market stalls full of brit food. You never set foot inside an M&S when there were branches in France?  British food, especially their infamous crumpets, literally flew off the shelves and into the baskets of French shoppers at the branch in Paris.  And it was no doubt the same in Bordeaux, Toulouse and where else were they?  There are probably many French people very grateful for ready access to Brit food, in much the same way that we were to the Italian delis in Soho in the fifties and sixties. May I suggest the writer feels he's a pilgrim because he worships France and regards moving there as moving to his own personal holy land/making a spiritual journey? M

Quillan, no criticism intended please, I'm just making a general observation and that's that so few people take financial advice before leaving the UK.  I'm sure it's because most feel their financial situation doesn't merit paying an accountant or financial advisor, they think it's something only for the super rich.  But I'm sure most of us could benefit, especially with regard to when exactly to leave, status of pensions/investments, etc, etc.  Also, in my experience with IR, if you do fall foul of them (which I have), they're quite reasonable people if you talk to them and explain your situation.  M

(and as a russian friend once said "it's not what's on the piece of paper, but what's in your heart") People often say to me, "You can take the girl out of England, but never England out of the girl."  I usually take it, perhaps wrongly, as an insult.  Still... On the subject of French gaining nationality, does it cost much, ie exam fees, services of a lawyer, etc?  I know this is one criticism of the US system, it costs around $7,000 apparently.  And what does the test involve?  M