French language: a strange lack of consistency

[woolybanana]

We are told to use 'madame le gendarme' , 'madame le pompier' and not 'gendarmette and pompette' even though they sound a bit odd to our ears, so I was very surprised to hear that a lady dog handler is a 'maitresse chien' though I am not sure if the term 'maitresse chienne' is used.

Again, to our ears and I am sure to many French ones the possibilities for misunderstanding are endless; imagine introducing your partner as a maitresse chien - it sounds rather rude to me.

Enjoy the Spring break everyone.

[Loiseau]

If you are so concerned, WB, here is a useful page to swot up (though it does not concern itself with anything as lowly as gendarme, pompier or dog-handler).

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/abc-lettres/formule-politesse.html

Angela

[NormanH]

There is quite a strong movement for whom feminism is more important than grammar to change such things as

Madame le Maire to Madame La Maire ou

"En France, même si le masculin (monsieur le maire, madame le maire) reste encore le plus courant, on constate que la forme épicène commence à se répandre dans le monde municipal (le/la maire)"

In Education the higher up the pole you climb the more the masculine 'takes over:

https://sites.google.com/site/formuledepolitesses/formules-de-politesse-education-nationale

[woolybanana]

Norman, so glad you are about; your low key appearances were beginning to suggest that you might have found other interests which would have been a loss to us all!

[NormanH]

One or two threads had steam coming out of my ears so in my new-found wisdom I decided to keep my counsel...

[woolybanana]

Bottling it up is so bad for you, Norman. Go on, have a good old fashioned blow, we will understand and so will mother!

[NormanH]

In fact it seems as if you were the one to blow on another thread!

Proper job[6]