Alexis Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 It was about all the 'Britannique' who live over here.Goodness. We are everywhere! Must have been done in the summer because it is b****y chilly here today.They were in the Creuse and Brittany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 We saw it too. Had to cringe at that woman in the Creuse though with her french "accent"it was so embarressing to hear and yet her husband spoke it quite well. In Brittany Huelgoat was featured naturally because of so many Brits there and an english woman who runs a bar and sells british food products somewhere else. Seems that most of the people actually interviewed and featured were earning themselves a living and not just here for the cheap housing and living off their savings until they need help. I don't think so many will be moving in the near future with the high increase in many areas of property and the lack of employment increasing do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Val,Why do the Brits seem to despise each other so much? You were (I presume) happy to make the move to France, yet seem to dislike the idea of anyone else enjoying what you have. What kind of attitude is that? So what if someone has an accent to cut with a knife, at least they are trying. What were you like when you arrived? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letrangere Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Scarlett, most people who have lived and run businesses in France for as long as Val have are similarly concerned about the mass influx of new arrivals nowadays. For they've seen at first hand the problems that many of these families experience, the disappointment, occasional hardship and almost inevitable much earlier than expected return to Britain. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I think Scarlett's post referred to Val's comments about the woman's accent rather than anything else. It did seem a little - uncharitable? As George Bernard Shaw said, it is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making another Englishman hate or despise him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I'll fess up, my english accent is strong. And yet I know people who have been here far longer than me with far stronger accents. My husband doesn't really have an accent. I think it is down to having the ear, and I don't. I really do try though, always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Quite TU, for all that you have been in France a long time and been part of your 'community'.Is it a case of Val being overly harsh or perhaps it was what the woman was actually saying?However I do take Scarletts point, there sometimes does seem to be a rather, shall we say 'nimby' attitude sometimes.The way to make sure the newer immigrants are succesful and don't upset their French neighbours, is surely to help them ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I also think that since the abolition of the Carte De Sejour ,and the need to prove financial viability, there is some concern that those who get themselves into deep water, and then become a burden on the system, may cause all Britanniques to be seen in a bad light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 I've been here for years and as soon as I say "B....." they know I'm English. Some people understand every word I speak and some absolutely nothing. They don't TRY to understand!The lady in the Creuse did have a strong accent but you could understand her and she at least made the effort to speak in French.What shamed me was the people who have been here less time than me and are more articulate. It is because my OH is French. I leave all the writing etc to him so I am stuck with just knowing my half a dozen verbs.....and a load of slang!Make that a dozen verbs with the ne.....pas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I must say that I didn't find anything wrong with Val's post. My accent makes me cringe and friends are merciless when they start mimicking me. Unfortunatley I can't rid myself of it..... I try I really do. And I still have a tongue that stalls when I try and say something like bouilloire. Now my Dad would have no trouble with that, boo ill oyer he'd say, if only it were that easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val_2 Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Firstly I make no appology for my remarks. When I am at work, the other employees make a point of correcting me with the pronunciation when it sounds "too english" and keep repeating it until they are satisfied I know it well and I can see their point as some words spoken without even a faint trace of french musical accent cannot be understood easily. As for despising other brits here, what bl***y tosh,we get a lot of our business from british clients who I certainly don't despise, its those ones who come here to scrounge off others (and I've had some of them contact me before now) and those who want everything to be in english for them so they don't have to learn one single word or write one single line. I've got a very thick skin from living in France over the years finding out things for myself even if it did cause mayhem and chaos and what people say about me on here dosn't even scratch the surface to upset me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 When I used to go to the boulangerie on a Sunday for some cakes, I had to stop asking for mille feilles as the staff nearly died laughing! I used to say mille fies...or worse!Same with pneu, meilleur voeux....all French to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 Since we are well of the topic already -My French teacher is unable to say "household" without raising a laugh.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted February 23, 2005 Share Posted February 23, 2005 I know its a bit off topic but if it is any consolation, no matter how long you live here, the fact that you are English will always be detectable to the French.Our French teacher has lived here for 30+ years and to us she speaks perfect French, but she tells us that the French immediately know that she is not born and bred French just due to small sounds and intonation. Another problem is that UK schools and all the popular language course teach "Parisian French", so as soon as you open your mouth anywhere south of Paris they know you are a stranger, here we have our own regional accent, and certain words are spoken differently , so we drink veng rouge, have seng in our veins and eat a loaf of peng. And as for rolling ones RR's, well I just cannotNevertheless, no matter how you speak it, I have never met a French man who did not appreciate you for trying to speak the language Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 "Nevertheless, no matter how you speak it, I have never met a French man who did not appreciate you for trying to speak the language"Just so. Back to GBS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted February 24, 2005 Author Share Posted February 24, 2005 If you really want to get your own back and have a good laugh, ask a French person to say "purple". If I remember, I will ask Gilles to say it when he gets home. I could do with a rib tickling experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormx Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 In the same week that my 4 year old told me my French is "not really good", she also imitated my Parisian husband's pronunciation and the 2 kids (4 and 2) had a giggle. Obviously they prefer the familiar "peng" and "ceenq" of the SW to his beautiful "pain" "cinq".Remember even the French will cop a strange accent, and note it as a reference ("oh a Parisian in our midst") rather than scoff at it. We assume they scoff at foreigners but I don't think so really. It's like hearing a Scot or Irish or American accent - you can't help but take note, make some assumptions perhaps, but you would never tell an Irishman that it's wrong to say "I'm after doing that" (or if you do, good luck to ya!). There are loads of French accents if you count all the DOM TOM, Canadian etc. so it's fairly common to hear "other" accents.Now my 4-year old insists I do the following: (apologies in advance);( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaligoBay Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 <<If you really want to get your own back and have a good laugh, ask a French person to say "purple".>>Or even "a thousand Southampton fans".(I know, it's hard to believe that there could be so many.......) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Well, if any of them are called 'Smith' they're in trouble... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letrangere Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 I've said before that some Frenchmen get quite turned on by an Englishwoman's accent. And personally I love being told I sound like Jane Birken. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 .......................And personally I love being told I sound like Jane Birken. MThe mind boggles Margaret, in what respect and when do they say this ? or perhaps is it only when you are in Serge Gainsbourg mode ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddie Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 [quote]I've said before that some Frenchmen get quite turned on by an Englishwoman's accent. And personally I love being told I sound like Jane Birken. M[/quote]Gordon Bennet! (With apologies to anyone called Gordon Bennet, of which there are certain to be a few.) I am always being told that too! As I only know of Jane from the 1970s rather breathy song context (!!!!) I wondered whether it was an insult or a compliment! In my day, it was Tourraine French we learnt rather than Parisian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letrangere Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Miki, what sort of girl do you take me for?! No need for undue concern, they say it even when hubby's around!And I always take is as a compliment, Mrs. MDW. And you're right in that Tourraine French is still the French accent to acquire. Think I've got rather a long way to go though...M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 SURELY YOU ONLY SHOULD WORRY ABOUT ACCENTS WHEN YOU ARE WRITING ACCUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OR AS AN AMERICAN FRIEND SAID TO ME 40 YEARS AGO IN TRINIDAD.THE PROBLEM WITH ENGLISH IS THAT YOU ALWAYS PUT THE WRONG ACCENT ON THE WRONG SYLILUBOULE .IT SOUNDS BETTER HEARD THAN ME TRYING TO WRITE HOW HE PRONOUCED THE LAST WORD BUT IT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE WHEN I HERE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT AMERICANS AND I REMBER HIS PRONOUNCINATION.FROM A GEORDIE LOST IN FRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FRENCH -MINE IS PATOIS IF ANYTHING.VIVE LA DIFFERENCE.P.S. I DID A SPELL CHECK AND COPUTER STATES SPELLING CORRECT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AMAZING . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddie Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 [quote]Miki, what sort of girl do you take me for?! No need for undue concern, they say it even when hubby's around! And I always take is as a compliment, Mrs. MDW. And you're right in that Tourraine Fren...[/quote]My poor Tourraine French accent won't last long if my neighbours keep correcting it to the accent of the SW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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