Only the English could have invented the language
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Hello there,
it is very fashionable here in France to translate French sentences or phrases word to word to English, and to use them in French afterwards; pretty ridiculous
for instance: "Va te faire cuire un oeuf" = "Go and have an egg cooked"; "Les doigts dans le nez " (something you can do les doigts dans le nez is something really easy) = "Fingers in the nose" (was the brand name for technical books the same way as "for the dummies")
and so on ...
Alexandre
Hi Ali
In our family we play a game of multiple translations where an English phrase is turned into French and the back again - for example:
Enough is Enough turns into An Egg is An egg by way of Un eouf et Un eouf.
While Me Too turns into I am an Australian - Moi Aussie.
You are right we should get out more.
Best regards
Mike T.
Hi Ali
I do know French and try to speak it.
Very similar words, RADICALLY different meanings. I was in a supermarket and asked the young female shelf stacker where the "preservatifs" were "for my breakfast".
Preservatives in English = jam, marmalade, etc. Preservatifs in French = condoms!
A little knowledge is an embarrassing thing...
Hi Nigel,
for the sake of your sanity...i hope you never learn FRENCH....
English "paradoxen" is nothing compared to French
Hi Nigel
It is a joyful set of words that we call English.
There are words that mean the opposite depending how you use it.
To make something fast for instance.
And then there is the use of the double negative that confuses so many learners.
The question at mealtimes "Dont you like it?" elicits the answer "No I Dont" from an natural English speaker but "Yes I dont" from a learner - correct but puzzling.
Then there is the story of the Japanese student studying English in London and finding it very difficult. Came up out of the tube in Shaftsbury Avenue and saw a poster outside a Theatre - "Cats! Pronounced Success" - took one look and threw himself under a bus.
Best regards
Mike T.
Easy Mike
"gh" as in rough
"o" as in women
"ti" as in nation
Next?
Cheers
Nige
Hi Nigel
And George Bernard Shaw spells "fish" as "ghoti"
Go work it out.
Best regards
Mike T.