| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3 4 5] > | Off topic: François Rollande, or Françoise Hollande? Thread poster: Tom in London
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Ty Kendall 
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Hebrew to English
| I know! How dare we?!?! | May 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote:
Carole Paquis wrote:
Tom, no they don't.
I know. They talk about "Europe" as though Britain were not part of it. [Edited at 2012-05-08 08:27 GMT]
Just because France is our neighbour, it doesn't mean we are deficient if we aren't obsessed with it. They may be a neighbour, but for a loooooooong period throughout history they were also our enemy.
Nobody cares that Russians don't flock to learn Ukrainian, or that most Greeks don't learn Turkish....
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Who said anything about being obsessed with it? I think it comes from not having been invaded since 1066 (by the French, as it happens). It's just a shame that the Brits cut themselves off. But then, that's their national psyche.
[Edited at 2012-05-08 08:41 GMT]
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Hebrew to English
| I just don't think it's that remarkable | May 8, 2012 |
Plenty of neighbours around the world don't have much to do with each other, especially when the relationship has been historically antagonistic.
| | | | XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| The feeling is mutual | May 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote:
And France is the neighbouring country. You'd think the Brits would take a little more interest....
[Edited at 2012-05-05 15:38 GMT]
I can assure you the French take as little (in fact less) interest in Britain. They don't see it as part of Europe themselves but rather as an 'Anglo-Saxon' island floating somewhere in the mid-Atlantic... all but part of America.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
OK - they have an even worse attitude to the Irish (I'm Irish) but couldn't the Brits at least learn a few of the most salient facts about their nearest neighbour to the south? Such as knowing how to pronounce the name of the President of France?
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Ty Kendall wrote:
Plenty of neighbours around the world don't have much to do with each other, especially when the relationship has been historically antagonistic.
Those old antagonisms are what the human race needs to overcome. And that's something that won't happen by itself.
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French people have some difficulties too to pronounce english words and names but especially foreign names that start with an 'H'! Best example my Name "Helga", which is always pronounced (and written!!) 'Elga', but which makes me smile is the way french people pronounce the name of the Norvegian Group 'A-HA', which become "Ha-Ha".
[Modifié le 2012-05-08 13:17 GMT]
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Hebrew to English
| Can't change human nature | May 8, 2012 |
And you can't just wave a wand and erase national grudges....and as Lisa has pointed out, it's hardly one sided.
As for being able to pronounce the guy's name...why is it so important to nail the pronunciation? Again, as Lisa notes, David becomes Davide across the channel (lesser proficient in English Israelis pronounce it as if it were the Hebrew David (DA-vid).
Not only that, his name does contain sounds not common or naturally occuring in English, so it... See more And you can't just wave a wand and erase national grudges....and as Lisa has pointed out, it's hardly one sided.
As for being able to pronounce the guy's name...why is it so important to nail the pronunciation? Again, as Lisa notes, David becomes Davide across the channel (lesser proficient in English Israelis pronounce it as if it were the Hebrew David (DA-vid).
Not only that, his name does contain sounds not common or naturally occuring in English, so it really shouldn't surprise ANYONE that it's not "easy" for people not versed in French to pronounce - JUST AS I wouldn't expect a French person with limited English to flawlessly pronounce "David Cameron" (without adding a certain French flair to it).
The fact that we are neighbours is somewhat irrelevant.
Being English, I'm all for bashing them when it's deserved, but it seems quite unwarranted here.
[Edited at 2012-05-08 09:00 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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XXXphxxx (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| In an ideal world, yes. | May 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote:
OK - they have an even worse attitude to the Irish (I'm Irish) but couldn't the Brits at least learn a few of the most salient facts about their nearest neighbour to the south? Such as knowing how to pronounce the name of the President of France?
But, as I said, perhaps it's just revenge for David Cameron being Davide Cameron
I think the criticism is harsh. On the whole, the Brits have a VERY positive (some would say rose-coloured view) of France, just look at the numbers flocking over there on holiday or to retire. The French on the whole think that Britain is the pits: the weather shocking, the food even worse. In fact the Irish, Scots and Welsh tend to get let off the hook, it's England and the English that they have very little time for.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 20:19
French to English
| 1066 and all that | May 8, 2012 |
Tom in London wrote:
Who said anything about being obsessed with it? I think it comes from not having been invaded since 1066 (by the French, as it happens). It's just a shame that the Brits cut themselves off. But then, that's their national psyche.
[Edited at 2012-05-08 08:41 GMT]
Excuse me, but William the Conqueror was not French. He was a Norman. Normandy has since been incorporated into France, that doesn't make him French.
That's like saying he invaded the UK. He invaded a piece of land that now is part of the UK but the UK did not exist at the time.
And it's that little sleeve or channel of water that cuts them off, otherwise I'm sure that they would not be so insular.
I mean look at me. Nigh on 30 years of living in France and I just wrote "that cuts them off" and not "that cuts us off" even though I'm a category A1 Brit in the consular expat file and have never applied for French nationality
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Does anyone remember Tom Lehrer's breezy and hilarious song "National Brotherhood Week"?
I daren't quote it here for fear of being banned for racist remarks, but it's all about mutual dislike between nations and races. Well worth listening to, but only if you've got a GSOH.
J
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@ Lisa,
I'm not sure I agree about the French taking little interest in the UK... as far as the media is concerned, there has been a lot of excitement recently over British culture, thanks, undoubtedly, to the upcoming Olympics. France 4 in particular has a strong British flavour to it; current programmes include Dr Who (not just the series, but documentaries too) and Sherlock, hot on the heels of the BBC and both available to watch in "VO", not to mention FA cup matches. Last night... See more @ Lisa,
I'm not sure I agree about the French taking little interest in the UK... as far as the media is concerned, there has been a lot of excitement recently over British culture, thanks, undoubtedly, to the upcoming Olympics. France 4 in particular has a strong British flavour to it; current programmes include Dr Who (not just the series, but documentaries too) and Sherlock, hot on the heels of the BBC and both available to watch in "VO", not to mention FA cup matches. Last night we were even "treated" to "Johnny English" followed by "Mr Bean's Holiday".
Of course, in regards to the weather and food, it's another matter. Today, for example, we are experiencing what is often referred to (at my workplace at least) as "English weather" and I am frequently asked whether "pudding" is as disgusting as the rumours make it out to be. When I ask what they mean by "pudding", the person has no idea of course... ▲ Collapse
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER
Sarah Mathrick wrote:
@ Lisa,
I'm not sure I agree about the French taking little interest in the UK... as far as the media is concerned, there has been a lot of excitement recently over British culture, thanks, undoubtedly, to the upcoming Olympics. France 4 in particular has a strong British flavour to it; current programmes include Dr Who (not just the series, but documentaries too) and Sherlock, hot on the heels of the BBC and both available to watch in "VO", not to mention FA cup matches. Last night we were even "treated" to "Johnny English" followed by "Mr Bean's Holiday".
Of course, in regards to the weather and food, it's another matter. Today, for example, we are experiencing what is often referred to (at my workplace at least) as "English weather" and I am frequently asked whether "pudding" is as disgusting as the rumours make it out to be. When I ask what they mean by "pudding", the person has no idea of course...
My (ex) French girlfriend used to say, roughly once a month "Voici les anglais qui arrivent". I think that says it all and I hope no-one here is offended.
Except the English, of course ....
| | | | Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Hebrew to English
| Not offended in the slightest | May 8, 2012 |
I think that says more about your ex-girlfriend than anything else.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:19
Member (2008)
Italian to English
TOPIC STARTER | Yes, and please answer my earlier question | May 8, 2012 |
Ty Kendall wrote:
I think that says more about your ex-girlfriend than anything else.
- which is partly why she's my ex.
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