June 12, 2011
by Graham
1 Comment
“Citoyens, le dix-neuvième siècle est grand, mais le vingtième siècle sera heureux. Alors plus rien de semblable à la vieille histoire; on n’aura plus à craindre, comme aujourd’hui, une conquête, une invasion, une usurpation, une rivalité de nations à main … Continue reading
January 6, 2011
by Graham
3 Comments
The current stand off between the two factions in Ivory Coast has brought the former capital Abidjan into the news again. The French-derived spelling tells us that the nearest English pronunciation of this name should be /æbiˈʤɑːn/, and yet I … Continue reading
July 9, 2008
by Graham
4 Comments
Language Log today has an example of amazing French official duplicity, arrogance, ignorance and dishonesty. A representative of the Académie Française claims that the minority languages of France are nothing more than debased dialects, unworthy of being recognised as languages … Continue reading
March 28, 2008
by Graham
4 Comments
Athel Cornish-Bowden in Marseille asks about the final -s in some French place names, and French versions of non-French place names (e.g. Douvres, Londres, Cornouailles). The final -s in these names is often the final remnant of the Old French … Continue reading
March 24, 2008
by Graham
11 Comments
In fact, French names cause all sorts of problems for English speakers, not least of where to put the stress. French, of course, has no lexical stress, but it would be impossible for an English speaker to avoid stressing at … Continue reading