FRENCH WORD-A-DAY

kRISTI DARLING- THE LOVEBIRD PHOTO IS GOING TO MAKE A GREAT PAINTING...XOXO JULES

Merci James!
Votre histoire amene une larme!
Mary
Denver,CO

I love James's story. Apparently no one had taught the daughter who "corrected" James that deliberately embarrassing or trying to embarrass someone in public is one of the rudest things to do!

I think that familiar or formal address is one of the most difficult things for English speakers to feel comfortable with in foreign languages where there is the distinction. I notice that in Italy now, people are more likely to "dare del tu" than used to be the case -- and, it seems to me, more likely than the French would be to "tutoyer" in a similar situation. I find it safest to stick with "Lei" and "vous" until the other person uses "tu" to me. I'd probably be more comfortable about the whole thing if I lived in Italy or France and encountered it every day.

Kristen,
James' story reminds me of some of my favorite times pastoring a small congregation on the southern coast of the Brittany peninsula in the 1980's. I would make my monthly "rounds" of the "veuves fideles" who couldn't make it to Sunday meetings anymore. They would pamper me with tea or coffee (my preference), their favorite "gateaux" and stories of the brave American, Canadian, and British soldier boys who infected their young hearts with a thirst for life and liberty. I'm sure I must have inspired their precious recollections simply by my accent and youth; I was happy to be the medium of such inspiration.

"Deux pigeons s'aimaient d'amour tendre"
-La Fontaine's fable "Les deux pigeons"- Lovely illustration, Kristin!

James Wilson's story is moving and cheerful at the same time. What a marvellous "petite amie"! Thanks for the photo too.

Talking about boyfriends and girlfriends:
Larguer -plaquer- ---> = to get rid of

In 2 of the sentences: "se faire larguer" (infinitive after "se faire" ... but I suppose magazines may forget grammar rules)

Now, having a go at translating:
---> "Lewis Hamilton félicité en images par sa petite amie"
- Lewis Hamilton's girlfriend congratulated him with video pictures.
- Lewis Hamilton congratulated by girlfriend with video pictures.

---> "Paul McCartney emménage avec sa petite amie"
- Paul McCartney's girlfriend moves in

---> "Simon Cowell s'est fait largué par sa petite-amie par téléphone !"
- A phone call from Simon Cowell's girlfriend finished (ended) their relationship!

---> "Marilyn Manson se fait largué par sa petite-amie !"
Marilyn Manson's girlfriend chucked him out!

I think the best translation of this sense of "larguer" into colloquial English would be "to dump." Thus,

---> "Simon Cowell s'est fait largué par sa petite-amie par téléphone !"
---Simon Cowell is dumped by his girlfriend over the telephone!

---> "Marilyn Manson se fait largué par sa petite-amie !"
--Marilyn Manson is dumped by his girlfriend!

Oops! Two posts above, make that, "Simon Cowell was dumped by his girlfriend over the telephone."

Ta petite-amie, elle est bien choette!
Tu - elle a dit que l'on faut se tutoyer entre amis et amies - as eu de la chance de la renconrer!

My dad was on Omaha Beach in June 44 and in France until the end of the Battle of the Bulge. He absolutely loved the French but never made it back during peacetime as he died at the age of 60. I became a French teacher, which was (is?) a fun career for me and after retiring am still co-coordinating an exchange with 2 American schools and a lycee in France. We're in our 19th year of the exchange. The French kids come here and stay in homes for two weeks in Feb, then we go there for two weeks in April. The generosity of families on both sides of the Atlantic is what makes it work, that and the hard work of the teachers, of course. We have made some wonderful friendships over the years. I have stayed with the same wonderful lady for many years and she even hosted me while she was having chemo for breast cancer in 2004. She said hosting cheered her up. I admit I did my best. This year will be the five year cancer free mark for her. Time to celebrate! Her latest e-mail included election comments (very positive) and the phrase "God Bless America!"

James,
It was fun remembering Marie, your "French gal". We had such a fun time at her house that night when we were first there to meet them. Do you remember how we were with Andree and her family at the British cemetery nearby and Marie heard you talking to us in English and to Andree and her family in French? Poor woman could not understand how such a nice Frenchified young man had American parents who couldn't speak a word of French! She sure was grateful though to have someone to talk to the British guests she had at her house to find out if they needed anything or not, since she spoke none of their language and they less of hers. Who knew that night that you would become such close friends? She really did remind me of Grammy Rowe. Outspoken and might I add, always right(?).
Love,
Mom

I recently spent two weeks in France with a French-born friend. We visited a lady in her eighties who is very special to my friend. She spoke no English; I spoke minimal French. She was the most gracious hostess, and on the last morning of our visit, I received her permission to address her by her first name. This was the number one highlight of my trip.

All this discussion about "tu" and "vous" reminds me of Jacques Prévert's beautiful poem, "Barbara" that I share with my 3rd year students every year, where the narrator uses the "tu" form with a total stranger, but apologizes and justifies himself for doing so:
"Et ne m'en veux pas si je te tutoie
Je dis tu à tous ceux que j'aime
Même si je ne les ai vus qu'une seule fois
Je dis tu à tous ceux qui s'aiment
Même si je ne les connais pas..."
In other words, if you love someone, even if you don't know them, even if you've only seen them once, you must say "tu"!

Hi, all.
I remember a little luncheon my class planned for one of my favorite French professors at a cafe near campus. I had arranged for the waiter to bring a cake out to the patio, but the surprise was going to be ruined as the instructor kept getting up to go inside for something. I instinctively kept urging, "Assieds-toi! Assieds-toi!"-- the phrase I was used to hearing my whole life-- because that's what teachers say to US all the time; also, I happened to be teaching French as a practicum to a little first-grade class. I didn't figure out until the next day, after I had re-thought the whole scenario, why our normally relaxed and friendly professor kept glaring at me in such an irritated manner. No student had likely ever 'tutoyer'd' her before-- especially in such a patronizing manner! :)

Dear Kristin,

I was on a train to Courseulles-sur-Mer with my husband perhaps fifteen years ago. We met a lovely older man from Normandy who had been a child during the invasion of Normany. He had spent many hungry days and nights in the forest near his house due to the American bombings that were taking place. In fact his own house had been bombed and completely destroyed.

I said to him that perhaps he might have ill feelings towards the American pilots because his house had been destroyed by them. "Oh no," he told us, "we believed that it was God's mercy that brought the Americans to free our family from the oppression we were experiencing." He, my husband and I all had tears in our eyes from this story.

Diane from Oak Ridge, N.J.

Dear James.

Thank you for the touching story and the wonderful recipe. It always amazes me how time collapses when one only remembers the essentials. Lovely girlfriend you have!

Mona from Pasadena, CA

Oh God, the beautiful Grignan. I remember this place with so much love. Here's the place where my wife and I spent our honey moon. Beautiful post!