03.31.09

“Literary French”

Posted in Planning Your Trip at 9:40 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger

Many people think I must be “practically fluent” in French.  Not because I have demonstrated this in any way, but because of my love of all things French, doing business in Paris, and if the truth be known, the multitude of French courses I have begun. I started taking French with my girls and as each of them passed me by, they kindly offered encouragements like, “Oh, Mom, you have so many other things going on…” Or “Isn’t it suppose to be easier when you are younger?” (Of course, that was one of my particular favorites, as you can imagine!) On the heels of that one, I encouraged myself remembering the experts do say that doing crossword puzzles and learning foreign languages are ways to prevent brain deterioration, or something scary. So I am encouraged to continue my efforts.

I also do hope that I have learned enough to “fudge” every now and then. Perhaps, I will pronounce just one word so correctly that even my French friends will stand in awe.  However, I think I find it most troublesome when I am reading educated authors who drop little French phrases adding to the ambiance of their literary work, and I do not have a clue what they mean. Some are obvious, or at least an educated guess will get you close. But other times I am purely baffled. Unfortunately, looking the words up in a French dictionary does not always help, if the saying is an idiom for something different than what an exact translation will render.

So, just in case there are those of you in the same boat, I will update you on some of my previous findings.

What is it when girl friends are having a  “tête-à-tête” or a “head to head?” Definitely, it is guessable, but that is code for a private conversation.

When a globetrotting writer refers to her “pied-à-terre,” does that mean she is down to earth or literally “foot on the ground?” No, guess again. “Pied-à-terre” is a small living quarter usually in a large city, and typically a second home.

Recently, I read one author who was describing the French fashion sense as having a certain “je ne sais quoi.” This sounded so chic, but how does “I don’t know what” become a compliment? Perhaps because the phrase in this usage has come to mean a certain indescribable or indefinable characteristic that makes it stand out from others.

Well, we all must start somewhere. Sometimes I just start apologetically with, “Je ne sais pas.”

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