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#115132 11/03/03 08:57 PM
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I apologize if this subject has been dealt with here already. Perhaps I should lurk longer before I leap, but here I go at any rate...

Recently the flag-waving speech teacher I volunteer for in my son's school said that she wanted to "remove everything French" from her room. I stood there for a few moments, looking at her in utter disbelief, then said, "You do realize that my last name is French, right?" (My husband's family were French Huguenots from way back). She actually squinted her eyes at me in what for all the world looked like suspicion then quickly recovered.

After this I started thinking how disabled this speech teacher would truly be if she were to ban all French words from her room, since many of the words we use in English have French origins. I recalled a humorous webpage I saw some time ago and e-mailed it to her. Naturally, she did not respond. Heh! Likely most of you saw this, but in case you haven't here it is:

English Sans French
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0314/p10s02-comv.html

Now I must find a fun Xmas gift for this speech teacher....from France, of course!

Viva la différence!


#115133 11/03/03 09:06 PM
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Nice link, thanks. Here's one on a related theme:
http://www.geocities.com/wordwulf/niw_englisc.htm


#115134 11/03/03 09:44 PM
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Pronunciation
Short: A as in 'father'
Long: Á as in 'oak'


A, wot?


#115135 11/03/03 11:22 PM
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Cool link. Thank you! Someone certainly put a lot of effort into that website. I'm impressed.


#115136 11/03/03 11:25 PM
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There are some others you might enjoy here:
http://maxqnz.com/References.html


#115137 11/03/03 11:34 PM
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Thank you! That should keep me busy for a while. So many words, so little time. ;-)


#115138 11/04/03 01:12 AM
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Removing all the French....ah bien harumph!!!

I'm a little flabergasted that she'd be allowed to instill racism in her classroom that way. Seems very close-minded.

And it might be a good idea to remind her that French is a language spoken all over the globe, in different countries, not just in that one section over in Europe just beside Spain - and notably spoken at your neighbour, to the north.

Mind you, that type of person will probably jump on you if you even bring up Québec, Canada since we were definitely against the attack on Irak.

And apparently, we bug the hell out of Floridians, because we flock down there in the hundreds of thousands every year, on vacations (read: spending money.) It's odd to see that animosity sometimes. So maybe mentioning us would not have helped your case


#115139 11/04/03 01:15 AM
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GF, I'm wondering if this is the right word to use.

All you wordniks out there...is there a word that means you loath something (i.e. francoloathing) instead of being frightened of it like phobia implies?


#115140 11/04/03 01:21 AM
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My husband's family were French Huguenots from way back So were my father's people! I've always thought that may have contributed to my love of words.


#115141 11/04/03 03:04 AM
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belMarduk wrote:
...is there a word that means you loath something (i.e. francoloathing) instead of being frightened of it like phobia implies?

Very good point. I thought of that, but couldn't come up with a different word when I posted. Also I think that most hate is based on fear, so in a sense francophobia does apply.

Bigotry & ignorance work as well.

Maybe someone can think of a better word that specifically matches this situation.


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