Author Archives: Susan

Synonyms for basics and for sex terms

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Susan

That would be a good study: comparing the number of synonyms in various languages. Which synonyms were you thinking of? I would imagine that most synonyms would be express basic phenomena like “I’m hungry,” “I want…,” “I need,” and “I … Continue reading →

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New French Words Reflect Society Influences

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Susan

French words now reflect changes in its society. When I started spending time there, rules were strict. Words used were those found in dictionaries. As time went on, usage seemed to relax. I don’t even know when it happened. Before … Continue reading →

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Weirdest Part of Hollande’s Sex Scandal

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Susan

The weirdest element of the Hollande scandal was finally pointed to by Anne Roumanoff, a French humorist and political satirist: the clash between the French President’s nerdy look and his rakish extra-curricular activities. Draping the French socio-political scene in a … Continue reading →

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Paris – still the city of love

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Susan

New Parisian Phenomonon covered on two sites: http://nolovelocks.com/blog/ et http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2014/04/14/non-le-pont-des-arts-ne-risque-pas-de-s-ecrouler-sous-le-poids-des-cadenas-d-amour_997189 Incroyable !  Je suis d’accord avec ce commentaire-ci: Un amour trop grand est lourd à porter ! You wonder how many of these oaths to eternal love are already history. … Continue reading →

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N’est-ce pas Hollande – pas Marceau – qui est grossier ?

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Susan

Marilyn M. nous envoie cette nouvelle polémque sur la conduite privée du Président. Mais n’est-ce pas Hollande qui est vulgaire, pas Marceau? Maybe one could have criticized him more subtly by saying: “His private behavior does not show the integrity … Continue reading →

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The French of Henri, the Existential Cat

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Susan

Friends keep sending Henri to me, thinking he’ll make this cat-loving French teacher happy.  But he drives me nuts.  Why doesn’t he explain why his French is so lousy and his pronunciation worse? Is he ashamed that he only moved … Continue reading →

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Lucien Robert (1926-2014)

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Susan

The French and French-American community in Boston lost a major figure last February 20. Not only was his French restaurant, Maison Robert, the finest in Boston for four decades, but he warmly and generously brought French, French teachers, and francophiles … Continue reading →

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Quelle est la plus belle phrase de la langue française ?

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Susan

Originally posted on Switchie5:
Avant-hier, chez Drucker, Jean d’Ormesson racontait qu’un jour à Apostrophes, Bernard Pivot demanda à Jean Dutour quelle était la plus belle phrase de la langue française. Et Dutour de répondre, “oh, ça doit être : “c’était…

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Marilyn M de la région bostonienne : “L’Amour et les Français !

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Susan

Marilyn M écrit de Needham : J’ai beaucoup réfléchi sur l’affaire Hollande.  Il a le droit à une vie privée, droit très important en France.  Il est vrai que ses actions n’étaient pas prudentes pour les raisons de sécurité.  Mais, … Continue reading →

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The Rumored Dishes were National, not Personal

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Susan

Turns out: the dishes Trierweiler is rumored to have trashed in an angry/jealous fit belonged to France, not to the man who is its president. But who knows if it’s true in the first place?

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