The Language of Jason Elliot Benda
I speak English. The basic reason for this is that almost everyone I know
understands English. Sometimes, though, my eleven years of French comes out of
hiding and shows its face. Further, I took four years of Latin, and a few spots
of that langue ancienne (whoops--that means "former language";
ancienne langue is "ancient language") pop into my life every so often
as well.
The following are the most common words and sentences which come out
of my brain en français:
- malheureusement (adverb)
- "unfortunately" is the most common translation, although etymologically in
French it means "bad-happily", or "sadly". I use this word a lot; it means
something a little different to me than any of its English counterparts.
- fourchette (noun, feminine)
- "fork". That's it. I think I think fourchette sounds prettier, but it only
means "fork" (as in the thing with tines that you use to eat).
- chausettes (noun, feminine plural)
- "socks". The fabric on your feet. See reasoning under fourchette.
- Je vous suis. (sentence) (rarely Je te suis.)
- I can tell you exactly why I say that. It's one of the few double-meanings
I know in French. I usually mean "I follow you." when I say it, but the same
sentence means "I am you." Suivre and être happen to have the same form
in the present indicative first person singular. I can think of three people
with whom I would use the familiar te as opposed to the formal vous. I don't
even feel comfortable using the familiar with my own parents.
- aujourd'hui (adverb)
- "today", as in Aujourd'hui, c'est vendredi, le douze janvier, mil neuf cent
quatre-vingt-seize. ("Today is Friday, 12 January 1996.") I very often say the
date to myself in French.
- Quelle heure est-il? (sentence)
- "What time is it?" I usually have to ask again, in English, to get a
response from someone who hasn't been around me that much.
- On espère. (sentence)
- "One hopes." What most English-speaking people mean when they say
"hopefully". (Correct: Tim cried hopefully. Correct: One hopes Tim will
be rescued from the well. Incorrect: Hopefully Tim will be rescued. (Will
Tim really be rescued in a hopeful manner?))
- Allons-y. (sentence)
- "Let's go [there]."
And here are some words and phrases which I am likely to utter in
lingua latina:
- centum (adjective, indeclinable)
- "one hundred". I use this when I'm counting money. duo centum, "two
hundred", is something I say a lot playing Monopoly (as in $200 salary). Other
numbers, both French and Latin, pop up occasionally, but centum is common.
- necesse [est] (adjective, indeclinable)
- "[it is] necessary". It's three syllables; in English it is four.
There are others, I am sure, and I will add to this file as I notice them.
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