From an article on Yahoo News:
The Culture Ministry has announced a ban on the use of “e-mail” in all government ministries, documents, publications or Web sites, the latest step to stem an incursion of English words into the French lexicon.
The ministry’s General Commission on Terminology and Neology insists Internet surfers in France are broadly using the term “courrier electronique” (electronic mail) instead of e-mail ? a claim some industry experts dispute. “Courriel” is a fusion of the two words.
Did you not hate the French before this? They’ve really got to get over themselves. Next thing the French government is going to do is forbid all telephone calls to America. It’s the Thought Police over there. Makes us glad we’re Americans. Knockin’ back Freedom Fries with our Freedom Toast, walkin’ our Freedom poodles, as we give each other Freedom kisses. God bless us all!
yea, the french government is pretty ‘eccentric’. some weird people are in control there…
but i get along with the french people very well (i speak french) and it’s always nice to spend some days in that beautiful country.
(fyi: the french border is only 3 hours away from my town – by car)
The French have been annoying lately. I’ve never had any desire to go over there. I’ve heard stories about the people over there being rude to Americans. I hate rude people. Yeah, that’s my two cents. It didn’t really make sense, but whatever.
I can see making freedom fries and freedom kisses….but the poodles seem to be too French to change them – maybe its just me, maybe its the awful haircut they have…
;o)
oh no! I can’t believe I’m gonna be defending the French….. It’s purely a linguistic issue here. E-mail is not a french word. it’s in english. so they came up with a French word. Just like there’s a german word and a japanese word, it’s just language playing catch up with technology. Here in Montreal, the French speaking part of Canada, it’s been couriel for years, since email first came about. Sure, some french speakers say email, but the official word is couriel, it’s no big deal.
The difference here is the French are changing a word that is already in use and been accepted by their nation and outlawing the government from using the English equivalent. It sounds like the French Canadians went with couriel to start and the government isn’t cracking heads over the use of the word e-mail. Those Frenchies!
So its okay for to go around renaming anything with the word “French” in it to “Freedom”, but it isn’t okay for the organization that strives to ensure that the French language isnt bastardized, to change the term from e-mail to couriel? “Email”, by the way means “enamelled” in French.
I was kidding about renaming things French to Freedom. I think that is utterly stupid. And one in the U.S. government who proposed or supported that should be forced to spend the remainder of his or her term in Paris.
Kelly, are you to tell me that there are no words in the French dictionary that are not of French origin? I find that very hard to believe. If it’s true, it just shows that we in America are much more adaptable when it comes to language (and probably most everything else).
Hi Denis, not at all. There are plenty of words in the french language that ORIGINATE in other languages, meaning that the word has changed in one way or another so that it is now French. The problem with e-mail/email/Email is that there was already a word in the French language with that spelling. So it could not be used officially without compromising the language. Hence France’s decision to adopt the Quebecois couriel.
Okay. Then that makes sense. Why would anyone want to call e-mail by the same word that means enamelled? Crazy. I stopped eating fries, whichever way you call it, since I found out my cholesterol is on the high side. So, that’s a none issue for me. BTW, I love Montreal. Only there for a visit for a few days many years ago, but very pretty and friendly place.
See, I love french fries. Especially McDonald’s fries. But, I’ve stricken them from my diet since I realized that a large fries is about 1000 calories, and that a small isn’t that much better. Maybe some day I’ll justify the indulgence, but not just yet.
I make really good fries at home, but they are persona non grata right now. See, Americans don’t even mind using a little Latin every once and awhile. Bet you can’t talk the French into using some. *lol*
I know what you mean about the fries, they’re insanely fattening – but oh so yummy!
BTW, you do know that French is a Latin language, meaning the majority of the syntax and grammar descend from Latin?
And because I’ve already come across like a know-it-all (sorry!) – Persona non grata applies to people not food. Cibus non gratus, “unwanted food”.
Okay, that’s enough out of me!
I knew persona non grata meant person not welcome, but thanks for making the latin correct in this instance. Never be ashamed of being smart. Thanks.
FRENCH ARE GAY
I am french and I don t understand the idea that you have that the fries are french!!!
It is absolutely false,it s belgium!
In french we call them fries not french fries
I am French and find it sad that american people should make such a fuss about the French out of frustration. Denis, you surely know that the English language you are using to criticize the French, actually finds its roots from French. Thanks to us and the English who started to use French words in the Middle Ages, you – American – can say words such as : united states, tyrant oppress, traitor, treason, liberty, religion, communion, lesson, passion, slave, bondman, faith and charity. Enemy, arms, combat, battle, siege, retreat etc.
So many words that apply to the history of your nation and society.
France has an institution called L’académie française (French academy, pretty much the same in English, isn’t it) used to protect our culture through our language, something which I am sure is very difficult for you to understand. I do not want to start and play the WHY-I-HATE-AMERICANS game simply because I think it is rude and displaced, but for sure a little bit of reading in History books would prove you that some self-criticism upon the ‘great’ american nation would be quite appropriate too.
This french man stole money and products from an American couple in IL, USA.
frank N totti
France
Do as you wish with it. Post it send crap to it whatever!
An Amercian
You profoundly ignorant jackass. I’m an American and glad to be one. But I’m sorry you’re one too, if only by luck of your birth. Have you been to France? Do you know any French people? Do you know the slightest thing about the country? Banned or not, 60 million French people still say “email” when they send one. I hope they all send one to your account explaining to you, in French, what an ignoramous you are.
P.S. “French” Fries were invented in Belgium, where — in case you didn’t know — half the country speaks French. And “French” toast as we know it is an entirely American invention. In France it’s “pain perdu,” and it’s only something you eat for dessert.
As for the Thought Police, now there’s somebody you’re evidently well acquainted with. Because those in the American media and Washington who are doling out this venemous crap have clearly got hold of you lock, stock, and barrel. I’d pity you if I didn’t feel obligated to hate you so much.
I think we should bouycot France completely. Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for Americans they would be back to speaking German. They hate Americans, but love our money. They hate Americans but want us to come to their aid. They hate Americans for our strongness and condemn us for our military buildup while they produce nuclear weapons. Why in the world did the English permit that tunnel to go through to France? They don’t like the British either and if there is ever another war over there, they will be running like the weasels they are to England and expecting the British and the Americans to save them once again; which we will; and they will still hate us. The only exception to this is the brave French underground. God bless them!
I think we should bouycot France completely. Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for Americans they would be back to speaking German. They hate Americans, but love our money. They hate Americans but want us to come to their aid. They hate Americans for our strongness and condemn us for our military buildup while they produce nuclear weapons. Why in the world did the English permit that tunnel to go through to France? They don’t like the British either and if there is ever another war over there, they will be running like the weasels they are to England and expecting the British and the Americans to save them once again; which we will; and they will still hate us. The only exception to this is the brave French underground. God bless them!
Hello.
My name is Neil. I’m 100% American.
I adore France and its people. (gasp!)
To my fellow Americans, this ignorance and stupidity has GOT to stop. We Americans base our opinion of France off of stereotypes that originated wayyy back to World War II. (That, and the way our media projects France.)
I had a real problem with this:
“Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for Americans they would be back to speaking German.”
And do you realize that without France, we’d be British? Do your research. There’s no way we would have won the Revolutionary War without France. France has always been there for us. They fight for the same principals we do.
Your only knowledge of France comes from our American history books DESIGNED to make us look good. Remember when the British burned down our white house in the war of 1812? Sure you do. We all remember that from history class. But what you might not know is that it was them settling the score because we burned down Canada’s capitol the year prior.
But of course, we never learned that did we? Of course we didn’t. That would make us look bad.
France didn’t approve of our actions in this war because they were cowards, they didn’t because they’re not stupid. =P Had Iraq posed an actual threat to world security (or even just U.S. security), France would have been there for us in a heartbeat. You can count on that.
Quit basing your opinion on France when you didn’t even take the time to learn about them or their culture. They’re not rude, they’re just not as open as we are. (Until you get to know them.)
Point in case, the whole “freedom” thing. Hardly any of us Americans know that french fries are Belgian and French Toast in American. (I know a frenchmen and he said it’s one of those recipes they wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole) And do you honestly think the whole renaming think offended them? Hell no, they were laughing at us! (Along with many Americans as well. Me included.)
See how wrong you are over such a little trivial detail? About certain foods? So what makes you think you know the complexities of the French culture? =P
And what’s with us bashing France with this whole “yeah they’re rude and eccentric”? Um, hello? Do you really think we Americans are the politest people on the planet? Come on now, you know how we are. =)
America, do what I did and actually LEARN about the people you hate oh so much instead of being stupid and knowing absolutely nothing about them. You’ll be surprised at what you learn.
And to the French who may be reading this. Please don’t hate all of us. We’re not all full of this unjustified hate. I happen to love your country and your people. And I personally thank you for helping us throughout our countries short history. We truly wouldn’t have made it this far without you. (Same goes with all of our other Euro allies.)
-Legion