first my "French", Now my English

On Sat, 6 May 2006, Yves Gauvreau wrote:
> I don't want to speak negatively of anyone but I'll make another
> observation this time about Judy, to me it seems like she makes it a
> sport to write at a level that only a few can understand even amoung
> those born with an english dictionary in there hands. I know the
> feeling, the other day I was listening to a bunch of french
> intellectuals and I assure you, only a few french speaking people in the
> world could understand what all this talk was about.

Actually, Yves, I do edit my remarks to, let's say, words that have
distinct meanings not conveyed by more common terms. I doubt any
English-as-a-first language person of my ancient years wouldn't know them,
but of course, given the prevalence of TV and advertising, and the ongoing
loss of "literature," many riches of language, their nuances and
associations are lost. (Not that new ones don't arrive -- often terrific
ones, like "duh" or thus and such is "whack," short I suppose for "whacked
out"... which comes from ??????, for instance.)

Ethnologists go to great lengths to preserve ancient tongues. IMO, it's
equally important to preserve the riches of English. I assume anyone
writing in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th language (and you do such a good job of
it, you could *nearly* pass -- though you probably get a lot of practice
at home?) has got a dictionary. Don't you like learning a new word, with
a living example? You could even catch me in a malapropism. (It could
happen.) In any event, I offer you, and of course English as a
first-languagers, the compliment of NOT dumbing down my normal voice for
their "benefit" (or not much). But I do think any educated American OF MY
AGE knows these words (tho they may not type as fast as I do). I mean if
they don't hear them at home, they learn them for their SATs (college
entrance exams).

It seems to me that e-mail about a fascinating topic in one's 2nd or 3rd
language is a marvelous opportunity. If we'd had that possibility when I
studied French -- and German-- I might have gotten really proficient. At
the time, you had to go to "conversation" classes that were always a
life-threatening bore (I mean, really, La Plume de Ma Tante?), expensive,
at a distance and at the crack of dawn or other impossible hour.

I assume your first language is French... We are all aware of how the
French strive to preserve their beautiful language...(what is the name of
their "academy" that forbids signs in English? The very topic reminds me
of the time, in a park near Quebec, having deposited our daughter at a
French summer language course, I was speaking quietly in English to my
husband when a park employee came over to inform us in French that this
was a French speaking country. I was so startled, I instantly forgot every
word of French I ever knew, and at a loss in attempting to request his
absence.)

Does English merit less? Must we outlaw any language not normal for
the bar, the soccer field, or computer games?

I also note that it is, or used to be, common before using a vulgarity to
say "pardon my French." So, I've been condemned here for my "French" and
now for my English. C'est la vie, I suppose.

best,

Judy
Received on 05/06/06-03:52:59 PM Z