TRACK 25
p e a k
A new form of language that combines French and English.
How t o s
!
F r a n g l a i s
You’ve heard of English. And you’ve heard of French. But have you heard of
Franglais? It’s a mixture of the two languages. Find out all about it and how to
speak it – it’s a lot of fun!
T
here are actually two
types of Franglais. The
irst type exists in France
and is spoken exclusively by
the French. Franglais words
consist of English words that
the French use as part of
their everyday language. For
example, the French often
use the word “le weekend” to
refer to… the weekend. Other
words include the following:
“le fut” – for “football/soccer”;
“les baskets” – to refer to
basketball shoes; and “les
tennis” to refer to tennis
shoes”.
Of course, many people in
France aren’t happy about
this. Some even see it as a
cultural attack. And what
really concerns them is the
creeping advance of English
words, especially American-
English, into their language.
As a result, the Toubon Law
was passed in 1994. This
was an attempt to restrict
the use of English words in
French. The law makes French
compulsory in government
publications, most workplaces,
advertisements, parts of
the media and state-funded
schools. For the French,
English is now seen as a
symbol of Anglo-American
cultural imperialism – the
Learn more! Get an idioms booklet! 300 useful idioms + audio files. For more information, visit: www.learnhotenglish.com / www.learnhotenglish.com /
Franglaisfun
Grammar
FRENCH WORDS USED IN
ENGLISH
Of course, it’s not all one
way. There are also many,
language of junk food. And cup of cofee, please.
many French words
it is something that must “Je ne suis pas un bon sleeper” that are used in English.
be stopped. In order to do = I am not a good sleeper. Here are some of the
that, oicials in French public “Longtemps, pas voir = Long common ones. “Faux
bodies try hard to weed time, no see. pas” = a mistake; “Savoir
out English words and ofer “Je vais driver downtown = I'm faire” = knowledge;
“iancé” = someone
French alternatives. So, it was going to drive downtown. you are engaged to be
goodbye “le e-mail” and hello “Je suis tired = I am tired. married to; “la crème de
“le courriel”; and out went “Je ne care pas” = I don't care. la crème” = the best in
“le spam” and in came “le a group; “tête a tête” =
pourriel”. Would you like to speak face-to-face meeting;
Franglais? “rendezvous” = a Speakez
vous
meeting, often a Franglais?
The other form of Franglais secret one.
is spoken exclusively by the
English. This is an invented FRANGLAIS (AS USED BY THE
language that is a mixture FRENCH) MILES KINGTON
of English and French. It Here are
Miles Kington was a
some English
was created by the English writer for the Independent
words as
journalist Miles Kington newspaper for more
used by
(who died in 2008). Speaking than 20 years. He died at
the French.
the age of 66 in January
Franglais is simple. You Please note
2008. Amongst many
just insert as many French that although
other things, he is famous
words as you know into a these are
for his books on how to
English
sentence, ill in the rest with speak “Franglais”.
words, they
English, then speak it with are often
absolute conviction and a used in a diferent way by the GLOSSARY
the creeping advance of
French accent. Here are some French. something n
examples: “Un parking” = a car park; “un the way that something is
increasing slowly but surely
camping” = a campsite; “le to weed out phr vb
marketing” = marketing; “un if you “weed something out”, you
“Je suis un rock star” = I am a smoking” = a tuxedo / a dinner try to identify it and eliminate it
rock star. jacket; “un déstockage” = a
a nutter n inform
a crazy person
“Je voudrais go away ce clearance sale; “le footing” = a clearance sale n
weekend” = I would like to go jogging / running; “un talkie- if a shop has a “clearance sale”, they
try to sell all the products in the
away this weekend. walkie” = a walkie-talkie; “le self” shop because they are going to
“Je ne suis pas un nutter = a self-service restaurant/bar; “un change them, or they are closing
the shop
holiday” = a holiday; “un e-mail” =
religieux = I am not a religious an e-mail; “le score” = the score;
a walkie-talkie n
a two-way radio used to
nutter. “le garden party” = a garden party; communicate
“Je voudrais un cup of cofee, “le planning” = planning. the score n
the points that the teams in a game
s’il vous plait = I would like a have
49