French

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Don't you mean: Quelle Horreur? You know... to keep your cover .

The assimilation process has already begun.

[Cruddy]

Originally posted by Tamerlin
Sorry Spiffor, if you are French I didn't knew it...

Probably because it went out of fashion about the same time Napoleon did. C'est vrai, that is gutter early 19th century Francais.

[Spiffor]

Well, it's still pretty fashionable over here

[Drake Tungsten]

While waiting for my flight to London, their was a French family sitting in the airport, and they had a little girl, perhaps 6 years old, who was running around speaking perfect French. It is absolutely one of the most adorable things to hear!

Them foreign kids sure are smart, ain't they?

[Boris Godunov]

Yeah! I mean, their kids speak French! It's mind-blowing!

[Sava]

More people probably speak Spanish or Chinese than Frog, panag.

Yeah Tass, if you're going to learn a language.... move to Texas and learn how to speak, "DUMASS CRACKER"

[Cruddy]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Well, it's still pretty fashionable over here

Sorry I wasn't more clear Spiffor. I meant the word "bougre" was in fashion in Napoleon's France, not that les pederasts were seen as passez.

In case you are wondering folks, all Brit kids get a bit of French hammered into them until we are like 12 or so.

Most of us forget it the same afternoon.

But a word or 2 sticks. I just can't rmember how to string them together.

[Panag]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
More people probably speak Spanish or Chinese than Frog, panag.

hi ,

sure , .....

its still an international language , .....

UN documents and websites aint in chinese , .......

spanish belongs to the group of latin languages , speak one and you can easely learn the others , ......

frog is spoken from africa to the schools of naking , from moscow's city center to the streets of brasilia , from canada till , ......

have a nice day

[Elok]

According to the latest Cartoon History of the Universe book, the word "bugger" comes from a medieval Bulgar church sect who practiced anal sex because they believed the flesh so evil that reproduction ought to be avoided. Just FYI.
The problem with French, from my perspective, is that almost every frigging letter is silent and the vowels make you sound like a guy with a steel-wool hairball stuck in the back part of his nose. Plus those ridiculous L-sounds. It just sounds bad.
And yes, pederasty is child molestation. It's considered sexy by a disturbing number of people, as anyone who's been following recent news can tell you.

[alva]

You mean like the 'th' sound in english???

Yes, french has it difficulties as has every language, but héy, practic makes perfect

If you learn a new language, the first thing you need to do, is forget your native one.

[Shi Huangdi]

Re: French

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
I want to learn the French language. I don't have any money at all.

Please help me.

Can't you get a translator to help you at your information ministry?

[PLATO]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
This must make you an honorary American, Spiffor.

Welcome aboard Spiffor!

[Adalbertus]

Originally posted by Spiffor

That's strange. By us, "pédérastie" means ...

Spiffor, I love you making this mistake. It means you're making advances in learning German . But "by" is rarely equivalent to "bei". I'm not absolutely sure, but I'd say "With us...".

On topic, a foreign language isn't just a collection of words. Grammar and construction of sentences is one thing. When I was learning English, I usually had to adapt a German sentence to a different sequence of words (in German, the conjugated verb is always the second "group" of a main sentence) and to use prepositions which do not exactly match those of German (see above). In French many things are expressed significantly different. So, this may be also an obstacle for native English speakers. But I think to learn this is best done when you have some experience so that you can tackle to read books (at least, this is the most fun way, other than having a French girlfriend).

The other point is pronounciation. Don't try to learn it from books. The internet tutor which was proposed earlier in this thread at least gives sound files which is better than nothing. But I think it is much easier if you have a native speaker (or at least a good teacher) to talk to.

Living in a French-speaking region of course is the best (after you've learned grammar and a basic stock of words). And resist the temptation to speak English. I've heard that there are French people who maliciously don't want to understand you unless you speak perfectly, but I didn't meet them. Usually I found people quite helpful and patient when I spoke/tried to speak French.

[Adalbertus]

Originally posted by alva
If you learn a new language, the first thing you need to do, is forget your native one.

Pronounciation - yes.
Structure - no. Learn the differences. It's usually easier than to build on nothing. The most helpful hint to learn the continuous form of English verbs was a structure in the dialect of Cologne:

German - Kölsch - English
Er läuft - Hä läuf - He runs
Er läuft - Hä es am loufe - He is running

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Adalbertus
German - Kölsch - English
Er läuft - Hä läuf - He runs
Er läuft - Hä es am loufe - He is running

I'm almost glad living with the Swabs