France commits idiotic act to try to show it is superior to America... bans "e-mail"

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Of course the change was made for cultural reasons

I rest my case.

Why? "Cultural reasons" include the word "courriel" being easier to pronounce and more practical than "e-mail."

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by TCO


To be comparably silly, you would have to have a Government document mandating Freedom Fries in all government documents.

Euphemisms are a lesser sin, than proclamations to change a word that is commonly word but comes from another language.

I don't think so. Freedom Fries is just patently more ridiculous. Nobody has ever used that term before, and it was a means of getting back at one country. Courriel is stupid (they should just let the language evolve) but is indicative of their desire to "maintain" French language (something that started in 18th century with Acad. de la LF). And euphemisms are actually worse, IMO. I'm a lot more upset when a government official tries to trivialise human suffering by couching it in more comfortable terms than I am when somebody changes the name of email because it's an anglicisme...

[TCO]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Gee, maybe she just has a different opinion on the matter than those who made the decision?

Just because "e-mail" is currently ubiquitous, due to its being around for so long, does not mean it is the most practical term they could use. From a purely linguistic perspecitve, "courriel" is much easier and natural-sounding in French than "e-mail."

Of course the change was made for cultural reasons--just not necessarily the one you're assuming out of your anti-gallic mindset. Anything decisions dealing with use of language are inheritly cultural in nature.

You haven't squared her different opinion from YOUR statement on practicality. Nor have you squared your statement of practicality with current usage! If people use it, than how is it impractical? Huh???

Stop twisting like Fez in a sheet.

[TCO]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


I don't think so. Freedom Fries is just patently more ridiculous. Nobody has ever used that term before, and it was a means of getting back at one country. Courriel is stupid (they should just let the language evolve) but is indicative of their desire to "maintain" French language (something that started in 18th century with Acad. de la LF). And euphemisms are actually worse, IMO. I'm a lot more upset when a government official tries to trivialise human suffering by couching it in more comfortable terms than I am when somebody changes the name of email because it's an anglicisme...

Well, I guess we agree that they are not good analogues. I also think stealing money is worse. As is beating your wife.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by TCO
By the way, saying they are silly isn't bashing them. If I wanted to bash, I would be hitting them like Britney Spears hitting a wildebeest.

I'm not saying you're bashing them. But I do think there is opportunism present in this thread. Especially in overreaction and calling it a death of free speech in France...

If they want a violation of free speech used to maintain French they should look to the North, not across the Atlantic...

[TCO]

And it looks like we agree, the language should just evolve.

[TCO]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


I'm not saying you're bashing them. But I do think there is opportunism present in this thread. Especially in overreaction and calling it a death of free speech in France...

If they want a violation of free speech used to maintain French they should look to the North, not across the Atlantic...

What there are French people in America, I mean Canada, I mean North America? Next you'll tell me that Brazillians have black people too!

[KrazyHorse]

I want some Coffee!

[Drake Tungsten]

I'm not saying you're bashing them. But I do think there is opportunism present in this thread. Especially in overreaction and calling it a death of free speech in France...

I'd have to agree with this. For the record, I don't think this is the death of free speech in France or anything else as equally absurd. It's just a silly decision made because of France's overwhelming belief in the superiority and purity of their own language (a pet peeve of mine).

[TCO]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
I want some Coffee!

Yasser, coming right up!

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by TCO


You haven't squared her different opinion from YOUR statement on practicality. Nor have you squared your statement of practicality with current usage! If people use it, than how is it impractical? Huh???

Stop twisting like Fez in a sheet.

Why do I have to square her opinion? She's just saying that, in her opinion, e-mail is fine. Others disagree.

And you're saying everything in current usage must be the most practical? Malarky.

People often stick with less-practical means of saying or doing things out of habit and tradition. As I said, ubiquitous use does not necessarily denote it is the most practical. Our computer keyboards are a perfect example. They are ubiquitous, but the key layout is not the most practical possible for speed and accuracy. Attempts to introduce new layouts have been failures because people are stubborn and don't like changing habits, even if changing them would make a better result.

Now, I'm not saying I think "courriel" will catch on and replace e-mail. It is likely that "e-mail" is there to stay, precisely because of habit. But I don't think the ministry's decision is the cultural sideswipe people are making it out to be.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

I'm not saying you're bashing them. But I do think there is opportunism present in this thread. Especially in overreaction and calling it a death of free speech in France...

I'd have to agree with this. For the record, I don't think this is the death of free speech in France or anything else as equally absurd. It's just a silly decision made because of France's overwhelming belief in the superiority and purity of their own language (a pet peeve of mine).

Stop it. We'll all be agreeing soon. Then we will have to gang bang Fez to get our rocks off and that makes me feel so cheap.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Why do I have to square her opinion? She's just saying that, in her opinion, e-mail is fine. Others disagree.

And you're saying everything in current usage must be the most practical? Malarky.

People often stick with less-practical means of saying or doing things out of habit and tradition. As I said, ubiquitous use does not necessarily denote it is the most practical. Our computer keyboards are a perfect example. They are ubiquitous, but the key layout is not the most practical possible for speed and accuracy. Attempts to introduce new layouts have been failures because people are stubborn and don't like changing habits, even if changing them would make a better result.

Now, I'm not saying I think "courriel" will catch on and replace e-mail. It is likely that "e-mail" is there to stay, precisely because of habit. But I don't think the ministry's decision is the cultural sideswipe people are making it out to be.

If people readily use something, how is it impractical. It might not be optimal, but it's certainly not impractical. And you twist just fine, honey.

[Drake Tungsten]

Stop it. We'll all be agreeing soon.

Nah. We'll still have Boris around to disagree with. He never admits defeat.

Then we will have to gang bang Fez to get our rocks off and that makes me feel so cheap.

[Boris Godunov]

"less practical" not "impractical" Practicality is a spectrum, not either/or. Darlin'.