The French actually don't care, but the Académie Française believes it loses authority over the language if they allow anglicisms. They'll be ignored, as they've been so far for words like internet, etc.
It's a tough one. The French have a proud culture and a rich language. Having it diluted by English heralds a less prestigious position with regard to how the country may be perceived. It also brings closer the inevitable need for French people in general to learn another language - a characteristic that th British and French share in not liking and not being good at.
I also believe that it's similar to standard English purists who bemoan the introduction of new words into the English language. Whatever we think, language growth is a dynamic process - English as an international language means that British or US natives have no claim to hold back language that they abhore.
Originally posted by Bonarparte It's a tough one. The French have a proud culture and a rich language. Having it diluted by English heralds a less prestigious position with regard to how the country may be perceived. It also brings closer the inevitable need for French people in general to learn another language - a characteristic that th British and French share in not liking and not b ...[text shortened]... anguage means that British or US natives have no claim to hold back language that they abhore.
I never saw a French having a problem with saying "L'internet" or "le web".
the English language is full of French words and phrases and no one really cares.
The French need to take a more laissez-faire attitude when it comes to language and embrace words from other languages no matter how nouveau or avante-garde they may be.
Originally posted by Melanerpes The French need to take a more laissez-faire attitude when it comes to language and embrace words from other languages no matter how nouveau or avante-garde they may be.
The French do. That's why the Academie Francaise has a problem.
French vs Anglicisms
31 Mar '10 14:15
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