http://purelyfrance.com/2007/03/06/french-the-language-of-trois-possibilities/ A New Zealander with one foot firmly in central France, the other frequently in his mouth writes of life, the beloved French, property transactions and how to run a successful B n B and Gite business Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:42:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 http://purelyfrance.com/2007/03/06/french-the-language-of-trois-possibilities/#comment-12 Cees Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:02:55 +0000 http://purelyfrance.com/2007/03/06/french-the-language-of-trois-possibilities/#comment-12 Hi, there. I am living in France (a Dutchman, so neither French nor English is my native tongue) for over a year now, and have similar experiences (who has not?) I was engaged in a conversation wit friends and teacher, and the teacher started talking about a film where the Manchu emperor was one of the main characters. Ah, I said, knowing that the French translate, and often change film titles; yes, I know that one, it's Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, a very long movie! (as you see I like to show off my general knowledge!). Everybody was baffled, needless to say. The Manchu dynasty was indeed the last dynasty of Chinese emperors, but the teachrer was talking about Manchot Empereur, a type of penguin, and the subject of a recent and popular film! But, luckily the French are a forgiving people, even when one undeliberately tries to kill their language..... Hi, there.
I am living in France (a Dutchman, so neither French nor English is my native tongue) for over a year now, and have similar experiences (who has not?) I was engaged in a conversation wit friends and teacher, and the teacher started talking about a film where the Manchu emperor was one of the main characters. Ah, I said, knowing that the French translate, and often change film titles; yes, I know that one, it’s Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor, a very long movie! (as you see I like to show off my general knowledge!). Everybody was baffled, needless to say.
The Manchu dynasty was indeed the last dynasty of Chinese emperors, but the teachrer was talking about Manchot Empereur, a type of penguin, and the subject of a recent and popular film!
But, luckily the French are a forgiving people, even when one undeliberately tries to kill their language…..

]]> http://purelyfrance.com/2007/03/06/french-the-language-of-trois-possibilities/#comment-13 bruce Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:04:04 +0000 http://purelyfrance.com/2007/03/06/french-the-language-of-trois-possibilities/#comment-13 Both Mancu and Manchot seem complex subjects Cees. I can understand the blank looks!! I'm pleased to read it is not just those of us from south of the equator who face these language challenges!! Both Mancu and Manchot seem complex subjects Cees. I can understand the blank looks!! I’m pleased to read it is not just those of us from south of the equator who face these language challenges!!

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