Author Topic: Foreign phrases (Read 8720 times)

Kama · « **Reply #50 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:17:06 PM »

we were revising idiomatic expressions in French today, and once again I am amazed at how many Polish idioms are literal translations of French. it must be due to the fact that French was widely spoken in artistocratic circles in the 17th/18th century, but really, if you want to use a Polish idiom in French, you have a really good chance of being understood.

just from today's lesson:
- se laisser mener par le bout du nez
- savoir sur le bout des doigts
- tirer le diable par la queue
- jeter l'argent par la fenetre
- avoir les jambes de laine (although we say cottonwool)
-un coup de foudre (speaking of love at first sight etc)

Neutros the Radioactive Dragon · « **Reply #51 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:47:34 PM »

Quote

Yes! Calques rock.

Wasn't that an Ian Hunter song?

Porter · « **Reply #52 on:** March 13, 2009, 09:13:44 AM »

OK, I have some answers to why the phrases were bugging me.

I've got no problems with adopting words from other languages, but for some reason it bugs me when we use foreign phrases as single entities.

It seems to me that if "du jour" is acceptable in everyday English, we need to also have "du" and "jour" in everyday English as well.

Why? What is my justification for this claim?

Take your pick. Either a) the justification for this claim is left as an exercise for the interested reader or b) search me.

Zalmoxis · « **Reply #53 on:** March 13, 2009, 09:29:50 AM »

Because it is often the phrases, rather than the individual words, that have accrued the cultural baggage and cachet that makes them worth using in certain situations.

Porter · « **Reply #54 on:** March 13, 2009, 09:52:15 AM »

And that's what bugs me for some reason.

Zalmoxis · « **Reply #55 on:** March 13, 2009, 10:03:29 AM »

You can't detach social capital from communication, Porter. Not in this world.

People quibble about how to approach language since that is the case. My response (being a typical Gen Xer with a humanities background) is equal parts sincerity, play/flouting and irony.