Archive for February, 2011
Une grande romancière, mère et grand-mère Posted by Hichem on Feb 16, 2011
As the national attention of her pays natal (native country), l’Égypte, was overwhelmingly occupied by the stunning popular uprisal qui battait son plein(at its height) just a few days ago, the disappearance from this world of l’enfant du pays(the native child, or literally “the child of the country”) -who was also of Lebanese extraction and later became French…
Joyeuse Saint-Valentin!—Avec une chanson d’amour française Posted by Hichem on Feb 14, 2011
Whether you see la Saint-Valentinas an authentic fête de l’amour(love celebration) or merely un prétexte purement commercial(A purely commercial pretext), today’s post presents to you a French song by a singer who has been singing for l’amour, and about l’amour, not only in Valentine’s, but also during the other 364 days of the year. His name is Frédéric François(—Not Chopin, just…
Brave Native Canadian Rap – en Français! Posted by Hichem on Feb 13, 2011
We have seen recently that the word brave is actually a native “Gaulois“ term which made its way into today’s French. But how about “la paix des braves”? Way before the failed attempt of le General de Gaulle at quelling the Algerian Revolution, the term “Paix des Braves” (“Peace of the Braves”) was used to…
Les Victoires de la musique de 2011 Posted by Hichem on Feb 11, 2011
Comme chaque année (Like every year), the musicians who are considered the best are awarded a prestigious trophee called “une victoire de la musique” (a “Music Victory.“) In the first part of this vingt-sixième édition(Twenty Sixth Edition) of the music ceremony, the organizers put the focus on “la récompense de la jeunesse” (“the reward of the youth.”)…
French Disney – The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Posted by Hichem on Feb 10, 2011
Those who have read Victor Hugo‘s work and then watch the movie adaptation would easily notice the major differences between the two— But then again, what would a Disney movie be without a “tout est bien qui finit bien” (“All is well that ends well”)! * * * French…
Common French Words with “Gaulois” Origin, Part 2 Posted by Hichem on Feb 8, 2011
* Caillou: Pebble—Obélix carrying a “caillou” of rather huge proportions: It’s actually called a “menhir”! * * * * Changer: To change * * * * Char: Chariot, or tank—As in “le char Leclerc!“ * * * * Chemin: Path—Think “Sur le chemin de la vie” (“On the Path of Life” by Gérard Lenorman) * * * * Chemise: Shirt—Think “Tomber la chemise”…
The “Gaulois” Legacy in French Part 1 Posted by Hichem on Feb 8, 2011
Long before that the hexagonal land that we know today as France was invaded by foreign German tribes called the Franks, who went as far as changing its original language and name, it was known to its inhabitants as La Gaule. Those native inhabitants, who were of Celtic “souche“(a Gaulish word meaning “stock”, “origin”), were known…