Archive for March, 2017
A few of my favorite things Posted by Tim Hildreth on Mar 14, 2017
This week marks my cinquante-deuxième (52nd) entry to the Transparent Language French blog! Bon anniversaire à moi! (Happy anniversary to me!) Cinquante-deux semaine (52 weeks) means it’s been just un an (one year) since I first introduced myself to you! I hope it’s been une bonne année (a good year) for all of you and…
Blizzard! Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Mar 14, 2017
In New York, we are awaiting a huge blizzard just several weeks before the first day of spring. But did you know that the word “blizzard” is actually a loanword–from English to French? The exact etymology of “blizzard” is unknown, although it was first used in the eighteenth century in Minnesota and it has been claimed…
And the César Goes To… Best French Films of 2016 Posted by Josh Dougherty on Mar 10, 2017
Oscar season may be over, but there’s still some (understood) hype about the nominated movies and also the ceremony itself. Viola Davis gave an impassioned acceptance speech, Meryl Streep received a standing ovation for her “overrated” career, the Jimmy Kimmel/Matt Damon feud continued, political talk was able to sneak its way in, and we…
La Vaisselle – Washing Dishes In French Posted by John Bauer on Mar 8, 2017
My early trips to l’épicerie were an interesting exercise in how much I trusted my French. I took gambles on whether the bottle I was buying was l’assouplissant (softener) or la lessive (detergent), hoping it wasn’t l’eau de Javel (bleach). I haven’t had the luxury of having an apartment with un lave-vaisselle (a dishwasher) since…
French pronunciation basics part 1 Posted by Tim Hildreth on Mar 7, 2017
In a recent reader survey, one of the top requests you, chers lecteurs, (dear readers) of the Transparent Language French blog made, was for more help with pronunciation. Providing a comprehensive overview of French pronunciation would take une éternité (an eternity / forever), but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a go at it! A…
French Film: Un Peu, Beaucoup, Aveuglément Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Mar 7, 2017
A great way to avail yourself to French movies (and learning more French, particularly if you listen to the original French while reading the English subtitles) is through Netflix. Many of Netflix’s foreign films are French, and they get many of these films typically within a year after they are released in their native country…
Going To L’Epicerie – Groceries In French Posted by John Bauer on Mar 1, 2017
I learn new things everyday by making mistakes. Whether I need to buy un chargeur or find un dentiste, there seems to be an endless vocabulary list of words I didn’t realize I didn’t know! Finding out you don’t know un mot (a word) can be quite the learning experience. Many mundane experiences hide the…