...Clothes are just ... well ... clothes, unless it's got the sumptuous luxury and style of the French and, as for food, the French have elevated dining to a sensuous and
pleasurable gastronomic event.
French history (of note Napoleon Bonaparte, and Marie Antoinette who lost her head at the beginning of the French revolution when she sniffed
"let them eat cake"); culture
from art, to the Cannes Film Festival, to the joie de vivre (carefree) atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge cabaret, started in the late 1800s and which popularised the phrase 'voulez vous coucher avec moi'; and architecture the Norte Dame cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Arc D'Triomphe are snippets of France known the world over.
For the sixth year, the Alliance Francaise, which
promotes French culture, is bringing a Touch of France to Kingston March 19 through 22 and Lifestyle is going along for the ride. Today, we highlight the lighter side of the French (and what some of us understand to be French) and in Thursday's Food we'll bring you a taste of France.
FRENCH FACTS
Location: France is located in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, south east of the UK;
bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Climate: France normally has cool winters and mild summers. However, the area along the Mediterranean usually has mild winters and hot summers.
Population: 60.5 million
(July 2004 estimated)
Language: French 100
per cent, with regional dialects and languages (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Religion: About 85 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic, the remaining 15 per cent includes Protestants, Jews, Muslims and the unaffiliated
Land area: 547,030 sq. km
almost 50 times the size of Jamaica
20 FRENCH PHRASES
Here are some basic phrases that will help if you travel to any French-speaking country.
1. Bonjour Good morning
2. Salut Hi/Hello
3. Bonsoir good evening
4. Bonne nuit good night
5. Bon appétit good appetite
6. À plus tard see you later
7. À bientôt see you soon
8. À demain see you tomorrow
9. Merci Thanks (Merci
beaucoup Thanks a lot)
10. Au revoir Goodbye
11. Comment ça va?
How are you?
12. Comment allez vous?
How do you do?
13. Comment vous appelez-vous? What's your name?
14. Je m'appelle
My name is _____
15. Quelle heure est-il?
What time is it?
16. Je suis fatigué I am tired
17. Combien ça coûte?
How much is it?
18. J'ai faim/soif
I am hungry/thirsty
19. Où se trouve la rue
principale?
Where is the main street?
20. Voulez-vous coucher avec
moi ce soir? Do you want to sleep (have sex) with me tonight? Certainly is the most well known French phrase. It is often used in an inappropriate context. Now that you know the meaning, think twice before saying it.
VOCABULARY FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Santé! When the French clink their glasses they look each other straight in the eyes and say, "Santé!" in order to wish good health.
Blanc sur rouge rien ne bouge. Rouge sur blanc tout fout le camp! It means that white wine should be drunk before red wine. If you switch the order and start with red wine and then drink white wine, you may be sick and throw up.
Boire un coup/verre. To have a drink/glass. French people are used to gathering in cafés (bars), which are the best places to read newspapers or to talk with friends. Cafés are an everyday meeting point and belong to French culture as a social venue.
Prendre l'apéritif. It is a tradition to have a drink (or more) and snacks (olives, crisps, peanuts...) before dinnertime in order to whet the appetite. In the south of France people are used to drinking "Pastis" which is a famous anise spirit.
THE KISSING FRENCH
Faire la bise. Kissing the cheek of someone you're greeting, to welcome or just to say hello. French people kiss each other on the cheeks (men and women, women and women, and in some places men and men -- a very Latin attitude as it is done throughout the Mediterranean). Often, only one cheek is kissed, but in some regions (especially in the south) people can give three or even four kisses. It means that if you meet several people you can spend at least between five or 10 minutes just to say hello, depending on where you are from!
WHAT TO DAY IN A RESTAURANT
S'il vous plait -- please
L'addition s'il vous plait -- can I have the bill please?
Est ce qu'on peut s'asseoir ici? --- Can we sit here?
Le menu s'il vous plaît -- The menu please.
Est-ce qu'on peut fumer ici? --- Is smoking allowed?
Où sont les toilettes? --- Where is the toilet?
Un pourboire --- translated word-by-word it is a "for drink": A tip. In France the price you pay includes tax so it means that you don't have to tip. However, if you enjoyed your meal and the waiter was especially kind it is recommended that you give some change (tip).
ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
Tournez à droite -- right
Tournez à gauche -- turn left
Tout droit -- straight down
Où se trouve la rue? Where is this street?
Pouvez vous me la montrer sur ma carte? Could you show it (the street) to me on my map?
WHAT TO SAY WHEN BOOKING A HOTEL
1. Je souhaite réserver un chambre pour demain soir-- I would like to book a room for tomorrow night.
2. Combien coûte une chambre? -- What's the cost of a room?
3. Je vais rester nuits--- I will stay nights.
4. Est qu'il y a une piscine? -- Is there a swimming pool?
ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS USING THE TERM "FRENCH"
Here are a few popular English expressions using the term French.
1. FRENCH KISS A French kiss is an open-mouthed kiss in which the tongue of one partner is manipulated by the tongue of the other. But what makes this French? The specific origin is unknown but it dates back at least to the 1920s. It is, however, certainly derived from the idea that the French people are sexually liberated or even promiscuous.
Similar phrases include:
2. THE FRENCH WAY -- Oral sex
3. FRENCH POSTCARDS -- Pornographic pictures
4. FRENCH POX -- Syphilis. Ironically, in France it is sometimes called the English disease.
5. FRENCH LETTER -- A condom.
6. FRENCH WINDOW/DOOR: A door that opens out, gallantly, to an exiguous balcony several floors
7. FRENCH DRESSING: A vinaigrette, but only in England. In the U.S. French dressing refers to a sweet, tomato-based salad dressing that does not, exist in France.
8. FRENCH PRESS: A coffee maker
9. FRENCH ROLL: Hair tucked into a vertical roll down the back of the head
10. TO TAKE THE FRENCH LEAVE: To split the English way.
11. PARDON MY FRENCH: Allow me the expression.
(Sources: http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorf.htm
<http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorf.htm>
http://french.about.com/library/express/blex-french.htm
<http://french.about.com/library/express/blex-french.htm>
Allaince Francaise
