I've begun my summer reading for French. 'Pierre et Jean' by Guy de Maupassant didn't seem too difficult based on the description of it-- simple storyline etc. I've had a rude awakening. I've been blown out of the water, the preceding pun being entirely intentional, by the nautical terminology. In the first 3 pages alone I've encountered these terms:
Tribord-- starboard (Nobody can keep these two straight anyway... hmph)
Bâbord-- port
tolet-- oarlock (I'm not rightly sure what that is in English...)
aviron-- oar
matelot-- sailor/seaman
nageoires-- fins
d'écailles-- scales (O.K. this one's a cognate... but still!)
mordre-- to bite/gnaw
mordiller-- to nibble
une barque-- a boat (Isn't one word for boat enough?! Just use 'un bateau'!)
I HAVE 200 PAGES OF THIS TO LOOK FORWARD TO!!!!!!
...well... it probably won't all be nautical know-how... they're just on a fishing trip...but-- all the same, man!!
On the bright side I've learned two (count 'em two!) fantastic french words!
morbleu!-- zounds!
un gredin-- a scoundrel
How brilliant would it be if words like those were reintegrated into modern English?! I'm certainly going to do my part to bring them back!
1 comment:
OoOoOo! You're beginning French literature! I love reading Spanish stuff, I learn such great words. Especially since we read things like Don Quijote and El Cid this year... I now know like 100 different words for knights and noblemen. I must confess though, I rather wish they had more Spanish literature about Ninjas... that would be useful!
Post a Comment