Can a country that restricts its vocabulary survive linguistically while facing an international juggernaut with ever-changing grammar rules and an onslaught of newly minted vocabulary?
Whilst wandering around L'Occitania improving my terrible Nebraska French I would meet young people and ask "Parle Anglais?" The answer was usually "Pas un mot! Pas un mot!" I would say "Çe n'est pas vrai, vous pouvez dire Big Mac, Chili McCheese, le snacking." That really got them going. Mais heuresement, Les Grandes Dames were very pleased I could hold a basic conversation. They felt there might be some small hope for Americans after all.
Great essay. I just read a short article about the Academie Francaise and its cultistness (I think I just invented a word). Thanks.
Whilst wandering around L'Occitania improving my terrible Nebraska French I would meet young people and ask "Parle Anglais?" The answer was usually "Pas un mot! Pas un mot!" I would say "Çe n'est pas vrai, vous pouvez dire Big Mac, Chili McCheese, le snacking." That really got them going. Mais heuresement, Les Grandes Dames were very pleased I could hold a basic conversation. They felt there might be some small hope for Americans after all.
Great essay. What was also funny to me in this language war was The "Freedom Fries" repost to France's uncooperative position during the Iraq invasion