Jumping on a one-way plane to Paris and submitting to a year of lingual humility was my way of learning French. Although I have mastered everything except for the French art of negotiation, my bilingual brain is continually at a loss for words, my speech peppered with long pauses and tortured hand gestures. With my brain tuned to Franglais, I have started translating from French to English, leaving me with a strangely proper speech pattern. Is this one of the proven benefits of bilingualism?
Nevertheless, here is an imagined conversation between two expats inspired by my bilingual bêtise:
A. How do you go?
B. I go well. I am enchanted to finally meet you!
A. Would you like to take a coffee?
B. Yes, it would make me pleasure.
A. I know a bar in the Marais which is quite agreeable. The prices are correct for the neighborhood. Although the music is strong, it is the most interesting option.
B. Yes, that has a sympathetic air.
A. What do you take to make pleasure?
B. I am feeling greedy. I will take a chocolate good and hot, if you please.
A. I must go. Embrace your boyfriend very strongly for me.
B. It made me pleasure to see you!
A: Salutations!
. . . . .
Frankly, Franglais is not evident!
Totally, totally get the above (imaginary) conversation. I can’t remember how to speak English either!
Adventures of a Sequin Cat
Bryan totally used globally in conversation the other day, made me laugh! Also we tend to use ‘normally’ incorrectly too 🙂
Globally, I assure you.
Yep, like Sandy this seemed pretty normal to me too. Sigh.
Haha, this amazing! And so accurate! <- I say the latter based on my own expert level of franglish 😉
🙂
You and you only.
It makes me pleasure, Maria. 😉
It needed to be done!
Ha! I completely forgot about those two.
Globally, this is a problem we all have — profit from these experiences! 😉
this is amazing! i am still laughing!!
Oh yes, French so lyrical! Thank you for this…and your wonderful blog!
Makes perfect sense to me!
haha! SO TRUE!