Well, they're onto a losing battle there, because 29% to 45% of English words are of French origin, with something like 7,000 to 10,000 words borrowed from French. French words are so well-established in fact, you're looking at a fait accompli.
I can't see why this should be objectionable. It's very healthy for a language to absorb all sorts of foreign words as well as new English words.
I'm much more concerned about words that are over-used, like fucking and awesome, or words that are insulting or demeaning. I'm more concerned about the use of baffling jargon and lawyer-speak.
France has a history of fighting to keep English words out of the French language, but it's like Canute trying to resist the waves. Fleur Pellerin, France's minister of culture, declared in 2015 that trying to ban foreign words was doing more harm than good.
Personally I'm happy to ask for a croissant or an hors d'oeuvre. Bon appetit!
I’ve never heard about those kind of complaints, but maybe because we are all immigrants here and most people’s ancestors didn’t speak English?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: That's a plausible explanation. And of course removing every foreign word from English would be an impossible task!
DeleteHere in North America there is a trend towards pronouncing words (that are not in italics anymore) foreign-wise, rather than anglicizing them, a trend partly out of fear, I think. The concern for me is that I don't want the number of irregular pronunciations to multiply, as our children have enough trouble as it is.
ReplyDeleteMy latest pet peeve, for instant, is putting the accent in hijab (head scarf) on the second syllable which is awkward for me in the middle of a sentence. There are new babies being born every day who don't know to use an irregular pronunciation.
Sean: That's an interesting trend. But as you say, it creates problems if irregular pronunciations catch on.
DeleteCanute was not trying to stop waves. He was ironically mocking ass-kissing courtiers.
ReplyDeleteRick: I'll take your word for that!
DeleteI don't think this is as much an issue with American English. We are a melting pot, whether everyone likes it or not.
ReplyDeleteColette: The USA is certainly a melting pot, even if the president would rather it wasn't.
DeleteUSA tried to say only people who could trace their ancestors back to the Civil War were true Americans. That would make our country more black than white, I think which was NOT their goal.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: Interesting. I'm sure that wasn't what was intended!
DeleteThings change. Language changes all the time. Some people just don't like things to change but change always happens. My 12 year old grandson says some new words that make no sense to me all the time. I don't have a problem with seeing other languages written about here and there so that people can get to where they're going or get what they need too.
ReplyDeleteMary: Yes, I see youngsters using unfamiliar words all the time. Some of them seem to be useful words, some aren't.
DeleteI've not heard any complaints. As for French words in the English language I think we have the Norman Conquest to blame for that. The royal court spoke French after 1066.
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: Indeed, and I gather that many of the French words introduced after the Norman Conquest were themselves of German origin.
DeleteNick, I do not have any issues with foreign words being used and like you rather like saying croissant or having an hors d'oeuvre. i also like the word charcuterie which my husband likes to call a coochi-coochi and it always elicits a confused look and then laugh after he explains what he means.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: Charcuterie isn't a word I'm familiar with, probably because as a vegetarian I don't have cold cuts! Yes, I can imagine "coochi-coochi" would get some funny looks!
DeleteIt always makes me smile when I see signs saying something like 'Chinese cuisine'.
ReplyDeleteHere in Quebec, Canada, even though Canada 🇨🇦 is a bilingual country, both English and French, some Quebec politicians want everything solely in French. I am an English Canadian, born in Montreal and I am fluent in French.
ReplyDeleteOur neighbours in the United States 🇺🇸 for the most part do not speak French. They often come here t Montreal and Quebec City, because it's beautiful here and there is so much to see and do. I think it is a kind thing to have signs in both official languages, this way our tourists will feel welcome.
Just my thoughts.
Thank you for sharing 😊 ☺️ ❤️