Sunday 22 April 2012

Q is for - Qu'est-ce que c'est que ca?

Q is for  - Qu'est-ce que c'est que ca?

Actually, Q is all about the French language. If you don't speak French, then many of the words look like a stream of joined letters, or unpronounceable sounds, with far too many o, u, ou, ent, ant, re, en, sounds which when spoken, produce this nasal, indistinguishable sound all merging together, forming what the Frenchies call their language. Yet it is beautiful. I love love love practicing my French 'la-de-da' sounding skills, which my sound pretty fancy to a non speaker, but to a native Frenchie, will probably be hysterical. The French are very particular about their language, the vocabulary, pronunciation, the invasion of foreign words, everything. Many will probably pretend not to understand until you say it 'correctly', many will correct you straight away, and a some will probably just take pity on you, as you are not French, therefore can't pronounce those complicated but beautiful sounding words. It's a tough process to learn French. You have to be prepared to get it wrong most of the time. You have to be prepared to make mistakes which are hilarious to the French. To risk sounding stupid and saying something stupid. To risk making a grammar mistake and saying something completely different from your intentions. Many do understand the uphill struggle to learn even the most basic of language skills in French. These are the compassionate ones. They have probably learned a foreign language before and can sympathize, but a lot will have no idea of the language learning struggle.
In my opinion, French really is a beautiful language, and when you reach a stage where you can understand all those nasals, all those delicate but meaningful sounds, and comprehend them, and actually respond, with even somewhere close to the correct pronunciation, then it is like entering a secret world. Full of French beauty, and only understandable by someone who can speak the language, and therefore a gift which really is worth all that effort.

6 comments:

  1. I wish my French were that good! I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge blogs this month. My alphabet is at myqualityday.blogspot.com

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  2. I have heard French, but haven't realized quite all the nuances. I have heard that native speakers sort of poo poo the non native. I learned some Spanish and Japanese, I doubt my speaking ability to a native would sound much more than baby babble, as long as it's been since I've used the stuff.

    Cat

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  3. I switched to Italian. French isn't my cup of tea and I am from Canada. HaHa

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    Replies
    1. oh my... I would love to go and practice some French up there!

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  4. Is Q where you end? I took French in college. I understand some, but wouldn't do well trying to converse.


    Hope you can join us for the May 7th Reflections Post.

    I'm now following your blog.


    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. I'm terrible... I suddenly got busy with stuff. Oh well. And I didn't make the reflections. I will finish eventually

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