Can I Learn Proper French in Quebec? - French Language2024-03-29T09:20:44Zhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/forum/topics/can-i-learn-proper-french-in-quebec?commentId=3179028%3AComment%3A92613&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNow you mention it, I've done…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:924662012-08-21T20:35:39.406ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>Now you mention it, I've done a Google search and it does indeed appear that they're effectively interchangeable with this meaning. So I partially take back my amendment: please read either "contingent" or "contingency" as you prefer!</p>
<p>Now you mention it, I've done a Google search and it does indeed appear that they're effectively interchangeable with this meaning. So I partially take back my amendment: please read either "contingent" or "contingency" as you prefer!</p> Yes I speak english as my fir…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:923812012-08-21T20:33:42.728ZGeorge Hunthttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/GEORDIEHOUND
<p>Yes I speak english as my first language.I am not advocating using "wrong" words in an exam or a formal setting but in conversation I think you can be much looser with words- even inventing them in the right circumstances.</p>
<p>As I said , some people do seem to (incorrectly?) use the word "contingency" as an alternative to "contingent" and , as used, the meaning is very close to "contingent".</p>
<p>Of course "constituency" has a different meaning but has a similar sound (which…</p>
<p>Yes I speak english as my first language.I am not advocating using "wrong" words in an exam or a formal setting but in conversation I think you can be much looser with words- even inventing them in the right circumstances.</p>
<p>As I said , some people do seem to (incorrectly?) use the word "contingency" as an alternative to "contingent" and , as used, the meaning is very close to "contingent".</p>
<p>Of course "constituency" has a different meaning but has a similar sound (which affected how the meaning took shape in my mind for a word that up to that point I had probably never heard or read)</p> Is your native language Engli…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:926552012-08-21T19:54:25.251ZJean Dervinhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/JeanDervin
<p>Is your native language English? If so, I find your observations a bit odd. "Contingency" doesn't meran "contingent" or "constituency". Muddling up similar sounding words is not a good basis for language learning, whether Englsih or French.</p>
<p>Is your native language English? If so, I find your observations a bit odd. "Contingency" doesn't meran "contingent" or "constituency". Muddling up similar sounding words is not a good basis for language learning, whether Englsih or French.</p> It feels like "contingency" s…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:925752012-08-21T19:32:06.961ZGeorge Hunthttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/GEORDIEHOUND
<p>It feels like "contingency" should exist.In fact I think I like it better than "contingent" .It sounds vaguer and in my mind it also <em>sounds</em> a bit like "constituency".</p>
<p>It does seem to be in use for that sort of a meaning.</p>
<p>It feels like "contingency" should exist.In fact I think I like it better than "contingent" .It sounds vaguer and in my mind it also <em>sounds</em> a bit like "constituency".</p>
<p>It does seem to be in use for that sort of a meaning.</p> "contingent", sorry!tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:924642012-08-21T18:59:49.020ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>"contingent", sorry!</p>
<p>"contingent", sorry!</p> "Contingency"?tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-21:3179028:Comment:925722012-08-21T18:30:20.376ZJean Dervinhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/JeanDervin
<p>"Contingency"?</p>
<p>"Contingency"?</p> Thank you Neil and Christine…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-17:3179028:Comment:925472012-08-17T14:39:18.204ZEileenhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/Eileen266
<p>Thank you Neil and Christine for your interest! I will return to Quebec and work on my French as time permits.</p>
<p>Thank you Neil and Christine for your interest! I will return to Quebec and work on my French as time permits.</p> Hi Christine -- from the côte…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-17:3179028:Comment:924242012-08-17T12:40:30.592ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>Hi Christine -- from the côtes-du-rhône-fuelled conversations I've had, it seems that there is a contingent of French people that literally believes it to be true that the French of Canada <em>hasn't</em> evolved in 300 years (which, just to reiterate, is utter nonsense).</p>
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<p>What I suspect may have kindled this myth is that there are surely occasional <em>isolated</em> features that haven't changed <em>much </em>compared to other features (not for any special reason particular,…</p>
<p>Hi Christine -- from the côtes-du-rhône-fuelled conversations I've had, it seems that there is a contingent of French people that literally believes it to be true that the French of Canada <em>hasn't</em> evolved in 300 years (which, just to reiterate, is utter nonsense).</p>
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<p>What I suspect may have kindled this myth is that there are surely occasional <em>isolated</em> features that haven't changed <em>much </em>compared to other features (not for any special reason particular, just that by law of averages some things will have changed less). But that's not the same as 'nothing has changed'.</p>
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<p>However, I agree that the main thing to do is to go to Quebec, have a great time there, and do take the opportunity to learn French there-- it will certainly be a very enriching addition to the poster's linguistic experience!</p> Good luck then! I'm pretty su…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-17:3179028:Comment:924232012-08-17T06:17:49.084ZChristinehttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/ChristineGuinchard
<p>Good luck then! I'm pretty sure it *will* improve your French! :)</p>
<p>And yes, (some) French think Québécois is funny. They'll even go as far as make subtitles for, say, an interview that takes place in Québec. But then, a Parisien will also probably think that a Marseillais speaks funny. For myself, even if I have to get used to it, I like it. It's a nice accent, I think (and I'm a fan of the Québécois band Les Cowboys Fringants).</p>
<p>As fot the "French of 300 years ago": they…</p>
<p>Good luck then! I'm pretty sure it *will* improve your French! :)</p>
<p>And yes, (some) French think Québécois is funny. They'll even go as far as make subtitles for, say, an interview that takes place in Québec. But then, a Parisien will also probably think that a Marseillais speaks funny. For myself, even if I have to get used to it, I like it. It's a nice accent, I think (and I'm a fan of the Québécois band Les Cowboys Fringants).</p>
<p>As fot the "French of 300 years ago": they probably mean that the language evolved differently since 300 years ago, because of distance and little contact, don't they?</p> It depends a bit what you mea…tag:www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk,2012-08-17:3179028:Comment:923572012-08-17T01:24:46.202ZNeil Coffeyhttp://www.forum.french-linguistics.co.uk/profile/NeilCoffey
<p>It depends a bit what you mean by "Parisian French". In terms of the French that natives of France generally perceive of as being 'standard'-- e.g. the French used by national TV newsreaders and journalists-- it's hard to pinpoint features that actually uniquely belong to Paris. (Whereas, on the other hand, you will find language features that are concentrated around Paris which are hardly perceived of as being standard or prestigious...)</p>
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<p>Does that make it somehow "proper" to…</p>
<p>It depends a bit what you mean by "Parisian French". In terms of the French that natives of France generally perceive of as being 'standard'-- e.g. the French used by national TV newsreaders and journalists-- it's hard to pinpoint features that actually uniquely belong to Paris. (Whereas, on the other hand, you will find language features that are concentrated around Paris which are hardly perceived of as being standard or prestigious...)</p>
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<p>Does that make it somehow "proper" to impersonate a French newsreader and "improper" to speak with, say, a Breton accent? Not sure...</p>
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