False Friends Faux Amis
Ellie Malet Spradbery
Lovereading Price £4.99
RRP: £4.99
Download Extract
Buy NowWhy I wrote this book
I love French and France, and spend my time ransacking the libraries and bookshops of London and the south coast, even France itself, in search of French writing: novels, biographies, magazines, newspapers etc. I chose the slant of “False Friends” because I am intrigued by the way that some French words and phrases are not always as they may appear on the surface (e.g. a ‘surnom’ is a nickname not a surname).
My phrase book is a little different from others in that it is aimed at readers of French as well as at travellers in France. It embraces French culture from a modern perspective as well as from former eras. As a theme “False Friends” has been explored before but I believe that my approach is original and not too turgid or didactic.
Anyone learning French or interested in France should buy this book to improve their language skills in a light-hearted way, and to increase their knowledge of France and French customs. If you hear somebody complain that they find the French rude they have perhaps not heard that a little courtesy in France goes a long way. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ are de rigueur and it is a huge faux pas not to greet a French shopkeeper politely (“Bonjour, monsieur/ Bonjour, madame”) before launching into the business of the day.
A reader will get more out of this book if they have a grasp of basic French already.
Synopsis
A light-hearted exploration of the French language and culture and, in particular, words and phrases that could trip up the unwary linguist.
Did you know that assister à does not mean ‘to assist’ but ‘to attend’? Or that attendre does not mean ‘to attend’ but ‘to wait’? A manhole is called un regard (a look) – so next time you pass one bear in mind it may well be watching you!
After reading this book of False Friends (foreign words or phrases that sound like one thing but mean another) you will be better able to avoid those awkward pitfalls and misunderstandings, and deal with life across the English Channel or, as our neighbours insist on calling it, La Manche (the sleeve).
An ideal companion for readers of French as well as travellers in France.
About the Author
Since retiring from Senate House London University Library, Ellie Malet Spradbery spends her time travelling in France, eating French food and reading French books. In fact, one could safely call her a Francophile.
Book info
Loading other formats...
Genres
Format
Paperback
44 pages pages
Author
Ellie Malet Spradbery
Publisher
Matador an imprint of Troubador Publishing
Publication date
1st February 2010
ISBN
9781848761933
